Camp Rav Tov returned to the Wawarsing planning board with their application to replace nine buildings with one larger new one. At the September 15 meeting, their public hearing was held.

As before, property owner Hersey Rosenberg was there with attorney Jeff Kaplan and Mark Millspaugh of Sterling Environmental Engineering out of Schenectady.

Kaplan began by reviewing comments received from the Ulster County planning board, which were described as “overdone” and overly complicated. He made the points that no increase in camper numbers is proposed. The environmental pressures of water and sewer are expected to be the same, or less.

Millspaugh said that the existing kitchen building would be the site of the new two-story structure. He also said that no trees or vegetation along Sportsman’s Road would be removed. He felt there would not be a need for a separate landscaping plan. The always tricky asbestos question came up in regards to the demolition of the nine older buildings, and Millspaugh said that Rav Tov has commissioned an asbestos survey which will be provided to the board. The entrances and roadways into the camp will be widened to 26 feet to conform with fire regulations.

Board member Paul Lonstein brought up the septic system. The nine existing buildings have mostly separate septic fields. Millspaugh said that the new two-story building will use an extended field that currently serves the kitchen building. The others will be let go, and surveyors will be asked to mark the location of the septic system.

Long time board member Frank Wood said that he travels on Sportsman’s Road six times a week and therefore is very familiar with the vegetation and the views through the entranceways to the buildings of the camp. He noted that currently cars are parked all over the place, and he suggested that an older plan for a 75-car parking area be returned to and enforced. Wood then turned to another topic, asking if a sprinkler system plan was ready. Millspaugh said that it had not been designed yet.

The question of numbers of campers then came up. Mary Lou Christiana, the board attorney, noted that the permit for the camp mentioned just 940 people allowed on the site. However, there are 940 campers involved plus 400 other people who are staff and parents.

Board member Suzanne Sahler asked about the orientation of the new building and noted that lack of delineated parking spaces again. She said that “signage would help” in organizing the parking. She then commented on the vegetation that screens the camp from Sportsman’s Road. “Most of it is poison ivy, and then there are mature white pines that are clearly coming to the end of their lifespans.” She felt that removal of the white pines would be a good idea before they fell and possibly hit the buildings.

She was followed by Chair Don Schmalzle who returned to the numbers issue and said that the “permit says 940 persons.” But he also noted that the State Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (SPDES) permit does not address the number of campers and others. Schmalzle also noted that a landscaping plan does not consist of a rendering of vegetation that might be included.

Schmalzle also noted that from October to May the leaves will be off and the landscaping as it is will be ineffective at screening the camp. He added to Sahler’s comment regarding the white pines and suggested that other trees and bushes be added along the roadside.

At that point the public hearing was opened. Scott Reynolds from the neighboring Wawarsing Rod & Gun Club spoke. He said the club was not opposed at all to the changes at the camp. He simply wanted it understood that the camp with the children attending sits next door to a firing range. He explained that the club had constructed a massive berm along the property line to contain bullets, because the club fire rifles, pistols, and trap and skeet weapons.

The board voted to continue the public hearing at the October meeting. A full environmental assessment will be presented and the board will undertake the state environmental quality review process at that meeting.

Zip Line for Tempaloni Road

Engineer Tshering Gurung appeared on behalf of an application for a zip line adventure business on a parcel now covered in forest on Tempaloni Road. There are no structures on the land.

First question came from board member Poppy Cannon Reese, who asked if Gurung had experience in zip lines. He did not answer directly but responded that regarding safety, everything had to be certified for safety and also for insurance.

Victor Markowitz, board member, wanted to know how many people would be on the site. Gurung said he wanted small groups, perhaps 30 people in the whole day. Markowitz suggested there be EMTs on site since it is a long way from Ellenville to that point on Tempaloni Road. He added that there would need to be staff present.

Other questions concerned how many trees would be removed. Gurung said the tower holding the high point of the zip line would occupy a space twelve feet on a side. He did not expect very many trees to be cut. Another question concerned fire department access via road.

A short environmental assessment been provided and Gurung will return to the board soon.