Clifton Park, NY: Tuesday, April 25, the Planning Board of
the Town of Clifton Park held a public hearing regarding
a proposal to build a “7 Flex-Space Light Industrial
Buildings” on Wood Road in Clifton Park.
A Karner Blue butterfly site is located on the North (also
sometimes referred to as the “East”) side of
Wood Road, where the industrial complex is proposed. Eight
people attending the hearing spoke passionately against building
this industrial complex and destroying the Karner Blue site.
It turns out that the Findings Statement of the Generic
Environmental Impact Statement accepted by the Town Planning
Board in 1994, require that particular attention be paid
to the Karner Blue Butterflies at the Wood Road site.
The Planning Board especially points out the importance
and significance of the Karner Blue Butterfly (KBB) and emphasizes
the importance of protecting this endangered species and
states:
“ . . . the Planning Board finds that any disturbance
or impacts to the known endangered species habitats will
not be allowed and that no site plan proposal will be approved
if such would involve the destruction of or disturbance of
known Karner Blue Butterfly habitat.” [emphasis
added]
The Findings Statement also requires a preserve for the
Karner Blue habitat is such a way that: “size of preserve
as it relates to the ability of the area to sustain the Karner
Blue and insulate it from random environmental events that
might cause extinction”
In addition, not only does the ability of the area to sustain
the Karner Blue and insulate it from random environmental
events that might cause extinction, it requires restoration
of Karner Blue Butterfly habitats; the Finding Statement
specifies:
“A plan to introduce Karner Blue Butterflies to
the preserve area if the species is not present at the
time the management plan is implemented.”
No one questions the fact that Karner Blue Butterflies
once occupied this site. Save the Pine Bush has obtained
a map which identifies almost the entire site as Karner Blue
Butterfly habitat.
The developer’s representatives argue that there are
no butterflies remaining on the North side of Wood Road.
The do concede that a few blue lupine plants survive.
However, whether Karner Blues currently occupy the site
or only recently were extirpated from the site, according
to the Findings Statement, the developer is required to restore
Karner Blue Butterfly habitat and create a preserve that
will protect the butterfly in perpetuity.
Save the Pine Bush asked the Planning Board to require
the applicant to write an Environmental Impact Statement
that would outline how the developer will create the preserve
for the Karner Blue, restore the Karner Blue habitat and
create a management plan for the site.
Save the Pine Bush also noted that there is another action
that the Town of Clifton Park may wish to take instead. The
Town should purchase both parcels of land including the one
currently being under consideration for development and land
on the other side of the road which is currently occupied
Karner Blue habitat and is also zoned industrial.
Purchasing these two properties would have many benefits
for the Town, including fulfilling the Town’s intended
desire to protect endangered species which live within its
borders.
View the entire
contents of the letter written by Save the
Pine Bush to the Clifton Park Planning Board
