Members of Sterling Forest Partnership met before a recent Palisades Interstate Parks Commission meeting.
A possibly momentous decision was made on gaming in Orange County on a sunny Monday afternoon amid the rough hewn beam and stone facade of Bear Mountain Inn.
Nestled in the northern corner of Rockland County at the end of Seven Lakes Drive, the lodge is owned and operated by the Palisades Interstate Park Commission (PIPC) and is also where the PIPC often holds its regular monthly conference meetings. On Monday, September 15, the PIPC hosted representatives from Genting Americas, Caesars Resorts, the New York/New Jersey Trail Conference, Sterling Forest Partnership, as well as other interested parties, to address the Park Commission regarding the environmental impact of proposed casinos adjacent to New York State park lands.
Now, Therefore, Be It Resolved that in the Palisades Park Commission’s opinion, the proposed development of New York State Thurway Exit 15B, in conjunction with Sterling Forest Resort, is not in accordance with our stewardship mission and the public trust to preserve the scenic beauty, natural resources and public enjoyment of Sterling Forest and Harriman State Parks. — from Palisades Interstate Park Commission Sterling Forest Resort Resolution
Sterling Forest Partnership’s Rodger Friedman speaks with Genting Americas’ traffic consultant / Photo by Geoff Welch
Specifically, the meeting revolved around Genting’s effort to access a small section of PIPC-controlled road that may impact whether the multi-national gaming company will be able to develop the proposed NYS Thruway Exit 15B. The PIPC has authority and responsibility over some 24 state parks, consisting of over 100,000 acres throughout the Palisades region of the Hudson Valley in New York and New Jersey — including Sterling Forest Park, where the Genting’s proposed Sterling Forest Resort casino would bump up against.
After hearing from Genting and Caesars Resorts representatives, as well as representatives from park agencies and other individuals, the PIPC voted to unanimously on a resolution that denies Genting access to park lands adjacent to the Genting’s proposed Thruway Exit 15B plan, which the developer has said is an essential piece of its Sterling Forest Resort plan.
New York/New Jersey Trail Conference Executive Director Ed Goodell said that it is the PIPC’s responsibility to make a decision on the roadway.
“I would suggest that the development is out of scale and in conflict with their (PIPC) overall stewardship mission,” said Goodell. “The question is whether the volume of visitors would impact the park.”
Goodell also said that it would be “a big problem for Sloatsburg” in terms of traffic if the Sterling Resort casino moved forward without Exit 15B.
The PIPC decision is binding and would need both New York and New Jersey legislative action to over ride a Commission ruling due to the nature of the bi-state compact that authorized the body.
County Road 106 passes under NY State Thruway and meets Rt. 17A going west. The Ramapo River runs north/south in between the two roads. The PIPC has authority over sections of the land and, according to Time Herald-Record reporter Hemma Easley, Orange County ceded control of County Road 106 where it enters parklands to the PIPC in December. Easley also reported that Orange County Steve Neuhaus would like the road back if the Genting casino proposal is approved.
The state Gaming Commission is scheduled to announce the projects it will license in mid-October. There are developers with casino proposals that include Orange, Ulster and Sullivan Counties. Genting Americas has advocated to the Gaming Commission that the Sterling Forest location, which is set on private land, is the company’s preferred casino location.
