DEC restricts on Eagle’s Nest project

By TOM KANE

NARROWSBURG — A residential development project south of Narrowsburg on Route 97 near Ten Mile River has been issued restrictions by the Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) because it is near three American Bald Eagle nests. One of the nests is active and has been used by the same pair of nesting eagles over the past five years.

The development, called Eagle’s Nest Estates, is owned by Robert Wiegers, a long-time resident of the area.

The 146.5-acre property will contain 15 lots, 13 of them on top of the river gorge and two below on Crawford Road.

Plans for the project were given preliminary approval by the Tusten Planning Board at its last meeting on July 15.

In a letter to Charles Wieland, chairman of the planning board, Peter Nye, DEC endangered species unit leader, stated that one lot is in a primary zone where a pair of eagles usually nest.

While not forbidding Wieger from developing the lot, Nye set restrictions in terms of how close to the nest building activities can take place.

“I intend to conform to each and all restrictions that the DEC, the town, the county or the state has laid down,” Wiegers said.

He said that his project will benefit the entire community economically and aesthetically.

“Growth is clearly coming and I believe that it has to be controlled,” he said. “I will not clear cut like what happened down river in the Town of Highland across from the Zane Grey Museum. I’m opposed to it. I want to keep the natural beauty of the area.”