Department of Environmental Conservation accepts FEIS
A Final Environmental Impact Statement (FEIS), consisting of the Draft Environmental Impact Statement (DEIS) by reference and appendix with supplements to the text of the DEIS, has been accepted by the lead agency. The final EIS is available for public review at DEC's Region 3 Headquarters, 21 South Putt Corners Road, New Paltz, NY 12561-1620 during normal business hours between 8:30 am and 4:30 pm, Monday through Friday. Contact Brenda Griffin at (845) 256-3052 to schedule times for review. In addition, the FEIS is available for review during normal business hours at Town of Rosendale Town Hall, 424 Main Street, Rosendale NY 12472, (845) 658-3159.
 Click to acces a hyperlinked EIS Table of Contents that facilitates review of the document.
The FEIS is also available online at www.WilliamsLakeProject.com/FEIS. The DEIS is now available at www.WilliamsLakeProject.com/DEIS.
Revised zoning
HRVR's proposed project includes land uses and construction practices which exceed what is permitted under current zoning. As of April 4, 2012, they have submitted three versions of an amendment to current zoning law which would designate their property as a special zoning district. Within that district, all of the use and area variances needed by the project would automatically be permitted.
Changes to zoning law must be approved by the Town Board. Although the Town Supervisor has indicated that approval of the zoning amendment cannot take place until the Environmental Quality Review process is complete, the zoning document has been provided to multiple Town Boards and Commissions for review. All have responded with requests for greater clarity in the document, as well as raising concerns specific to their area of expertise.
Click to review the draft permits
Click here for an overview of the approvals process
Click to visit Save The Lakes research pages, which include a wealth of detail and documentation on all aspects of the proposed development, including permits and zoning.
Click to download a PDF file of the DEC's August 11, 2011 DEIS comments.
Click to review all public comments made to the DEC on the DEIS.
THE BACK STORY:
In mid August, 2011, DEC sent to HRVR a report critical of their DEIS findings, and suggested that the project plan be scaled back to the "conservation resort alternative". This version, as mentioned in the DEIS, would include a spa/hotel and facilities but would greatly reduce the number of residential units placed on sensitive terrain. Aside from this suggestion, DEC detailed 55 areas in which HRVR's DEIS was found lacking, from water supply and sewerage treatment to construction impacts.
Hudson River Valley Resorts submitted their draft Final Environmental Impact Statement to the DEC on Wednesday, March 21, 2012. HRVR countered the DEC's request to consider other alternatives by offering a small reduction (4-6%) in the number of residential units, leaving the overall scope and scale of the plan almost unchanged. In our estimation, the submitted FEIS did not adequately address and mitigate numerous points of concern. Consideration of many important details regarding water supply and site development were deferred to the permitting process. On June 1, 2012, the DEC - after careful study of the FEIS - informed HRVR that "revisions and additional information are necessary".
HRVR submitted initial permit applications back on July 25, 2012 and DEC responded a month later, judging the applications to be incomplete and providing guidance on which areas needed improvement.
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