GUILDERLAND: The largest roadless area in the Pine Bush is under
attack again.
The proposed Woodsfield Estates would be built on 106 acres
of Pine Bush along the Hungerkill. The developers propose 46
houses to be built on 26 acres of this parcel.
The Planning Board of the Town of Guilderland is the Lead
Agency for the Woodsfield Estates proposal and will hold
a hearing on this proposed project on Wednesday, April 13
at 7:30 pm at the Guilderland Town Hall.
The developer has prepared a Draft Environmental Impact Statement
(DEIS) for this housing proposal. Even though houses will only
be built on 26 acres, leaving 80 acres Pine Bush, this project
will still have an impact on the Pine Bush. Much of the 80
acres left natural cannot be built on anyway, because of the
steep ravines. Thus, the land that will be built on is the
upland Pine Bush ecosystem.
There are many issues regarding this proposal. Some of these
issues are:
Impact of this development on the largest roadless area of
Pine Bush in Guilderland: This proposed housing development
is located in the largest roadless area in the Pine Bush in
Guilderland. This is an area in the western section of the
Pine Bush, consisting of the DiCaprio Park, Lone Pine 7, and
this development. The significance of this approximately 300
acres is that there are no roads here to cut the ecosystem
into fragments. Roadless areas are very important to the ecosystem.
Roads, even relatively unused dirt roads, can prevent plant
and animal species from crossing from one side to another,
thus limiting the area inhabited by plant and animal species,
and limiting the biodiversity.
Impact of this development on the ability of the Commission
to burn the largest roadless area of Pine Bush in Guilderland:
Constructing this development will have a significant impact
on the ability of the Commission to fire-manage the entire
300 acres of this roadless area. Fire management may not
even be able to occur in this roadless area because of the
configuration of houses, the location of the soccer fields,
and other physical aspects of the proposed development.
The fact that this land is considered “full protection.” The
Albany Pine Bush Preserve Commission labeled the site of the proposed
Woodsfield Estates site. “full protection” in
its current Management Plan. A full protection designation
means that no development should occur on this site. A great
deal of research in the Pine Bush has occurred in the past
six years, giving the Commission a wealth of knowledge about
how to manage the Pine Bush Preserve and ensure the survival
of the Pine Bush ecosystem. Full Protection in the Management
Plan is defined as:
Also, this parcel, in the Plan, is ranked number 8 out of
35, a very high score.
Make your voice heard! Come to the public hearing on this
proposal on Wednesday, April 13 at 7:30 pm at the
Guilderland Planning Board, Guilderland Town Hall.
Written comments will be received until April 27 and should
be addressed to Jan Weston, Town Planner, Guilderland Town
hall, PO Box 339, Guilderland, New York 12084
Read more about how the history of this project . . .
