The Adirondack Land Trust proposal to develop Glenview Preserve, located in Harrietstown on New York state Route 86, is now in the hands of the Adirondack Park Agency (APA) for their review. APA project number 2024-0196.

They say money talks. ALT received $110,000 and another $3 million toward the development of any of their acquired scenic properties, i.e. Glenview Preserve in Harrietstown and the iconic High Peaks Wilderness view in North Elba, Lake Placid.

Isn’t it worth our joint effort to fight this? When do we stop developing these pristine, iconic views that have been here for eons? We need public comments.

We currently have extensive venues and trail systems throughout the Adirondack Park.

For example:

1. Visitors Interpretive Center, Paul Smiths

2. Wild Center, Tupper Lake

3. Adirondack Experience, Blue Mountain Lake

4. John Dillon Park, Long Lake — specifically handicap accessible for wheelchair users and others requiring mobility aids

5. Adirondack Rail Trail, Tri-Lakes. Converted rail trail from the former railroad started in 2023 and will be finished in 2025: 34 miles, Lake Placid, Saranac Lake and Tupper Lake, much of it paved or graveled. Providing the most scenic views of lakes, mountains, bogs, wetlands, wildlife, sunrises and sunsets. The folks in the 1800s gave the railroad the most scenic vistas in the Adirondacks. Additionally, this rail trail is handicap accessible for all.

6. Four Seasons Events, Lake Placid

7. Skiing — Whiteface in Wilmington, Mount Van Hoevenberg in Lake Placid, Mount Pisgah in Saranac Lake, Dewey Mountain Ski Center in Saranac Lake and skiing in Tupper Lake. These ski venues are not for all abilities; however, they are available.

In 2023, after the Adirondack Land Trust conducted a community informational meeting to announce plans for Glenview Preserve, we circulated a petition to inform the public of their future plans. In four months (in person, not online) we acquired 552 signatures against this proposed development. This was all inclusive: Locals, tourists, young, old, Black, white, gay, straight and an Amish family of four. Doesn’t that response have any impact on the decision to halt moving forward with this invasive project?

The location of the ALT’s proposed parking lot and trail system is parallel to New York state Route 86. That also includes a wetland. The water was diverted through a culvert from the west side of Route 86 by the New York state Department of Transportation in 2005.

When New York state Route 86 was redesigned in 2005, the issue of a pull off was proposed and addressed. That proposal was ultimately rejected after listening to public impact due to unsafe conditions and high traffic.

Well, this is nearly 20 years later (2005-2025). Those of us who live here, know and travel this corridor every day, just attempting to safety pull in or out of our driveways, knows this is a major transportation route and is extremely dangerous! Speed limits don’t seem to apply to most. The Glenview development will be open seven days a week, dawn ’til dusk.

A map provided by the DOT documents accidents occurring from Donnelly’s ice cream stand to the Brighton Mini Mart in Gabriels, a 3.5 mile stretch of highway. From 2012 to 2023, it had 149 accidents and one fatality. A 40 mph or 55 mph speed limit doesn’t matter. A perfect example is a neighbor, who had three vehicles totaled just trying to enter their driveway! This straightaway (southbound) is downhill to the traffic light at Donnelly’s corner, where Route 86 and Route 186 intersect.

Adding to this dangerous section of Route 86 to accommodate the ALT’s development of Glenview will cause many issues. The probability of Donnelly’s ice cream stand patrons venturing over to Glenview, high traffic on this section of highway, combined with visitors to Glenview, will result in a catastrophe! As this area becomes more popular in the future, what happens five, 10 and 15 years down the line? Considering our rapid climate changes already, we don’t need to pave paradise and put in another parking lot!

Please reject APA project number 2024-0196.

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Eileen D. Jauch lives in Harrietstown.