Re. Deerwood Subdivision Tree Clearing, Lot 9
David Gibson
Managing Partner
Adirondack Wild: Friends of the Forest Preserve
Ballston Lake, NY
518-469-4081
dgibson@adirondackwild.org
Dear Ms. Rice and Mr. Ernst,
The undersigned organizations write out of concern for an anticipated future application to the APA from the owners of Lot # 9, Deerwood Subdivision, Upper Saranac Lake, to cut out a viewshed from their new home through a Class 2 wetland to the shoreline of the lake.
As you know, such tree clearing for a view was requested as part of the onsite sewage treatment permit amendment requested in 2021. While the onsite sewage permit amendment was granted along with prior authorized path and a dock, the Lot 9 owners were informed that agency approval would be required for any other cutting or disturbance in wetlands.
Cutting trees in wetlands from a new house 450 or more feet away from the Upper Saranac Lake shoreline in order to achieve a 300-foot wide clearing at the shoreline, or anything close to it will have very significant adverse environmental impacts in terms of the number of trees, shrubs and roots removed, extensive in terms of square footage of vegetation destroyed, destructive of the wetland’s soils, absorption of runoff and, therefore, very damaging to the water quality of this shallow shoreline area of Upper Saranac Lake.
In order to cut this view gravel or other aggregates will have to be deposited in the wetland and used for mechanized equipment to access the vegetation and to remove that vegetation. This a regulated activity under APA Part 578 regulations.
Should any request and application from this landowner to cut out a view through the Class 2 wetland reach the Agency, we ask that it be considered a major project and elevated to the full APA board for its review and consideration.
Thank you for considering our request.
Sincerely,
Jackie Bowen, Director of Conservation
Adirondack Council
David Gibson, Managing Partner
Adirondack Wild: Friends of the Forest Preserve
Peter Bauer, Executive Director
Protect the Adirondacks !
Tom Swayne, President
Upper Saranac Foundation
CC:
Chris Cooper, APA
Robert Lore, APA
Ashley Dougherty, Deputy Secretary for Environment
Rajiv Shah, Assistant Counsel to the Governor for Energy and the Environment
Adirondack Council
P.O. Box D-2, 103 Hand Avenue
Elizabethtown, NY 12932
Adirondack Wild: Friends of the Forest Preserve
P.O. Box 9247
Niskayuna, NY 12309
Protect the Adirondacks !
P.O. Box 48
North Creek, NY 12853
Upper Saranac Foundation
P.O. Box 564
Saranac Lake, NY 12983