CATSKILLS -- The Adirondack Mountain Club has praised the state Department of Environmental Conservation for scaling back its proposed expansion of the Belleayre Mountain Ski Center in the Catskills. Under the modified project plan, DEC has scrapped the proposed Belleayre East ski lift and trails, which would have included trails in the environmentally sensitive Cathedral Glen.

But ADK “is deeply concerned” about the proposal to create ski-in, ski-out trail access from the state-owned ski center to the Belleayre resort complex, which would be developed by the private Crossroads Ventures.

"The plan calls for cutting trees, blasting, removing rocks and altering slopes on Catskill Forest Preserve land to construct trails and lifts for the sole benefit of a private company,'' said ADK Executive Director Neil Woodworth. "That appears to fly in the face of Article 14 of the state Constitution, which protects Forest Preserve land as forever wild."

Woodworth urged DEC to seek a legal opinion from Attorney General Andrew Cuomo before proceeding with the plan.

According to a 1947 Attorney General opinion, the original constitutional amendment authorizing development of the ski center "would not seem to authorize the construction on forest preserve lands of ski trails and appurtenances thereto intended primarily to supplement or complement an essentially private development located on adjacent privately owned lands."

DEC also plans to acquire about 78 acres of the former Highmount Ski Center to accommodate a westward expansion of Belleayre Mountain Ski Center. Because that land is within the Catskill Park, ADK questions whether DEC can legally acquire the land for expansion of the ski center without seeking a further amendment to Article 14.