NARROWSBURG, NY — The Project Review Committee of the Upper Delaware Council (UDC) met on August 28 and discussed at length a garage/storage building that is being rebuilt on a lot adjacent to the Upper Delaware River in the Town of Highland.

The project itself involves an increase of some three feet in the size of the new building’s footprint over the demolished one it replaced and the encroachment of some 18 inches toward State Route 97. The debate was in part whether it represents “a clear and direct threat” to the river. The project is being constructed by Jules Robinson, who is the brother of Aaron Robinson, the current chair of the UDC.

According to the minutes of the meeting, UDC resource specialist Pete Golod said that Town of Highland officials suggested that this project was Class I and therefore didn’t require review, but Golod said the UDC has been unable to determine whether that’s accurate since it was not provided with a full application. This is in spite of repeated requests for additional information, both verbally and in writing. Included on the Class II Review checklist are projects that require a conditional/special-use permit or site plan review, which, if approved, could take a town out of substantial conformance.

Golod wrote to the town supervisor and other Town of Highland officials on August 3, but said he received no response from any of them. He recommended moving the matter onto the full UDC board.

After a bit of discussion about what represents a “clear and direct threat,” UDC secretary/treasurer Al Henry said he agreed with that suggestion and also added that, as a UDC member, the town should be cooperating; and if the town is no longer a member, zoning oversight would go to the National Park Service.

The committee voted unanimously to move the matter to the full board.

Barnes Landfill

Golod also updated the committee on the abandoned Barnes Landfill. According to the minutes, “The Water Use/Resource Management Committee had raised the issue of whether the landfill is a Superfund site. The answer is no; it is not listed on the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s Superfund list. Adams asked, ‘Should it be?’ Golod said the responsibility and procedures for nominating a site for a Superfund declaration would be good questions to pose to New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) and UDC DEC Representative Bill Rudge. He further noted that the National Park Service Resource Management Division submitted a letter to the DEC on July 25 with follow-up questions regarding the Barnes Landfill.