NO EXIT FOR GENTING CASINO: PALISADES INTERSTATE PARK COMMISSIONERS DENY EASEMENT FOR THRUWAY INTERCHANGE Commissioners of Palisades Interstate Park unanimously voted to deny access to Park land for a proposed casino development. In a public meeting, the Commissioners resolved that ceding an easement to the developers to facilitate the casino project would interfere with “the use and enjoyment of park property by the public.” The Genting Group, a multifaceted developer with headquarters in Malaysia, plans a massive casino resort on land surrounded by Sterling Forest State Park. The plan hinges on the construction of a new interchange on the New York Thruway intended to feed traffic from New York City markets directly to the casino property. The interchange, even in its most compact possible design, would have required permission to access lands controlled by Palisades Interstate Park. The Genting Group had offered the Commission cash rewards amounting to $30 million per year to be contributed to the New York Office of Parks and Recreation budget in return for a positive determination. The Commission effectively ignored this promise, declaring in the course of the resolution that “in the Palisades Interstate Park Commission’s opinion, the proposed development of New York State Thruway 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….” The casino plan, which would occupy a parcel of land surrounded by Sterling Forest State Park, cannot advance without approval of a dedicated exit on the Thruway to handle the projected volume of traffic, according to the developer’s “Host Agreement” with the Town of Tuxedo. It is believed the local roads are insufficient to manage the 20,000 cars per day the casino is expected to draw on average. Officers of the Genting Group have said they would fund the interchange, and they hired renowned traffic consultant Philip Habib to design the roadway. Habib presented two options: a cloverleaf that would utilize land belonging to Palisades Interstate Park, and, failing that, a diamond ramp exit that does not directly involve PIPC property, but utilizes a PIPC roadway. The resolution by the PIPC denies both options, since even the diamond ramp would require passage onto a roadway controlled by the PIPC. The roadway, Route 106, had belonged to the County of Orange until last January, when the county relinquished it to the PIPC. At the public meeting, which took place Monday at the Bear Mountain Inn, a contingent of about 30 citizens opposed to the casino development filled the audience. They wore uniform gold t-shirts sporting buttons that read “No Tuxedo Casino” and “Don’t Gamble with Our Water.” During the public comment period, many spoke passionately about the Commission’s historic mission to preserve Palisades Interstate Park. Representatives of the Genting Group, including the project officer Christian Goode and Strategic Advisor Colin Au, also spoke. Mr. Au repeatedly reminded the Commissioners of the amounts of money the Genting Group was willing to transfer to the New York Parks Department in return for a positive declaration. Following the public comment period, the resolution was read and passed. Its closing words are that the Commission “denies the Sterling Forest Resort request for support and approval of Exit 15B upon and/or accessing Commission property.”
Posted on: Tue, 16 Sep 2014 10:05:39 +0000
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