Welcome to the sixth issue of The Open Space Advocate Newsletter, an online newsletter focusing on open space issues in North Castle and surrounding communities. If you missed the previous issues and would like to read them please go to www.openspaceadvocate.com.
The mystery of who is responsible for turning a narrow footpath in the Meyer Nature Preserve into a wide graded roadbed was solved this past Tuesday when Westchester County Court Judge Rory Bellantoni issued a temporary restraining order against Donald Trump, the owner of the adjoining Seven Springs estate. Practically overnight, what had been a widely used trail, so narrow in sections that hikers needed to walk singlefile had been changed by machinery to a road wide enough for six people to walk side by side.
Numerous plants and bushes had been ripped up entirely and cast to the side with their roots showing. The large state wetland in the preserve which is located at the base of the Seven Springs driveway had been severely altered. All the marsh grass which had been over five feet tall was cut to the ground.
On Sunday March 9th, over forty outraged North Castle residents met at the site to protest what had been done to the nature preserve which is owned by The Nature Conservancy.
As the residents walked the trail, they observed heavy machinery parked in Seven Springs' driveway.Mr. Trump's property Seven Springs is located in North Castle, Bedford, and New Castle. This 213 acre property is the former estate of Eugene and Agnes Meyer, owners of the Washington Post and parents of Katherine Graham. The only existing road to the site is in Bedford. The part of Oregon Road in North Castle that borders the property has been closed since 1990 and is located in the Meyer Nature Preserve. Mr. Trump knew this when he purchased Seven Springs in 1995. In 2005, Trump proposed building 17 homes at Seven Springs, nine of them on the North Castle side of the property, and the remainder in Bedford. Because Bedford has an ordinance prohibiting more than 15 houses on a cul-de-sac, Bedford required a through street from Bedford to North Castle to service the homes. This would require opening the closed portion of Oregon Road and allowing a paved road through The Nature Conservancy's preserve.
Rather than reconfigure the proposed development, Trump filed a lawsuit against the Town of North Castle, The Nature Conservancy, and several homeowners who live on the closed portion of Oregon Road. Trump lost the lawsuit and decided to withdraw his housing application from North Castle. He is currently pursuing building on the Bedford side of the property. Trump appealed the lower court's decision and the appellate court has now ruled that the parties can go forward with a trial. The appellate court did not say that Trump was allowed to open the closed portion of Oregon Road. A date for a trial between the parties has not been set.
Just this year, renowned biologist Dr. Michael Klemens and Danielle LaBruna completed a biodiversity study of 1,000 acres in North Castle which included the Meyer Preserve and Seven Springs. The study concluded that the Meyer Preserve was a vital hub for the wildlife in the area. To read the study click here. Seven Springs is a critical link in a 1,500-acre nature corridor running from Mt. Kisco, through, New Castle, Bedford and North Castle. These large tracts of contiguous open space are an asset to our communities because they: (a) help to protect our drinking water; (b) provide habitats for a wide range of species, and (c) provide the towns' residents with miles of recreational opportunities. Seven Springs is one of the last large parcels of open space left in North Castle. It drains directly into Byram Lake Reservoir, which is the sole source of drinking water for the 10,000 residents of Mt. Kisco, the Mt. Kisco business center, and Northern Westchester Hospital. To learn more about Seven Springs click here. On April 4th, Judge Bellantoni will hold a hearing to decide whether to issue a preliminary injunction against Trump to prevent any further work on the road until a trial between the parties decides all the issues.
The Open Space Advocate Newsletter is written by Kerri A. Kazak, an attorney and open space advocate. Ms. Kazak formerly served as co-chair of the North Castle Open Space Committee. She is co-founder of the North Castle Land Trust, a chapter of the Westchester Land Trust. Ms. Kazak is also co-founder and co-chair of the Citizens' Campaign to Save Seven Springs. This newsletter is an independent publication with no affiliation with the North Castle town government or any other community groups or organizations.
