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About The Clausland Mountain Preservation Association:
The Clausland Mountain Preservation Association was first formed
in the early 1970's by the Alison family and a group of friends
and at that time the goal was to preserve some 450 acres of Clausland
Mountain summit from a development proposed at that time. Thanks
to the intervention of the Nature Conservancy and other groups the
land was preserved and is now part of the County of Rockland park
land. The original seller of this land held back 50 acres of the
high summit of this mountain for future development. This land remained
in a passive state until just recently when a new developer became
involved who would now like to place 18 new luxury homes on this
summit. To make the property viable for this type of sale would
require clear cutting of the mountain top to provide the views necessary
to demand this type of price. It is this very type of development
that we would hope to avert - the development of the very peak of
Clausland Mountain. This region of the Clausland Mountain is visible
for many miles throughout the Hudson Valley corridor. If you drive
across the Tappan Zee Bridge, or ride the Metro North train along
the east side of the river this is the most prominent point of the
mountain crest that you see to the south of the Tappan Zee Bridge.
If your live in Ossining, Sleepy Hollow, Tarrytown, Dobbs Ferry
and other river towns this parcel is visible to you.
A Brief History:
The history of Clausland Mountain is an interesting one. The name
comes from a seventeenth century local Native American by the name
of Jean Claus who brokered this property to a group of local Dutch
settlers. The land has remained undeveloped over the last three
centuries (or for an eternity for that matter!). It is presently
covered by the boulders strewn about by the last glacier age of
some 10,000 year ago. Hikers through this area frequently uncover
old axe blades, celts and arrow heads used by the original settlers
of this area.
Current Efforts to Preserve Clausland Mountain:
The present organization has been a continuing effort for some 20
years now to preserve this part of our natural heritage. In support
of our project has been invaluable support by the Scenic Hudson,
Inc. and the Sierra Club whom both have put their full support behind
our efforts to prevent the development of this land. Both of these
organizations have been critical in identifying interested parties
with funding support to convert this land to passive park land.
The land surrounding this parcel, on three sides, is already designated
passive park land. With your support we can convert this last remaining
parcel of mountain summit to local park land. We are to date still
very short of our goal of and need to obtain between $450,000.00
and $600,000.00 to complete the purchase. Every little bit of support
helps! The end result will be additional open land for Rockland
County, further addition to our passive park land sites, an a magnificent
view uninterrupted by development that can be seen for many miles
in several directions.
--James T. Goodrich CO-President
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