LAKE HUNTINGTON, NY — Most of the wide-ranging issues that the Cochecton Town Board dealt with at its March 11 meeting were concerned with accommodating tourists and visitors, a Lake Huntington campground proposal foremost among them. Tom Ward, engineer for property owner Robert Stanzoni, presented a site map and building plans for the 15-acre parcel located between lakeside Route 52 (opposite the former Cochecton ambulance garage) and Mitchell Pond East Road.

The campground is designed to host 50 campsites for tents and RVs, and would be operated seasonally, if approved. Since last October, Ward has been working with both the town planning board and code enforcement officer Greg Semenetz to meet all building and zoning specifications. Semenetz said of progress made, “There are not many loose ends to tie up. At least one unsafe structure will be demolished, and a new building will be constructed to house toilets and showers.”

Ward’s primary reason for addressing the town board was to request that the sewer district be extended to include the whole parcel. At present, only the portion of the parcel closest to the lake falls within the sewer district. Supervisor Gary Maas said, after a cursory review of the plans, that he saw no reason the district could not be extended to include the entire parcel, and that an extension would also permit hookup for several adjacent rental properties. Although the board advised Ward that application to the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) for approval to extend the sewer district could be a lengthy and paperwork-intensive process, he seemed unfazed by the prospect.

Councilmember Larry Richardson said there is county-wide concern about lack of adequate housing for workers brought in to build the new casino, and wondered if the campground could be a partial response to that challenge. He went on to describe an experimental answer to another of the area’s longstanding challenges: public transportation between New York City and western Sullivan County.

Starting in late June, the Upper Delaware River Valley will have weekend jitney service along Route 97. The first run of Eagle Express commercial bus service from midtown Manhattan will take place on Friday, June 26. A 21-seat bus will depart from 33rd Street, between Seventh and Eighth Avenues, at 4 p.m., making stops in Lumberland (location TBD), Barryville (at the Bridge), Narrowsburg (Main Street), Callicoon (location TBD), and at a location yet to be determined in the town of Cochecton. Return service starts in Callicoon at 5 p.m. on Sunday, June 28.

Four trial runs will be held as follows: June 26 to 28; July 3 to 5; July 10 to 12; and July 17 to 19. One-way cost is $40; discounted fares will be considered after the trial period. Beginning in April, reservations can be made online via the Sullivan County Visitors Association website at scva.net/eagleexpress.

Richardson also reintroduced a topic discussed at last month’s meeting: converting the 2.5-mile corduroy logging road between Mohn Road in Cochecton Center and Cushetunk Road’s terminus near Route 97 into a town trail suitable for hiking, snowshoeing and cross-country skiing. Once a public road, the corduroy was abandoned by the town decades ago because maintenance became burdensome. Now it is used only by the few locals who know of its existence and live within walking distance, but Richardson thinks it should be open to tourists and the general public alike. Before that can happen, however, a host of legal issues must be resolved; Richardson and town attorney Karen Mannino will work together to address them in turn.

For complete meeting minutes, see www.townofcochectonny.org/.