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We want to stop the proposed construction, building, and  approval of a development of a Recreational Vehicle Park and Campground on five (5) parcels along the north side of NYS Route 30 south of Woods Hollow Road in the Town of Mayfield.

It is proposed as a 277-lot RV/Campsite development on Woods  Hollow Road, with the main entrance being on Woods Hollow Road. Our road  is currently all residential with 5 small roads off it, mostly  full-year occupied homes in the range 800-2000sq ft. There is also a  SMALL (5 lot) RV park off one side road, which was unable to be stopped  when developed.

The overall size of the project site will be approximately 83.4+/-  acres. The project will involve the creation of RV lots, glamping, and  tents. There will be an amphitheater, restrooms/shower facilities,  playgrounds, picnic pavilions, a swimming pool, kayak/canoe rental, dock  system, boat slips, boat launch and beach access.

WHY DO WE WANT TO STOP IT:

This development would have the following negative impacts:

Traffic

The overwhelming majority of visitors will be accessing the site via  the New York State Thruway via Amsterdam. There are two proposed  entrances:

The first entrance being proposed, and the only main entrance, would  be on Woods Hollow Road, approximately 1/3 of the way down.  Most  vehicles leaving the proposed campsite will be taking a left off of  Woods Hollow Road onto Route 30.  The turn looking towards your left has  visibility issues. Currently, in the summer, it routinely takes upwards  of 5 minutes for a car to make a left, as most residents on Woods  Hollow Road can attest to. Adding 277 plus cars, RV’s, campers-in-tow, and boat trailers waiting for traffic to clear in both directions on  Route 30 will make this situation untenable.  In addition, the right  hand turn onto Woods Hollow for those coming north on Route 30 (from the  Thruway), to turn onto Woods Hollow Road, is a hairpin-nearly-180-degree turn for those RVs and those hauling a camper  or boat trailer.  The difficulty of this turn, as well as the traffic  slow-down of other vehicles waiting for that traffic to turn onto Woods  Hollow would make travel at this portion of the road extremely  difficult.

Furthermore, Woods Hollow Road already has its own traffic issues.  With Lakeside Tavern & Marina at the end of the road, plus full-year residents who live on the road, there is quite a bit of traffic Wednesday-Sunday each week.  There is a very heavy amount of traffic  from Memorial Day to Labor Day due to the addition of summer visitors, seasonal residents who live off 5 side roads (Pedrick Road, Maple Ridge Road, Loop Drive, Buckos Bay Road, Atkins Road), and boat slip renters at the  marina.  This would heavily impact slow-down traffic issues, walkability, and air pollution on the road and this area of the lake. Per the developer, this would "increase traffic 100%" on Woods Hollow Road.

The second entrance is proposed is now only proposed as an emergency  exit (updated 8/17/2021) on the northeast side of Route 30 just past the  Sandhill Road intersection where the entrance to a sandpit is currently  located.  This is heading north on Route 30, on a blind hill with no  visibility for southbound vehicles to the entrance traffic (cars, RV’s,  campers-in-tow, boat trailers, etc). All traffics exiting the site to  the NYS Thruway must make a left turn, which will be extremely dangerous  to southbound vehicles at the current 55 mph speed limit. The vehicles  entering the site from the southbound lane, which will have to make a  dangerous left turn into the entrance, will be stopped on the blind  hill, and the chances of rear end collisions are enormous.  The proposal includes a required flagger and/or safety personnel (police) during an emergency use of this entrance.

Population density

The proposed project has an extremely high-population density, and  the plan proposes only 10% of green space on the entire site.  The  proposed site is for 277 lots.  With an average of 3-4 people per lot,  the site would expect to see an additional 831 – 1,108 people during  peak season in July and August.  Woods Hollow Road currently has over 30  year-round residences and approximately 25 seasonal residences.  Not to mention all the people who rent boat dock slips at Lakeside Tavern & Marina. This project would be a 600% increase in local population density.

Environmental impact (Noise, garbage, and air pollution)

Besides noise from the additional traffic, adding a potential of a  approximately 1,100 people to the area would increase noise pollution.   All noise from the proposed site, especially from the amphitheater, will  reverberate up the bay and the noise pollution will affect all area  residents.  Residing campers at lakefront lots, the noise from 1100  additional people will be LOUD and echo through the woods and lake  channel; from Woods Hollow Road (and adjoining roads) to across Second  Avenue in Broadalbin (and other connected neighborhoods), to houses and  homes in the Village of Broadalbin, on Route 30, and on Route 155/West  Main Street in Broadalbin.

Woods Hollow Road already has an issue with garbage on the road, due  to the many visitors from seasonal to restaurant patrons.  With the  proposed site directly on the lake, the runoff from all garbage, waste,  and potential septic contamination would be directly into the lake.  Any  blowing garbage, litter and refuse would be deposited into the lake.

As mentioned above, extra vehicle traffic would contribute to  additional air pollution.  Current residents of these areas would not be  able to enjoy our roads as we currently do: to walk our dogs, to enjoy  wildlife (animals, plants) and walk to the lake front at the end of our  road.

Both vehicle and boat traffic would surely affect lake wildlife in  the area.  The migratory waterfowl and local wildlife that frequent the  area will be driven off by the development.  This includes blue herons,  white egrets, ducks, loons, wild turkeys, deer, occasional moose, black  bears, and more.

Quality of Life

The residents that have purchased property and lived in the  neighborhood did so in the belief that they lived in a rural, quiet  neighborhood and bay.  The addition of 1,200 plus people and their  boats, jet skis, vehicles, noise, garbage will completely change the  dynamics of the area.  No longer will residents be able to enjoy walks  along Woods Hollow without fear from the increased traffic. There is  HRBRRD permit access for numerous Woods Hollow Road residents at the  lakefront, many of which walk to those accesses. Those that moor in the  bay in the summer or kayak/canoe along the Kennyetto bay or creek will  now do so amid hundreds of campers and boaters.  The potential damage to  the private docks and shoreline from the increased boat traffic is impossible to calculate.

Tax Revenue

There will be no measurable positive impact to the Fulton County and  Town of Mayfield tax base.  As most visitors will access the proposed  campground via the NYS Thruway and Route 30, shopping and the sales tax  generated from it will mostly likely occur in Montgomery County in  Amsterdam, as the main shopping stores (Walmart, Hannaford, Price  Chopper, Target) nearby are located in Montgomery County (and directly  on the way to the campsite) .  The rental of campsites, trailer sites,  and other like real property constitutes the rental of real property;  the receipts from which are not subject to sales tax(1). Unlike hotels  or motels, there is no Occupancy Tax for campsites.  RVs and campers are  temporary structures and do not pay property tax.  There will be no  dedicated, full-time, year-round employees.  Any jobs created will be  seasonal, part-time, unskilled and low wage. The only increase in tax  revenue will be from the minor real property improvements (such as  campsite restrooms) and their assessed value.

(1)New York State Department of Taxation and Finance – A Guide to Sales Tax for Hotel and Motel Operator

Given all of the information above, we conclude that there will be  minimal benefits of this project to the town of Mayfield and the people  of Fulton County.  And these are greatly outweighed by the negative  impacts and the risks associated with it. “Once it is built it cannot be unbuilt!”  Our hopes are that we can preserve Woods Hollow Road, and  adjoining roads the way it is today.  Additionally, preserving the Great  Sacandaga Lake, its wildlife, water, and shorelines is important so  that it can be here for others to enjoy for many years to come!

Thank you for taking the time to read this, and supporting our cause!

Please consider *SIGNING* our petition & ***SHARING*** this website to preserve our lake, neighborhood, and environment, so that it can be  enjoyed as it currently is for many people and years to come! Even if  you don’t live here, you can make a difference!