Belleayre Ski Center

Infobox ski area
name=Belleayre Ski Center
logo=belleayrelogo.pnglocation=Highmount, New York
top_elevation= 3,429ft (1,045.2m)
skiable_area= 171 acres (0.7 km)
longest_run=3,664.9m (12,024ft)
liftsystem=5 chairlifts; 3 tows
terrainparks=2
external_link=http://www.belleayre.com|

Belleayre Ski Center, in Catskill Park, is owned and operated by the Department of Environmental Conservation. Skier visits have grown from 70,000 in 1995 to more than 175,000 skiers and riders from all over the world in 2007.

History

During the 1800s, Catskill and Adirondack deforestation had created massive siltation of NY City harbor and imperiled shipping up the Hudson river. In 1855 New York became one of the first states to create constitutionally designated “Forever Wild” preserves to prevent environmental and economic harms, to create a desperately needed water supply for NYC, and for future generations of nature lovers to enjoy. In 1947, the people of New York passed a constitutional amendment by referendum to allow an intensive use ski center within this protected forever wild region. [ [http://www.belleayre.com/company/about.htm "History of the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation and Belleayre Mountain Ski Area"] ]

Development and Controversy

Belleayre Resort Project

On September 5, 2007, New York State Governor Eliot Spitzer announced, as part of an agreemeent with Crossroads Ventures LLC that is proposing a $400 million hotel/condo/golf resort bordering Belleayre [ [http://industryreport.mountainnews.com/2007/09/new_yorks_belleayre_clears_big_1.shtml Mountain News Industry Report, "New York's Belleayre Clears Bigtime Hurdle," September 07, 2007] ] , that New York State will acquire from the developer "78 acres at the former Highmount Ski Center to be integrated into a westward expansion of the state-owned Belleayre Mountain Ski Center". This large private development, called "The Belleayre Resort at Catskill Park" [ [http://www.belleayreresort.com/ The Belleayre Resort at Catskill Park] ] has been subject to years of political opposition from environmental activists and competing business owners, and to lengthy environmental review processes. [ [http://www.timesunion.com/AspStories/story.asp?storyID=676027&category=OPINION&newsdate=3/28/2008 "Reporter should have contacted Belleayre Resort project developer, too"] ]

For the last 8 years, the exhausting review of Dean Gitter's proposed Belleayre Resort has overshadowed the future of the entire area. This controversial golf-ski-hotel-timeshare-shopping mall-real estate project has drawn intense opposition from local residents on environmental, economic and legal grounds. Last year, Governor Eliot Spitzer brokered back-door public/private negotiations offering up to $75 million in taxpayer money to expand the state run ski area to benefit the resort. State budget shortfalls make this increasingly unlikely to happen. A second round of Public hearings will be scheduled soon, giving skiers and residents an opportunity to participate in the SEQRA [ [http://www.adirondackmaps.com/apar/SEQR.htm State Environmental Quality Review Act] ] review process.

Private ski area opposition to public ski area development

Neighboring commercial ski areas Bristol Mountain, Hunter Mountain, Plattekill Mountain and Windham Mountain oppose the Belleayre Resort project and any improvement or expansion of Belleayre Ski Center, and also advocate additional measures such as
* Delaying or eliminating funding for renovation of Belleayre Ski Center lower lodge
* Forcing Belleayre, a state-run public resort, to charge private resort ticket prices

In opposition to the private ski areas are customers of Belleayre Ski Center and local business owners in the neighborhood of Belleayre whose businesses depend on Belleayre tourism. The proponents of Belleayre development staged a political rally in Albany, New York in March, 2008, to present their views. [ [http://www.dailyfreeman.com/site/news.cfm?newsid=19435235&BRD=1769&PAG=461&dept_id=74958&rfi=6 "Belleayre supporters lobby for expansion, deflect opposition from Hunter, Windham", by Jay Braman, Jr., March 29, 2008] ]

Trails and Glades

External Links

* [http://www.belleayre.com/ Official Website]

References