Sierra Club opposes Awosting development
Article from the Daily Freeman
By Dawn Letus, Correspondent February 13, 2003

GARDINER - The Atlantic Chapter of the Sierra Club, the non-profit conservation group, has joined opposition to the Awosting Reserve development along the Shawangunk Ridge and is supporting state annexation of the 2,660-acre property that adjoins Minnewaska State Park.

Tullia Limarzi, coordinator of the Atlantic Chapter, which serves New York state, said its executive committee voted Jan. 25 to lend its support to stopping developers from building nearly 350 homes and a golf course on the eastern side of the Shawangunk Ridge. A similar resolution was adopted by the organization's Mid-Hudson chapter, she said.

"We are very much worried about this," said Bibi Sandstrom, a New Paltz resident and local chairwoman of the Sierra Club. "I am appalled that anyone would consider building on this pristine site."

Sandstrom said plans to create a golf course at Tillson Lake and fragment open space are not environmentally sound. Leaving fingers of wildlife habitats is "like watching an hour of TV in four different 15-minute segments," she said. "You never see the whole picture."

Developer Roger Beck said he thought the organization's stance was premature.

"We wish that the Sierra Club had waited until the (state) Department of Environmental Conservation had a chance to review the project, go through the (state Environmental Quality Review) process and let us complete the draft environmental impact statement before making a determination opposing it," Beck said.

Sandstrom said she didn't think the club was jumping the gun by opposing any development on the ridge.

"We did this to let any developer know that the Sierra Club is that concerned about the environmentally sensitive ecosystem on the ridge," Sandstrom said.

©Daily Freeman 2003