Damascus residents question development at public meeting

By TOM KANE

DAMASCUS, PA —The purpose of the public hearing was to discuss a conditional use permit about a proposed road for Bluestone Mountain Estates, but neighbors of the project questioned the very existence of the project.

On July 14, the Damascus Planning Commission held a public hearing on the proposed roadway from Plank Road into the property of developer Robert Wiegers, the developer of Eagles Nest Estates below Narrowsburg, on the ridge of the Delaware River.

“The hearing was necessary because much of the grade over which the road was to be built exceeded 25 percent,” said Ernie Matern, Damascus planning director. “That fact demands that we look at things like storm water run-off and the effects of the project on neighbors.”

But at the meeting, several neighbors objected to the project itself.

In a letter read at the meeting from Rosie and Norm Starr, neighbors of a property below the proposed site, Rosie said, “We have the following concerns about this development, which may not be directly relevant to the conditional-use application hearing.”

The letter stated that Wiegers, at the Eagles Nest development across the Upper Delaware River, removed a large number of trees along the ridge that increased the runoff onto Crawford Road which continued to flood each time there was a heavy rain and that a similar condition could result from the Bluestone project.

The Tusten highway superintendent, George Kinch, who is on vacation this week, could not be reached to comment on this statement.

“We are concerned that similar tree removal at Bluestone Mountain Estates will cause flooding along River Road and erosion damage to our property,” Rosie said.

Wiegers, who intends to create 12 lots on the 84 acres he owns along the ridge above the Delaware River, has submitted a ground plan to the Damascus planning commission and is waiting for the commission to schedule a meeting as a part of the approval process.

Damascus has no tree ordinance but will hold Wiegers to his intention not to remove a large number of trees.

“His plan limits the amount of trees around each house to be cut,” said Ed Lagarenne, the township’s zoning officer. “He may cut a few trees to improve the view of the river but not many. We will hold him to his plan.”

At the township meeting July 20, the planning board was not ready to present their recommendation on the conditional-use application.

“After we check a few more things, we will submit it to the township board,” Matern said.

In January of 2007, the National Park Service expressed concern that the practice of clear cutting be avoided in the Bluestone Mountain Estates.

“There will be absolutely no clear cutting,” Wiegers said. “Trees will be cut at the actual home site and nowhere else. No trees over eight inches [in diameter] will be cut.”

Wiegers also said that there will be no run-off from the property going into the river. “Any run-off would be stored in large dry wells and then leeched into the ground,” he said.