TOWN OF HIGHLAND, NY — The public will be next to weigh in on the environmental impact of the Camp FIMFO project, after the Highland Planning Board voted unanimously to accept an updated Draft Environmental Impact Statement (DEIS).

The DEIS is part of the State Environmental Quality Review (SEQR) and is intended to assess the potential environmental impacts of a project. After the initial DEIS was submitted by Camp FIMFO in June of this year, a list of clarifications, questions and revisions about specific content in the DEIS was returned to FIMFO in July, and FIMFO was asked to provide an answer or explain the reasons why the request is outside of the scope of a sufficient response. 

Inquires were made by the National Park Service, Upper Delaware Council, Keystone Engineering and from the planning board themselves. For more information on their inquiries, see sidebar. 

The board has spent months discussing the responses provided by Camp FIMFO to the inquiries on the initial DEIS.

Camp FIMFO provided an initial response to the inquiries in August and the planning board requested another round of follow-up in September to which Camp FIMFO provided a response in October. In a public workshop on November 13, the board identified no additional deficiencies on the scope, added adequacy and content of the DEIS.

After the board voted unanimously on November 20 to accept the final DEIS, which includes the responses to all inquiries, public comment is now open and a public hearing has been scheduled as the next step in the SEQR process.

If the project is approved, Northgate will invest $40-plus million in transforming the Kittatinny Campground in Barryville into a resort with 148 RV park models in addition to another 64 proposed permanently placed structures. Each park model will have its own sewer and water hookup and will remain stationed at a specific location on the campground. 

Proposed new attractions include an aquatic play area, mini-golf course, a bouncing pillow and sports courts. A modern new septic system will replace the current, deteriorating system.

Written public comments on the DEIS will be accepted until at least January 10, 2025. A public hearing will be conducted on December 18 at 6 p.m. It will take place either at the town hall or at Eldred High School. 

The State Environmental Quality Review (SEQR) includes 10 steps; not all steps are conducted for all projects. The planning board last year triggered the SEQR process when, in a 3-2 vote, it gave the Camp FIMFO application a “positive declaration,” which means the project could have a significant adverse effect on the environment. Camp FIMFO was then obliged to prepare an environmental impact statement.

The next planning board meeting and public hearing will take place on Wednesday, December 18 at 6:00 p.m.

Visit here to view the submitted DEIS. Additional documents about the project are available at townofhighlandny.com/boards-meetings/planning-board/.

(Editor's Note: This story was updated on December 12 at 2:27 p.m. to accurately reflect the correct numbers of which types of campsites will be included.)