ALBANY, NY: The Supreme Court, Appellate Division, Third Judicial Department decided against the Karner Blue Butterfly and for more construction in the Pine Bush.

Save the Pine Bush had brought suit against the City of Albany Planning Board over its approval of an upscale senior housing facility proposed by the Roman Catholic Dioceses behind the Teresian House on Washington Avenue Extension. The proposed 30-acre site is adjacent to the Albany Pine Bush Preserve, contains native Pine Bush species, contains good habitat for the Karner Blue Butterfly, and is part of the potential migration route for the Karner Blue from the Crossgates Maul site to the main part of the Preserve.

Part of the 30-acre site was set-aside for this migration route, however, Save the Pine Bush believes this migration route is much too small.

If you are concerned about this site, please write to Bishop Howard Hubbard, Roman Catholic Diocese, 40 North Main Avenue, Albany, NY 12203 and ask him to find another location for the Avila House senior housing facilities. To see a sample letter, see http://www.savethepinebush.org/News/OctNov01/Write.html.

Printed in the January/February 2003 Newsletter