Alpine Rose Race Track Proposal Update

Click here to access letter to send opposing development funding for Alpine Rose

Click here for the May 2004 update
Click here for the October 2004 update
Click here for information on contacting DCNR

Background

Alpine Rose Resorts Inc has proposed to place a members-only racetrack/country club for sports car enthusiasts on the north face of the Blue Mountain in Eldred Township, Monroe County. The proposed site borders the Appalachian Trail and State Game lands on its southern border and a high quality cold-water fishery, the Aquashicola Creek and wetlands on its northern boundary. There is a steeply sloped (12-25 %) mountainous terrain that will make development of any kind difficult at best. Public issues include the inability of the road system to support the increased traffic and the noise impact of 50 racing automobiles, some without mufflers, running at speeds of up to 120 mph.

Eldred Township has Granted Preliminary Approval

The Supervisors gave preliminary approval to the plan on Nov 6 even though the Monroe County Comprehensive Plan has looked at this area as one to be preserved and neighboring townships have in place conservation zoning for the Blue Mountain Ridge. Eldred Township currently has no zoning ordinance but is working on developing an ordinance that would zone the Blue Mountain as a Rural Resource Area. In spite of preliminary approval, the Alpine Rose project cannot be developed without approval from the Monroe County Conservation Department and the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection (DEP).

DEP Hearing Held

A public hearing was held on Jan 23 at the Pleasant Valley Elementary School to gather input on the permit application for storm water management during construction. About 75 people were in attendance and comments were made by nearly a third of those at the hearing (including LVG Conservation Chair, Barbara Benson). None of the comments by any speaker were in favor of granting the permit to Alpine Rose. Points raised included the inadequacy of the permit application without necessary environmental safeguards in place, the difficulty of controlling erosion and sediment pollution on such steep slopes, especially during storms, the grossly inappropriate nature of theproject considering the rural and ecologically sensitive quality of the area, and the probable negative impact on the high quality cold water fishery, Aquashicola Creek and surrounding wetlands.

The DEP will release a document with the decision and comments from both the DEP and the public at some time in the future.

What You Can Do

Send letters voicing our concerns related to the Alpine Rose Resorts racetrack to the Department of Conservation and Natural Resources (DCNR). They have supported our efforts in the past, it is of vital importance to remind them of the inappropriateness of this project at this location.

Department of Conservation and Natural Resources
Rachel Carson State Office Building
PO Box 8767
400 Market Street
Harrisburg, PA 17105-8767

Urge your state legislators to oppose corporate welfare for this project. In order to go forward, this project must receive millions of dollars in state tax abatements, grants and loans. Pennsylvania currently has a $2 billion deficit which is prompting reductions in vital services. It would be a sin for the state to provide taxpayer money for a rich members-only playground which would spoil free public recreation sites. Please write or call your state senator and representative and urge them to oppose any state grants, loans, or tax abatements for the Alpine Rose racetrack. An easy way to contact House members is through the website of Citizens for Pennsylvania's Future at http://www.pennfuture.org.

Please ask your family and friends to also help stop the racetrack.

More Information

For more information, click here to email Barbara Benson of the Lehigh Group of the Sierra Club or call her at 610-282-3611 .

To get more information about this, visit http://www.bluemtpreservation.org.
Click here to read a Morning Call article about the appeal.
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