South Blooming Grove. Skoufis calls for DEC enforcement of ‘stop-work’ orders filed against Clovewood developers
| 07 Feb 2023 | 07:48
State Sen. James Skoufis holds the six state DEC stop work orders sent in May, June, July, August, September and November of 2022, prohibiting any work to proceed at the South Blooming Grove development known as Clovewood, except for steps taken to prevent soil erosion. Skoufis called for the Department of Environmental Conservation to enforce its six standing “cease and desist” directives. Photos provided by the senator’s office.
State Sen. James Skoufis (D-Hudson Valley) was at the site of the controversial South Blooming Grove development known as Clovewood last week, calling for the Department of Environmental Conservation to enforce its six standing “cease and desist” directives.
DEC “stop-work” orders were sent in May, June, July, August, September and November of 2022, prohibiting any work to proceed at the site, except for steps taken to prevent soil erosion.
The orders dealt with permit infractions relating to Article 11 (fish and wildlife) and Article 17 (water pollution control) of Environmental Conservation Law, the former relating to the habitat and foraging habits of a threatened species, the timber rattlesnake.
Failure to comply with the orders could result in potential fines of up to $37,500 per day.
A developer with plans to build 600 homes at the former Lake Anne Country Club property has been ordered by state officials for the fifth time to stop all pre-construction activity at the site until getting required permit coverage.
The developer plans to build 600 homes at the former Lake Anne Country Club property. The housing project, initially proposed in 2018, underwent a four-year environmental review. The DEC, however, has consistently denied the required permits to address water, sewer and wildlife impacts.
Nonetheless, Skoufis said the developers continued work, resulting in the issuance of numerous stop work orders ever since.
“Given the developers’ flagrant violation of not one, not two, but six DEC directives to halt all work, I can’t stand by and allow these scofflaws to continue unchecked,” Skoufis said. “Today, I’m again calling on the DEC to levy the maximum possible fines against these bad actors and shut their flagrancy down. A hammer needs to be dropped on Clovewood’s developers to clearly demonstrate once and for all that they’re not above the law.”
In December, Skoufis sent a letter to the DEC urging the agency to enforce its existing stop-work orders, following numerous complaints being reported by his office on behalf of concerned residents regarding ongoing construction and unlawful practices at the site.