Orange County moves ahead with purchase of Sugar Loaf Mountain

Orange County is going ahead with the purchase of the 309-acre property that includes Sugar Loaf Mountain following approval by the County Legislature of two resolutions by 20-0 votes. One resolution determined that there would be no significant adverse environmental impacts from the purchase. The second resolution appropriated $2.21 million to cover the cost, authorized County Executive Steve Neuhaus to sign whatever documents approved by the county attorney were needed to effectuate the purchase and transferred the funds into a new capital project account for the purchase.

Neuhaus had to sign the resolutions to put them into effect. He took the action during a visit to the property with Chris Palmer of the Palmer family that previously owned the land, Jeremy Schneider, communications manager of Orange County Land Trust (OCLT), Jim Delaune, executive director of OCLT, and County Legislator Glenn Ehlers.

The OCLT had secured an option on the property two years ago from the Palmer Family and in January of this year Neuhaus joined representatives of OCLT to announce that OCLT had taken title to the property and there was a plan for the county to buy it from OCLT. The property is situated in the Town of Chester in Orange County.

“The concept of preserving the mountain has been talked about for decades. We are so excited about acquiring this county gem and can’t wait to have the public be able to use this,” said Neuhaus. “Now this land will be protected, and our families will be able to enjoy it for years to come.”

OCLT Executive Director Jim Delaune said, “We applaud members of the county’s legislature for their unanimous support of the Sugar Loaf Mountain project. This vote represents a huge first step in the process of creating a new county park and making this iconic property accessible to the public.”

After the OCLT obtained its option on the property, The Peter and Carmen Lucia Buck Foundation, a longtime supporter of OCLT, agreed to support the acquisition with a loan. The Walden Savings Bank pledged a loan making it possible for OCLT to begin due diligence on the project.

As the project began to take shape, OCLT announced its conservation plans to the public and launched the “Save the Mountain” campaign. The campaign’s message was that the project would be a win for conservation, outdoor recreation, tourism and local businesses. “Save the Mountain” generated more than $200,000 in community donations.

The New York State Department of Environmental Conservation and Land Trust Alliance demonstrated their support for the project with a state Conservation Partnership Program grant, as did Scenic Hudson, which also provided financial support for the acquisition through its Climate and Environmental Justice grant initiative.