Albany Common Council Denies Dunes Residents Chance to be Heard Albany Common Council Denies Dunes Residents Chance to be Heard by Lynne Jackson July 1, 1996, Albany City Hall, was the place where the Common Council refused to listen to 25 or so angry Dunes residents who wanted the opportunity to speak. Charlie Touhey wants … 9
ALBANY: State Supreme Court Judge Joseph Teresi again ruled against Save the Pine Bush in the case regarding Avila House, a senior housing project proposed to be built behind Teresian House. This proposal will destroy an essential Karner Blue butterfly migration corridor. The Karner Blue butterfly population has declined over 98% in the last 20 … Save the Pine Bush Loses Teresian House Case
by Tom Ellis RENSSELAER, NY: Five residents of Rensselaer and one each from East Greenbush, Menands, and Albany (me) met on September 18 with the NYS Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) about the Dunn dump in Rensselaer. The DEC official included an assistant commissioner, chief counsel, chief of staff, and regional director. The meeting, held … Meeting with DEC Officials
A snow-covered field near Crossgates Mall may become a battleground over the effect of building in the Pine Bush and on that ecologically fragile area’s bellwether symbol, the Karner blue butterfly. Environmentalists are trying to fend off the nation’s largest independent hotel developer, which wants about four acres west of the mall’s movie theaters for … Garage Sale Sucess!
Besicorp Photosimulations of the Besicorp Project Prepared by T. J. Boyle & Associates, Landscape Architects & Planning Consultants, Burlington, VT., for the Rensselaer County Greens, Troy, NY. Simulations of the Besicorp Project viewed from Island Creek Park, Albany Current View Historic Fort Crailo Neighborhood Current view Project site: Currently BASF Plant; to be demolished Proposed … Besicorp
Name of the project: Rapp Road Residential/Western Avenue Mixed Use Redevelopment Projects Here is the Draft Environmental Impact Statement website at the Town of Guilderland: https://www.townofguilderland.org/planning-board/pages/environmental-impact-statement-rapp-road-residentialwestern-avenue-mixed-use Save the Pine Bush’s comments on the DEIS Here are Save the Pine Bush’s comments written by Christopher M. Walker, , Legal Intern appearing pursuant to the Practice Order of … Crossgates Expansion
Earth Day at the Village of Colonie Village of Colonie: On Earth Day, the Village of Colonie held a public meeting about the proposed landfill expansion. Residents of the Village of Colonie and members of the public were invited to speak about their concerns about the proposed expansion. Save the Pine Bush volunteers attended … Save the Pine Bush
The Karner Blue vs Crossgates Mall – Secret Meetings and SEQRA Violations The Karner Blue vs Crossgates Mall Secret Meetings and SEQRA Violations by Lynne Jackson Save the Pine Bush is pleased to announce that we joined with our famous Pine Bush resident, the Karner Blue Butterfly, and sued Pyramid Crossgates and the Zoning Board … The Karner Blue vs Crossgates Mall – Secret Meetings and SEQRA Violations
Touhey Builds While Save the Pine Bush Goes to Court Touhey Builds While Save the Pine Bush Goes to Court Albany, NY – After twelve years of stopping Charlie Touhey from building the “Pine East” office complex on Washington Avenue Extension in front of the Dunes housing development, Touhey has won the current round and … Touhey Builds While Save the Pine Bush Goes to Court
Land Crunch in the Pine Bush Land Crunch in the Pine Bush by John Wolcott We’d Rather Have Been Wrong Save the Pine Bush knew that unresolved difference between development desires and acquisition wish lists were heading toward a major clash in the Pine Bush. Even so the present situation of 85 "hot spots" has … Land Crunch in the Pine Bush
By Lynne Jackson ALBANY, NY: Todd Ommen from the Pace Environmental Ligation Clinic representing Save the Pine Bush, filed an amicus brief in March in the case known as Thomas Hart, Lisa hart, Kevin Mcdonald, Sarah Mcdonald, 1667 Western Avenue, LLC and Red-Kap Sales, Inc., v. Town of Guilderland, Planning Board and Zoning Board of … Save the Pine Bush Files an Amicus Brief in the Pyramid Lawsuit
by Tom Ellis ALBANY, NY: A panel that included Albany County legislator Merton Simpson spoke in opposition to the proposed Sheridan Hollow Microgrid Fossil Fuel Plant at the October 18 Save the Pine Bush dinner. About 45 attended. Also speaking were engineer Keith Schue and environmental health advocate, Rita Ogburn-McCall. Sandy Steubing moderated the discussion. … SHARE Opposes the Microgrid Fossil Fuel Plant in Sheridan Hollow
By Tom Ellis ALBANY COUNTY: The Clean Air Coalition of Greater Ravena-Coeyamns held a community forum on February 9 about its continuing efforts to block the Lafarge cement company from burning tires near the Hudson River in Ravena, and directly across Route 9W from the Ravena-Coeymans-Selkirk (RCS) Middle and High Schools. Christine Primomo, a retired … Clean Air Update
Save the Pine Bush Loses a Round Judge Teresi Rules in Favor of Charlie Touhey Save the Pine Bush Loses a Round Judge Teresi Rules in Favor of Charlie Touhey After 12 years of sucess at holding off Charlie Touhey’s proposed office complex on 300 Washington Ave. Ext. in the Pine Bush, Save the … 9
by Lynne Jackson ALBANY: Resa Dimino, Special Assistant in the DEC Commissioner’s Policy Office spoke about Solid Waste Management Planning at the July SPB dinner at the First Presbyterian Church. Resa Dimino is leading the effort to develop a new State Solid Waste Management Plan in New York State. Her talk focused on the planning … The Solution to the Garbage Problem
At the same Town Board meeting where the Board passed a zoning amendment prohibiting commercial soccer fields in residentially zoned areas, the Town Board heard a presentation by its director of parks about the town’s own proposed soccer fields in the Pine Bush. The zoning amendment passed by the Town Board specifically prohibits commercial soccer … Town of Guilderland Wants to Build Soccer Fields
ALBANY: The State Employees Federal Credit Union (SEFCU) building and surrounding land, located in the center of the Pine Bush on Route 155, was traded for state-owned land at the Harrimon State Office Campus. In the late 1980s, Save the Pine Bush sued over the zoning approval given to SEFCU and won. Judge Robert Williams … 9
By Daniel Van Riper Karner Blue Conspiracy Recently some crank (who deserves to remain nameless) wrote a letter to the independent weekly newspaper The Altamont Enterprise claiming that the Karner Blue Butterfly is not native to the Pine Bush, and was planted there by environmentalists, government agents and other liberal conspirators conspiring to “take” land … Save the Pine Bush
Creek’s Bend Cohousing – Another Perspective Creek’s Bend Cohousing – Another Perspective by Russell Ziemba At November’s dinner, members of the Creek’s Bend Cohousing group spoke about cohousing in general and about their specific development proposal. Rezsin Adams outlined what transpired that night in the last dinner announcement. I would like to look at Creek’s … Creek’s Bend Cohousing – Another Perspective
The Albany Pine Bush Preserve Commission is mandated by law to revise its Management Plan every five years. The last revision to the Management Plan were the Implementation Guidelines, adopted by the Commission in 1996. The Commission will hold a public hearing on its Draft Management Plan and Draft Environmental Impact Statement for the Albany … Albany Pine Bush Preserve Commission Proposes a New Plan – Mark October 18 to Attend Hearing
ALBANY, NY: On March 22, the Supreme Court — Appellate Division, Third Department turned down Save the Pine BushÕs appeal of Supreme Court Judge Joseph TeresiÕs decision against Save the Pine BushÕs lawsuit over 300 Washington Avenue Extension. The land in question is owned by Charles Touhey, and is located on Washington Avenue Extension in … After 12-Year Battle, the Pine Bush Losses
A recent date to speak about Nabokov’s blues in Albany, New York — the state’s capital — afforded me a chance to visit what is left of old “Karner”, New York. Karner is the little hamlet that, in common parlance, has attached its name to Nabokov’s famous endangered species Lycaeides melissa samuelis, the “Karner … A Journey to Nabokov’s Karner, New York – a Conservation Dilemma
More Land is Purchased More Land is Purchased From the Albany Pine Bush Preserve Commission’s Pine Bush Update, November 1999—State Buys 122 Acres of Pine Bush in Guilderland. In October, Governor Pataki announced the State acquisition of 122 acres of Pine Barrens and ravines for inclusion in the Albany Pine Bush Preserve. The property was … More Land is Purchased
The 1914 Pine Bush Preserve – What became of it? The 1914 Pine Bush Preserve What became of it? by John Wolcott In 1914, Albany almost benefitted immensely from the City Beautiful movement. This was part of the Progressive movement, then afoot around the country with its strong public spirit, open, honest better government and … The 1914 Pine Bush Preserve – What became of it?
Emergency Appeal Emergency Appeal Save the Pine Bush thanks everyone who has sent a contribution so far to our emergency appeal. We have received many encouraging notes along with checks. Mrs. Thomas L. Johnson wrote: "Save the Pine Bush will use the money we give wisely and indeed the Pine Bush must become forever wild … Emergency Appeal
by Lynne Jackson On Wednesday, July 24, the Guilderland Planning Board gave preliminary approval to the construction of 70 houses in the largest roadless area of the Pine Bush. Before giving approval, the Board held a hearing. Lynne Jackson of Save the Pine Bush spoke at the hearing, and wrote down her comments in a … Guilderland Approves – – Another Pine Bush Development
16-09 Sept-Oct Newsletter Sept/Oct 16 No. 132 ⢠33 Central Ave., Albany, NY 12210 ⢠email pinebush@mac.com ⢠phone 518-462-0891 ⢠web http://www.savethepinebush.org ⢠Circ. 600 Vegetarian/Vegan Dinner Wednesday, September 21, 2016, 6:00 p.m. Climate Crisis and Practical Solutions Conor Bambrick Air & Energy Director, Environmental Advocates of NY will speak about NY Renews and … 16-09 Sept-Oct Newsletter
by Tim Truscott ALBANY: We enjoyed two presentations after the July 15 Save the Pine Bush dinner. The first presentation was by Jeff Heath of Stearns & Wheler Consulting Engineers, which is headquartered in Cazenovia, NY. Jeff’s presentation was on the Delaware County Municipal Solid Waste (MSW) composting facility, located near Walton, NY. Delaware … Save the Pine Bush
BETHLEHEM: What is the future of garbage in the ANSWERS community? Come to a Solid Waste Management Plan Steering Committee to find out! The SWMP (pronounced “swamp” — isn’t that a wonderful acronym?) has met three times now. At the last meeting, held in the Bethlehem Town Hall, the City’s consultant, Clough Harbor, presented … Save the Pine Bush
The Army Corps of Engineers extended the comment period on their review of the wetlands that will be destroyed if the proposed landfill in the Pine Bush is constructed. Bert wrote an excellent letter outlining many of the problems of expanding the landfill. The deadline for comments was March 5 and the letter was sent … Save the Pine Bush
ALBANY: Mark you calendars, Wednesday, December 3 at 7:00 PM at the Polish Community Center, DEC will conduct a public hearing on the City of Albany’s proposal to expand the landfill into the Pine Bush (see other announcement on page 4). For two decades, DEC and the City have been promising not to expand the … DEC’s Dump Hearing December 3, 2008
To think that the 6,000-acre Capital Region ecological treasure known as the Pine Bush was once almost 10 times that size, before developers started making their way into what still qualifies as one of the premier examples of an inland pine barrens ecosystem anywhere in the world. Today the Pine Bush and all its wonder … Careful In The Pine Bush
ALBANY: The New York State Court of Appeals has refused to hear Save the Pine Bush’s case regarding the proposed warehouses on Wood Road in Clifton Park. By not hearing our appeal, the Court of Appeals allows the lower court’s decision dismissing our case on standing to be the final ruling in the case, The … Court Room Door Slammed Shut on Save the Pine Bush
by Lynne Jackson ALBANY: The City of Albany is taking two contradictory positions on the proposed hotel in the Pine Bush. Council Stonewalls Developer: The Honorable Daniel Herring (Ward 13) held a Common Council Planning and Development committee meeting on October 9 to discuss the SDEIS (Supplemental Draft Environmental Impact Statement) written and submitted by … City Can’t Decide!
The Pine Bush has been identified by the Sierra Club as one of the fifty-two most exceptional places in the United States that must be preserved. The report says the following: All across America, communities are working to protect our public lands from threats like oil and gas drilling, unchecked development, irresponsible recreation, logging, and … The Pine Bush Makes the Grade Sierra Club Included the Pine Bush in America’s Wild Legacy 52 Places: A Sierra Club Report
By Lynne Jackson ALBANY: The Pine Bush Discovery will have its grand opening on Saturday and Sunday, June 16 and June 17 from 10:00 AM to 4:00 PM. After what seems like an eternity of planning, design and construction, the Albany Pine Bush Preserve Commission is pleased to invite the public to the grand opening. … Why Does the Discovery Center Look Like a Bank?
By BRIAN NEARING, Staff Writer ALBANY – The city of Albany is among the state’s dozen worst polluters for its plans to expand the Rapp Road dump into the Pine Bush, according to a statewide environmental group’s annual listing released Tuesday. Citizens’ Environmental Coalition also cited the General Electric Co. for alleged foot-dragging over the … The Dump Expansion is for Who?
ALBANY: Acting State Supreme Court Judge Thomas J. McNamara denied a motion filed by the developers of the proposed hotel in the Pine Bush in the case Save the Pine Bush vs. City of Albany to re-argue the case. The Court said “Conspicuous by its absence is any discussion of other animal life on the … Win on Hotel Case Upheld by Supreme Court
by Lynne Jackson CLIFTON PARK: On June 26, the Town of Clifton Park approved an extension to the site plan on Wood Road, circumventing the State Environmental Quality Review Act and allowing DCG to build a warehouse complex on an inhabited Karner Blue butterfly site. William Engleman, the intrepid volunteer in the Clifton Park, found … Town of Clifton Park Ignores Pleas for Butterflies
ALBANY: NYS Supreme Court Judge Thomas J. McNamara handed a win to Save the Pine Bush over the proposed Residence Inn hotel development in the Pine Bush adjacent to the Karner Blue Butterfly Hill. Judge McNamara found the Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) for the proposed hotel was deficient because the EIS failed to evaluate the … Save the Pine Bush Wins the Hotel Case
SCHENECTADY: On behalf of Save the Pine Bush and 11 individual petitioners, Peter Henner, Esq, filed an Article 78 against the Planning Board of the Town of Clifton Park. On August 8, the Town of Clifton Park approved a “flex-space” industrial warehouse complex on top of Karner Blue habitat. Save the Pine Bush has filed suit … Save the Pine Bush Sues the Town of Clifton Park over Development Approval
Monarch Butterfly Conservation Crisis Monarch Butterfly Conservation Crisis On September 12, 2000, The New York Times published an urgent warning by noted Monarch butterfly expert Dr. Lincoln P. Brower, and other scientists and conservationists, describing a crisis situation at the Monarch butterfly’s overwintering grounds in central Mexico (The New York Times, Science Times, p. 1). … Monarch Butterfly Conservation Crisis
by William Engleman In 2005, Save the Pine Bush spoke out on land use affecting populations and habitats of the endangered Karner blue butterfly in the Town of Clifton Park. In early January ‘05, less than a month after a building moratorium was enacted in the Town’s light industrial zone, speakers from Save the Pine … Massive Empire Zone in Clifton Park’s Wood Road Corridor Set for Review
ALBANY: In an astounding series of votes, the Albany Common Council voted to allow two developments in the Pine Bush to go forward: the proposed Residence Inn Hotel and an office complex in front of the Daughters of Sarah Nursing Home. Three Common Council members voted against the proposals and for the Pine Bush: the … Common Council Ignores Pine Bush Preserve Commission
The June 19 Common Council meeting had some astounding moments. At one point during the Common Council caucus, the Honorable James R. Scalzo, Ward 10, said that the Albany Pine Bush Preserve “Commission is prostituting itself” because the home rule bill included provisions that the Commission would receive $2 a ton from the landfill tipping … The Albany Common Council Editorial Comment by Lynne Jackson
ALBANY: The Nature Conservancy (TNC) acquired an option to purchase the Fox Run Estates property in order to faciliate this land being added to the Albany Pine Bush Preserve. From a letter TNC has written to Albany Mayor Jerry Jennings and NYS DEC Commissioner Denise Sheehan, it is clear that TNC never intended this land … The Nature Conservancy Objects to Landfill Proposal in the Pine Bush
War On Crossgates – The Community Fights Back War On Crossgates The Community Fights Back By Daniel Van Riper The evil and rapacious Pyramid Corporation, through a combination of trickery and deception, has geared up for an unprecedented Crossgates Maul expansion plan designed to suck the life and livelihood out of the citizens of the … 9
ALBANY: The Planning, Economic Development and Land Use Committee of the Albany Common Council met on October 27 to review the Final Environmental Impact Statement of the proposed Residence Inn hotel in the Pine Bush on Washington Avenue Extension. During the meeting, it became apparent that an essential letter from the US Fish and Wildlife … Environmental Report Omits Essential Letter
ALBANY: Shawn Morris, candidate for Common Council President spoke at the July Save the Pine Bush dinner at the First Presbyterian Church. Four candidates are running in the Democratic Primary for Common Council President; all were invited to speak, but only Shawn Morris attended the dinner. Shawn began by describing the Common Council President’s roll … Shawn Morris Speaks to Save the Pine Bush
by Lynne Jackson ALBANY: On Thursday, August 26, the Zoning Committee of the Albany Common Council held a scoping hearing on the proposed 124-Unit Residence Inn in the Pine Bush. This hotel would be built next to the Karner Blue butterfly hill, which is the only large site of Karner Blues south of the Thruway. … Crossgates Wants to Build a Hotel in the Pine Bush