DEP Press Advisory on Deer Hunting Cancellation, October 2, 2001

NYC 9/11 Public Portal Document

JOEL A. MIELE SR., P.E. COMMISSIONER

IDS. (718)595-6600

CHARLES G. STURCKEN, ESQ. FAX (718)595-3477 CHIEF OF STAFF/SPECIAL COUNSEL

BUREAU OF PUBLIC AFFAIRS

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE CONTACT: Geoffrey Ryan (718/595-6600) October 2,2001 01-41 NEW YORK CITY CONTRACTS FOR CONSERVATION EASEMENT AND LAND IN KENSICO AND NEW CROTON RESERVOIR WATERSHEDS New York City has signed purchase contracts to acquire land owned by the Chiselhurst Corporation in both the Kensico arid Croton watersheds in Westchester County, according to an announcement by Comraissionef Joel A. Miele Sr., P.E., of the City’s Department of Environmental Protection (DEP). The property to be acquired is principally in the Town of New Castle and mostly in the Kensico Reservoir basin. The acquisition includes a conservation easement on 120 acres, as well as a fee-simple purchase of 14.8 acres. L “We are pleased to be taking this significant step forward in protectirig the Kensico Reservoir, one of the City’s most important assets,” said Commissioner Miele. “The larger parcel had been considered by the landowner for various development projects over the past decade. By signing these contracts, however, Chiselhurst officials have clearly demonstrated their willingness and interest in negotiating a deal at fair market value with the City and I want to thank them for their cooperation.” Of the total 135 acres to be secured under the newly signed purchase contract, all are in high priority zones of their respective reservoirs — roughly 120 acres in the Kensico basin and 15 in the New Croton watershed. The conservation easement allows a maximum of only three residences to be built on the 120-acre parcel, with the vast majority of the land dedicated to open space and protection of water quality. Added to 35 acres already acquired or placed under contract, this deal makes for a total of 155 acres that the City has secured to date in the Kensico basin under provisions of the 1997 Watershed Memorandum of Agreement.

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