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Forest Society Comments on West Bowl Expansion Public Hearing, May 5, 2015 At Mount Sunapee State Park
Since the first discussion of leasing the ski area at Mount Sunapee State Park, the Forest Society has been most concerned with the protection of the natural integrity of the State Park, its natural beauty, its natural resources and its place as a destination for public recreation. Commissioner, your draft decision concerning the Mount Sunapee Resort’s Master Development Plan to expand skiing into the West Bowl makes some positive changes to the original proposal by the Resort. We believe the draft requires more work to fully protect the Park and the public values that make New Hampshire’s state park system distinctive.
The Forest Society will provide written comments on DRED’s draft decision before June 5, but tonight we would like to focus on three specific issues:
• First, we appreciate DRED’s recognition that any ski expansion needs to be on land owned by the State. We believe it is a constructive step forward for the Resort to agree to donate 400 acres to enlarge the State Park as proposed in the Commissioner’s draft decision. This said, we strongly believe that DRED should condition its approval for any expansion on the requirement that all lands to be donated to the State be conveyed before a shovel hits the ground on any West Bowl expansion. If the State does not own the dirt first, then there should be no expansion.
• Second, we also appreciate the draft decision’s recognition that no one ‐‐‐ including abutting landowners ‐‐‐ should have any exclusive access rights to the State Park. It is extremely important for DRED’s final decision to clearly articulate how this policy will be monitored and enforced.
• Third, if land is to be donated to the State to mitigate adverse impacts of the expansion on the exemplary natural community system designated by DRED’s Natural Heritage Bureau, it should not only be conveyed before a shovel hits the ground but also it should be permanently and legally protected legally from any further development.
Presented by Will Abbott, VP for Policy & Reservation Stewardship