NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARING
PLEASE TAKE NOTICE that a public hearing will be held by the Town of Olive Town Board on the
designation of two Critical Environmental Areas (CEA) within the Town of Olive on November 14 th , 2023
starting at 6:30 p.m. at the Town Hall in Shokan.
The purpose of the designation is to alert landowners, developers, and regulatory agencies to
exceptional or unique local environmental features during State Environmental Quality Review. The
designation ensures that these features are not overlooked, and that potentially harmful impacts to
them are evaluated in determining the significance of a proposed action.
The proposed Beaverdam Creek/Rochester Creek Critical Environmental Area (CEA) encompasses 793
acres. The goal is to promote the protection of surface water, groundwater, and wildlife habitats in the
stream corridors. The CEA encompasses a 1700-foot-wide zone along the two streams and their
tributaries.
Beaverdam Creek rises below the Wagon Wheel Notch between High Point and Little Point, gathering
water below the gorge at the Samsonville Road crossing and running generally south for four miles
before joining Rochester Creek near the southern corner of the town. Rochester Creek begins in western
Marbletown, runs ca. 2.2 miles.
The goal of the proposed establishment of the Pacama Vly Critical Environmental Area (CEA) to promote
the protection of the unusual wetland community. The Pacama Vly is an approximately 187-acre
wetland that straddles the boundaries of the towns of Marbletown, Rochester, and Olive in Ulster
County, New York. It is fed and drained by the Vly Brook which joins Rochester Creek ca. 0.4 miles below
the wetland outlet. The Vly Brook is classified “A” by the New York State Department of Environmental
Conservation (NYSDEC), signifying that the best use is for drinking water supply. The segment of the
brook that feeds the Vly is also classified as a trout stream (“T”), indicating that it has the clear, cool
conditions needed to support trout. This is the area of the proposed CEA. The Pacama Vly has been
recognized by New York State for its significant contributions to regional biodiversity and other natural
resource services.
PLEASE TAKE FURTHER NOTICE that descriptions of proposed Critical Environmental Areas and maps of
their locations are available on the Town’s Website (https://townofolive.org)for review or at the Town
Offices, 45 Watson Hollow Road, West Shokan, NY.
All interested persons will be given an opportunity to be heard in person or by directing comments in
writing to the Town Board. All reasonable accommodations will be made for persons with disabilities.
In such a case, please notify the Town Clerk in advance at the above address or by phone 845-657-2320
ext5 so that arrangements can be made.
By order of the Town of Olive Town Board
Dawn Giuditta, Town Clerk