by Tom Ellis ALBANY, NY: For many years I have watched state agencies abuse our rights as citizens, taxpayers, residents, and interested parties in regulatory proceedings. The NYS Energy Research and Development Authority (ERDA) and NYS Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) are particularly guilty of limiting public access to public information. For example, ERDA held … Save the Pine Bush Volunteers Win Victory for Open Records
by Tom Ellis ALBANY, NY: “This is an incredible threat to the effectiveness of SEQRA,” said Roger Downs, Sierra Club Atlantic Chapter Conservation Director, at the May 17 SPB dinner. Roger lectured on the “streamlining” of the State Environmental Quality Review Act (SEQRA) proposed by the NYS Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) which administers SEQRA. … Do We Really Need to “Streamline” the Environmental Protections of SEQRA?
My Name is Roger Downs. I am the Conservation Director for the Sierra Club Atlantic Chapter. We are a volunteer led organization of 48,000 members statewide dedicated to protecting NY’s air, water and remaining wild places. We thank you for the opportunity to provide testimony. We will be providing more substantive comments before the May … Initial Public Comments Delivered in Albany on March 31st at the Public Hearing on SEQRA
Opinion by Lynne Jackson In 1978, when Save the Pine Bush began suing the City of Albany over proposed developments in the Pine Bush, the State Environmental Quality Review Act (SEQRA), was not in effect. We could not use SEQRA in court, so, instead our initial lawsuits were over sewers. Fortunately SEQRA took effect soon … Initial Public Comments Delivered in Albany on March 31st at the Public Hearing on SEQRA
The Albany Pine Bush Preserve Commission is releasing its Draft Management Plan Update for public review and comment on October 4, 2016. A public hearing is scheduled for Tuesday, October 25, 2016 from 7:00-9:00pm, at the Albany Pine Bush Discovery Center, 195 New Karner Road, Albany, NY to gather public comment on this document. People … Albany Pine Bush Preserve Commission Releases 2017 Draft Management Plan Update
by Tim Truscott There has been plenty of energy pipeline news in the Capital Region of New York during the month of April. Here is some of it: Northeast Energy Direct Pipeline “Suspended” On April 20, Kinder Morgan, the developer for the Northeast Energy Direct (NED) 30-inch diameter natural gas pipeline, announced it was … Dan McCoy Speaks at Save the Pine Bush
by Tom Ellis ALBANY: Albany Pine Bush Management Commission (APBMC or the Commission) Executive Director Chris Hawver was the October 15 SPB dinner speaker. Lynne Jackson and I introduced him saying that Save the Pine Bush is very pleased that the Commission exists and is protecting the Pine Bush. Lynne said the work of SPB … Chris Hawver of the Commission Speaks
by Lynne Jackson On February 6, 2013, Save the Pine Bush will be 35. I wanted to reprint the story of our formation (the extended version can be found on the website, http://www.savethepinebush.org) Save the Pine Bush came into being on February 6, 1978. It snowed that day. It snowed so much that the … Save the Pine Bush Turns 35 in February
by William Engleman CLIFTON PARK, NY: At the Wood Road “south” habitat site of the Karner blue butterfly in the Town of Clifton Park in 1978, there were thousands of Karner blues, according to a study done by researchers John Cryan and Robert Dirig, who discovered this site in 1975. In 1989, Dr. Dale Schweitzer … Composting of Food Waste in Charleston, South Carolina
by Tom Ellis The City of Albany is preparing an update to its 1992 long-range solid waste management plan (SWMP) for the years 2011-2030. A year ago, Mayor Jennings appointed a Steering Committee (SC) to help draft it. The SC met monthly during the last year. During December, the city’s solid waste consultant, Clough … Regional Solid Waste Authority – Inevitable or will Citizens have a say?
by Lynne Jackson On behalf of Save the Pine Bush, Steve Downs, our attorney, filed an amicus brief on the standing issue in the Brunswick Smart Growth appeal. The premise of the lawsuit — that comprehensive planning (when done correctly) — is a better tool to forge environmental policy than is litigation. Therefore anything … September Biogas Talk
Last Chance to Say No to Besicorp! Last Chance to Say No! No to what could be the biggest and ugliest industrial complex ever built on the banks of the Hudson River: a papermill and cogeneration plant called Besicorp, to be sited in the City of Rensselaer, next to the historic Fort Crailo neighborhood and … Last Chance to Say No to Besicorp!
A Stunning Victory! Zoning Approvals Overturne A Stunning Victory! Zoning Approvals Overturned by Daniel W. Van Riper, Mar./Apr. 92 March 5-State Supreme Court Justice George L. Cobb today overturned two zoning approvals by the City of Albany in the Pine Bush at 300 Washington Ave. Ext (Charlie Touhey’s office development in front of Dunes) and … A Stunning Victory! Zoning Approvals Overturne
All Development Halted – Emergency Appeal Succeeds! All Development Halted Emergency Appeal Succeeds! by Daniel W. Van Riper, Jan./Feb. ’93 In a unanimous decision, the Appellate Division of the NYS Supreme Court upheld a lower court ruling earlier this year that overturned zoning changes for the 40 Karner Road and Touhey parcel at 300 Washington … All Development Halted – Emergency Appeal Succeeds!
Developer to Remove $50,000 Water Lines from the Preserve Developer to Remove $50,000 Water Lines Press Releases Press Conference on Monday, August 10 at 10:00 AM Save the Pine Bush Forces Developer to Remove Water Lines from Pine Bush Preserve Land For Immediate Release: August 7, 1998 For Further Information: Please Contact: Lewis Oliver at … 5
Save the Pine Bush Newsletters in Date Order Save the Pine Bush Newsletters in Date Order 1996-1997 December 96, January 97 Newsletter New York to Buy Pineland Tract From L.I. Scouts The Karner Blue vs Crossgates Mall – Secret Meetings and SEQRA Violations The Karner Blue and the Wishing Wells Save the Pine Bush Sues … Save the Pine Bush Newsletters in Date Order
ALBANY, NY: Save the Pine Bush filed suit in New York State Supreme Court over the City of Albany Common Council’s approval of the Residence Inn Hotel and an Office Complex on Washington Avenue Extention in the Pine Bush in March. Save the Pine Bush sued the City about two development proposals, a hotel proposed … Save the Pine Bush Sues City of Albany Over Rezoning of Land
by Steve Downs ALBANY: On September 15, 2009, Save the Pine Bush will argue before the Court of Appeals that it was entitled to standing in the case of the proposed Mariott Hotel case. In 1991 the Court of Appeals decided in the Society of Plastics v. Suffolk County, that the test for standing … Save the Pine Bush
ALBANY, NY: Save the Pine Bush filed suit in New York State Supreme Court over the Albany City Planning BoardÕs approval of the Roman Catholic Diocese senior housing project in the Pine Bush. The Planning Board violated the State Environmental Quality Review Act (SEQRA) in approving this project on an essential Karner Blue Butterfly migration … Albany Pine Bush Preserve Commission Proposes a New Plan – Mark October 18 to Attend Hearing
ALBANY: Eighteen supporters of Save the Pine Bush attended the Appelate Division oral argument in the case about the proposed hotel in the Pine Bush in May. Attorney Steve Downs argued the case for Save the Pine Bush. Save the Pine Bush won the case in Supreme Court. The City of Albany had asked the … Oral Argument in Hotel Case Heard in Appellate Division
A pair of right wing propagandists are using misinformation about the Pine Bush and the Karner Blue Butterfly to attack grass-roots preservation efforts across America, and are calling for overturning the Federal Endangered Species Act. Hailed as the new bible of radical anti-environmentalism, Noah’s Choice, The Future Of Endangered Species, is the product of rightist … Save the Pine Bush
GUILDERLAND, NY: If you haven’t already heard or seen it, March 26 was an horrible day for the trees on the site for the proposed Costco; Respect and adherence to the New York State Environmental Quality Review Act (SEQR) by the Town of Guilderland; and any expectation for a fair process from the Guilderland Planning … Tree Clear Cut
by Steve Downs On September 1, 1976, a new law, the State Environmental Quality Review Act, SEQRA, came into effect which required comprehensive environmental planning at the beginning of every environmentally significant project – the problem was that nobody was sure just how the new law worked. Just two years later the first published law … A Tribute To Lew Oliver
Published on Tuesday, December 1, 2020 – 17:34 in the Altamont Enterprise Lynne Jackson of Save the Pine Bush speaks at a press conference announcing a Nov. 20 court decision to halt Pyramid’s plans to build a Costco and 222 residential units near Crossgates Mall in Guilderland. GUILDERLAND — A week after a judge in Albany … Second lawsuit filed over Guilderland Planning Board’s approval of Pyramid project
by Lynne Jackson ALBANY: In an astonishing, detailed, and carefully written decision, Judge Peter Lynch handed a victory to Westmere Terrace residents and a gas-station owner, the plaintiffs in a lawsuit filed against the Town of Guilderland Planing Board and Pyramid Management Group. The decision makes null and void all of the approvals the Planning … The Residents and the Pine Bush Win Against Pyramid Justice Prevails
Neil Gifford Conservation Director for the Albany Pine Bush Preserve Commission Restoring Pine Bush Ecosystem Healththrough Management Neil will speak about how managing native scrub oak trees can restore the health of the Pine Bush ecosystem. Neil will discuss the Commission’s research on habitat restoration that includes such techniques as mechanical, chemical and prescribed fire … Save the Pine Bush Zoom Meeting – Wednesday, May 15 2024, at 6:30 p.m.
by Lynne Jackson Save the Pine Bush came into being on February 6, 1978. It snowed that day. It snowed so much that the offices of the New York State government closed down and stayed closed the next day. This is the only time in the 20 years that I have lived in Albany that … Save the Pine Bush Brief History and Summary
by Lynne Jackson GUILDERLAND, NY: Rapp Road Development, a corporate entity of Pyramid/Crossgates, is proposing to build on about 46 acres of land. Originally, the proposal was to build 222 apartments on 20 acres of land adjacent to the Pine Bush preserve. After the Town Planning Board appointed themselves the lead agency, the project was … Proposed Crossgates Development
Christopher M. Walker, Legal Intern for the The Pace Environmental Litigation Clinic wrote comments for the proposed project. Here is an excerpt from his comments sent to the Guilderland Planning Board. You can view the complete comments and the appendicies online at: http://www.savethepinebush.org/Cases/Crossgates_Expansion/index.html The Pace Environmental Litigation Clinic submits the following comments on behalf of … Save the Pine Bush Comments on the Rapp Road Residential/Western Avenue Mixed used DEIS
Karner Blue Butterfly Links Eastern-Tailed Blue – Marietta College, looks like a Karner Blue, but its notThe Karner Blue – a summary of the naming of the Karner Blue by NabokovFamily Lycaenidaes – Michigan UniversityThe Karner Blue – Center for Private ConservationThe Karner Blue – Endangered Species Facts, US Fish and WildlifeThe Karner Blue – … Links and Resources
By Grace Nichols Save the Pine Bush is overjoyed that the NYS Supreme Court heard our plea for land protection for over 46 acres of Pine Bush threatened by Pyramid Development Corporation. As we prepared to file our Article 78 lawsuit, a coalition of neighbors to the land along with a local business filed suit … Update on Land Conservation Struggles in Our Region
So much controversy over such a tiny butterfly-the Karner Blue, Lycaeides melissa samuelis. A beautiful pale blue, this tiny creature only lives in its adult form for one to two weeks. Named by Vladimir Nabokov (probably better known for his writing than his lepidoptery), there were once so many butterflies that all one could see … The Karner Blue Butterfly: The Pine Bush’s Most Famous Resident
Every month, Save the Pine Bush volunteers make a vegetarian/vegan lasagna dinner with salad, garlic bread and delicious deserts. Everyone is invited to attend! After dinner, we have a speaker. Here is a partial list of the speakers who have visited Save the Pine Bush over the years. Our Favorite Butterfly, the Karner Blue David … List of Speakers
Save the Pine Bush uses the courts to force government agencies to follow environmental preservation laws. The City of Albany has been notorious for ignoring the State Environmental Quality Review Act. We have been very successful in our lawsuits to block improper approvals of construction projects in the Pine Bush. Save the Pine Bush’s Victories … How does Save the Pine Bush stop developers?
Dear All, The proposed apartment complex on Rapp Road in Guilderland is back. Pyramid sold the 19 acre parcel to a local developer. This new developer has proposed some modifications to the project. The new name for the project is Apex at Crossgates. The area where the proposed apartment complex is to be built is … Fighting the Crossgates Expansion
Search Newsletter Archives: What is Full Protection, Partial Protection and who is the Pine Bush? – By Lynne Jackson – June / July 2022 Newsletter A Tribute To Lew Oliver, our wonderful lawyer The Pine Bush’s Most Famous Resident – The Karner Blue Butterfly Save the Pine Bush Victories and Fights The Thruway Authority Comes … Newsletters Articles Ordered by Subject