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October 2007
Greetings;

I'm 56 years old, and a long-time lover of hiking Blue Mt., and enjoying it as beautiful & bountiful nature-in-view while swimming at Beltzville Lake. One of the great joys of living in Allentown is being in a big-enough metro area, yet just twenty minutes away from a beach to swim at surrounded by calming, silent nature.

I've already seen ugly houses appearing on the side of the mountain, austerely breaking the beauty I once so lovingly took for granted. Now, just like the immediate perimeter of Allentown, I fear losing a paradise of beautiful trees and natural forestation, to ticky-tacky, BORING homes and malls, & a crowded mass of widened roads, traffic jams, & stoplights. We've lived to seriously regret it--the "Letters to the Editor" will clearly tell you.

Carl W. Coleman
Allentown

June 30, 2007

Just wanted to share my moment on the Aquashicola. I just fed the fish & was relaxing along the stream & noticed movement along the bank. Saw the vegetation moving & figured it to be some kind of ground bird. Out pops mother otter & her 3 pups along the bank. They swam across the stream & seem to be headed upstream. Hope we don't lose their environment.
 
Ellen M. Ogle
Eldred Township

February 27, 2006

The BMPA acts to preserve all that I really care about: woods, animals, clean streams, tranquility and the Appalachian Trail.  We have to save the forested mountain tops for the next generations to come. 
 
This organization is driven to protect what God has given us to enjoy.  Shame on those who pollute and want to destroy this sanctuary. 
 
I'm going to send a very important $5.00 membership fee in soon because this is an organization I can say that I am proud to be a part of.   

Continue the vital efforts of fighting development which threatens our remaining beautiful Blue Mountain.
 
Jerry Loeper Jr.
Sinking Spring, PA



February 17, 2006

Having lived in Effort Pa, just north of Eldred Twp, for almost 5 years, I have only recently wandered down Lower Smith Gap Road and taken in the beauty of the Aquashicola valley. 

I am appalled to hear that someone is even considering ruining this pristine area with a tourist attraction.  I hope your efforts in keeping Alpine Rose from coming in and destroying this natural habitat will be successful. 

I will continue to support this cause and ask that you keep me informed of your progress.

Sincerely,

Kendra Borland
Usborne Books at Home



June 1, 2005

Defeating this is not just a regional issue, it will add to other defeats being worked on & accomplished, sending more & more a clear message to our peers that the time & money is worth it, and to would-be builders their time & money isn't!

 Carl W. Coleman



October 14, 2004

To build this race track in this area is simply wrong.

First off, traffic will become a major problem. The existing road(s) thatservice this area are NOW inadequate for the people that live near thisproposed area. They are narrow country roads with many homes being olderfarmhouses built in the 1800s that are too close to the road. The roadsthemselves are in poor condition and very windy. The very windy partcertainly attracts motorcyclists as it is a wonderful ride in the country.Expanding the road or widening them - well, remember the nice old farmhouses built in the 1800s.

Secondly, the increase in traffic will result in offshoot of litter,accidents (due to the roads' increased traffic). Try air-lifting someone outof there. Noise will certainly increase and the exhaust of gas fumes willbe trapped within the valley.

Third, this inconvenience will not be shared by all like taxes. It will bebore by those who reside in that area, and that is not right. Perhaps thosewho are for it should allow this track to be built in their back yard.

Fourth, the Appalachian Trail. It is enjoyed by many people throughoutthis nation, myself being included. People do the hike to become one withnature. The track would infringe on that pleasure.

Now, as far as development goes ... I am NOT against it. However, what weneed to do is be wise in where we develop. It does not make ANY sense todevelop in an area that is relatively pristine and enjoyed by many peoplebecause that is what it is. So then, where does one develop?

One should develop where it will contribute a positive to the area and unitethe inhabitant to realize its worth. Near the town of Palmerton there is aside of mountain that has been devastated by years of industrial butchery.The landscape is more closely related to the Badlands of Wyoming thanEastern Pennsylvania.

This portion of mountain could benefit from development. It would certainlycontribute to the town of Palmerton's economy. Also one must note thecurrent road network near this area. It is much more adequate in handlingthe increase in traffic. The traffic patterns themselves would also beeased. Increasing one's vision, there is certainly more room for continueddevelopment that again would benefit the region's economy. And, if one wouldwant to take a nice scenic drive or hike the Appalachian Trail - thattoo would still be intact in all its untouched glory.

Warmest Regards,

David P. Pucci



October 11, 2004

Dear Blue Mountain folks:

We are facing a similar battle here in Tamworth, NH. Just keep on fighting. These tracks don’t make much economic sense and sooner or later these businesses will collapse of their own weight.

Best wishes,

Stephen Gaal Fine Furniture
PO Box 91
North Sandwich,
NH 03259
Tele: 603-284-7183

steve@gaal.com



June 14, 2004

Good luck in your efforts to SAVE THE BLUE

Martin J. Nichols
Jim Thorpe, PA


June 13, 2004

As a middle aged male and drag racing enthusiast, I think your proposed plans to build this race track in Eldred Township, Pennsylvania does a terrible disservice to the community and the environment, while reflecting poorly on your organization. I've read the article in the Morning call, as well as information on your website and that of Blue Mountain Preservation's website, and I overwhelmingly support your opposition. Your admission of the following cars, "Each course offers distinct challenges for high performance cars, road going sports cars and sport sedans, GT cars, collector and historic sports cars"as well as your inclusion of motorcycles, leads me to believe your noise level studies are a huge misrepresentation. I base that allegation on the many different types of engines, their modifications, and engine RPM levels not to mention the backfiring resonance that occurs during decelerating from a high rpm, tire squeal and accidents. Nobody living in the area wants to hear that, and certainly not seven days a week. Surely you don't think you can "cap" noise levels by limiting speed, engine modifications, and/or requiring the vehicle to have a muffler? There wouldn't be much fun in that for your members! Then there is the pollution consequences of such a facility...built on top of a mountain nonetheless.I don't think your organization cares though...you know that if you get your approval and the place is built, there isn't much that area residents and outdoorsman will be able to do about you. The area will be compromised at the expense of residents and wildlife; the Appalachian Trail experience will have been diminished, while oil, gas, and sewage find their way into the clean waterways. You obviously don't live in a beautiful area like the Blue Mountains, so how could you understand. How about putting your resources towards acquiring an already established facility and modifying it to fit your needs?

Matt Woll


April 5, 2004

I love your website. I too hope the track does not come to fruition. I maynot be unique with this view, but since I am an SCCA member and active autoracer I may not be opponent to the project. Besides being a racer, I am alsoan outdoorsman and believe there are better locations than others for thistype of facility. The West End is not one of the better places. I too amtired of the over-development of this area. I live in Jonas and though wehave not suffered as badly as some other areas, development is getting outof control. Despite the argument of racing enthusiasts who claim they needsuch a facility, facilities such as Pocono Raceway already have road racecourses in existence. There is no good reason to have such a facility inEldred township. I am one of the "enthusiasts" who could, in theory, mostbenefit from a track in our area. I would rather drive to Pocono, WatkinsGlen, NY or Lime Rock Park CT. to enjoy excellent facilities. If we developmuch more, My family and I will move away. This will be a growing trend inthe future.

Thx

Tom Byrne
84 Charger 2.2 FSP
89 Shelby Dakota #233
99 Neon DOHC DSP
04 Jeep Willys Edition (1 of 1000)

The inherent vice of capitalism is the unequal sharing of blessings; the
inherent vice of socialism is the equal sharing of miseries.
- WinstonChurchill. ...

March 21, 2004

It's been a long winter, full of opportunities for reflection. As I sit here today, gazing out my living room picture window I realize how lucky I am to live in such a beautiful, serene area. I am fortunate to have a wonderful view of the Blue Mt. unobstructed by buildings and on most days unimpaired by unwanted noise. My days are filled with the sounds of the songbirds, the screech of the raptor or the occasional dog barking. Certainly the sounds of the roadway, usually large trucks from the quarry interrupt our peace and quite for a few moments at a time, but these always pass on and the peace and quite that I so love returns. In early morning and early evening I can watch the deer and the turkey as they pass through diligently feeding and listening for predators. As evening progresses you hear the owls and the whip-poor-will begin to awaken and fill the night with their eerie song. If I'm very lucky I will happen upon a black bear and l uckier still her cubs! It is at times like these that I thank God for these gifts and am reminded that we are all caretakers of this wonderful place that we call home.

If Richard Muller, and his racetrack have their way, all of these things will become distant memories. Gone forever will be the peace and quite that was once a haven for wildlife and a sanctuary for the human inhabitants. Instead we will have nonstop noise from sun-up to sun-down, 7 days a week, 12 months of the year.

I cannot stand idly by and allow someone into my home whose soul purpose is to destroy all of those things that I hold so dear. Can you?

Judy Rush
Kunkletown

February 23, 2004

Richard Muller, Jr. is back again demanding final approval for hismotorsports country club. Despite 13 years of pushing this idea and 2-1/2years of trying to get approval from Eldred, Muller still doesn't have a setof plans that honestly depict the development he is selling. Once again hehas added things to his plans that he assured area residents he would not behaving. Suddenly there is a lot more lighting than before, mercury vaporlighting, which he assured the township he would not be doing. And how canhis noise berms be "optional" when his own noise data indicates that eventhe berms he was proposing in the past won't keep the unbearable soundinside his property? And when is he going to submit accurate sound data forthe helicopters that will be using his private helicopter landing pad? Heclaimed this was for emergency use only, but that's not the permit that heapplied for. He has applied for one that will allow helicopters to fly inat his discretion, which means a luxury ride for corporate big wigs and morenoise for all the residents.

Blue Mountain Preservation members have demanded again and again thataccurate data be submitted and real studies be done to assess the impact ofthis development, but instead of working with the township in a responsiblemanner, Muller complains that he is being held up by BMPA. He has shown noability to actually plan a development of this size, let alone actuallybuild and manage one.

Eldred Township is selling its greatest commodity - its rural peace andquiet - to a money-chasing man who ran his last business enterprise, IceCity, into the ground. How stupid can that be? As Doctor Phil would say,"How's that working for you, Eldred?"

Sue Stacy
Blue Mountain Resident

June 30, 2003

There is something terribly wrong in the township of Eldred. For over 2years now Dick Muller, Jr. has submitted false data, grossly inaccurateplans and inaccurate marketing/tax data to township officials for hisAlpine Rose proposed country club. And they have taken him at his word,despite the fact that his own words continually contradict themselves. Butthey say "We have to take him at his word."

For over 2 years now concerned citizens of this same township havesubmitted documents, land deeds, expert testimony and a whole lot of commonsense data to these township officials proving without a shadow of a doubtthat Dick Muller, Jr. is NOT being straightforward with the community ofEldred Township. But the citizens and environmental experts they havehired have not been given the same courtesy and respect as the developer.The supervisors not only don't take us at our word, they totally ignore ourexperts and the common sense that God tried to give him. When they wereshown that Muller is selling memberships for motorcyclists on his website,despite the fact that he had promised the township there would be nomotorcycles, their only reply was "It's not illegal to lie on a website."

By granting conditional approval, two men are deciding the fate of thiswhole area. They don't want to hear about how property values willdecline, they don't want to hear about how noisy it will be. Maybe theyare really just getting an early start on the deafness we will all beexperiencing after listening to a racetrack 7 days/week, 9 months/year.Maybe they'll only start listening to us when the citizens sue them forloss of property value and impact on quality of life. But whatever ittakes, we can't let Muller and his 2 supervisors destroy the best of thisarea. It is worth fighting for.

Sue Stacy
Blue Mountain Resident

March 13, 2003
Hello,

I just read the article about this "race track" on Iwon.com and I think it's appalling thatthis "race club" wants to destroy wild life and the country side and disrupt people who livein this area and people who visit to get away from the "rat race"

We have enough "race tracks" in the USA, lets not destroy another 300 plus acres of mother nature and it's wildness just for man to get another "Rat Race"

Do you have a petition started somewhere that I can sign?If not take a look here, you can set one up!! http://www.thepetitionsite.com/

Best regards

John Koren
North Cost Ohio


March 8, 2003

I read in our local newspaper about the plans to build a high speed racetrack in your area of the Blue mountain. I urge you to fight & opose it as much as you financilly can, because you can expect NO help from your local officials. I live in the Drums area & it a very nice place to live in if it were not for the one blight on our communuity, & that is the pocono mt. race track in St. Johns PA.. This track started in 1955 as a small local track , & now because of very poor township leadership we now have a muchly expanded track to the point we closer residents must leave our homes whenever they race, because of the noise & vibrations from the large motors & the uncontroled noise that comes with racing. The deer & other game have left the wooded areas around the racetrack. We are constantly [misled], by our local leaders to the point where the direction of their leadership is questionable. The only monies your area can hope to collect is an amusement tax, & this is kept very secret. If you cannot stop this track entirely, at least have your local leaders put strict sanctions on this type of activety before it becomes uncontrolable as it is here. We are seeking legal advice on possible what action to undertake, & I strongely suggest you do the same now before this monster starts to roar.

Garth;


March 8, 2003

Living in a beautiful area on the Central Coast of California, I can appreciate your concerns over the new race track encroaching on the Trail. The Hearst Corporation (yes, the newspaper giant family) tried to build a huge resort in north San Luis Obispo County. Golf courses, hotels, conference centers, etc. right near the "Hearst Castle" . This resort would also encompass prime beach and coastal property and be a blight on the landscape and disturbing wildlife habitat, among other things.

After years and years of negotiations, our local people managed to scale down the proposition and the Land Conservancy with cooperation from the Hearst Family bought the biggest portion for preservation. The to be built facility will be just a whisper of what it could have been.

The message I am trying to give you, is ----don't give up. Fight it with every angle that you can!!!!!

Edith Mascolo
San Luis Obispo, CA


Eldred Township Board of Supervisors
August 14, 2002

To whom it may concern:

I was shocked to read that Eldred Township is considering granting permission for a racetrack in the wonderful rural setting.

Rather awful to think of noisy cars, lights, traffic insuch a beautiful spot.

Say NO to such a terrible idea.

Sincerely,
Vivian Schatz


Supervisors of Eldred Twsp
Kunkletown, Pa

Kunkletown in the surrounding area of Eldred Township is a ruralplace with a few developments, farmland and fair sized stretches of forests. Most of the residents love its refuge from ever encroaching urban sprawl. A wide range of wildlife find refuge hereincluding deer, bear and plenty of other small mammals which live there (racoons,rabbits, pheasants, wild turkeys and songbirds).The Appalachian Trail looks down on all of this from Blue Mountain.According to experts at Hawk Mountain Sanctuary, the Blue Mountain region is the premier raptor migration corridor in the northeasternUnited States and one of the leading migration sites in the world.This place is essential for protection.But if Richard W. Muller,Jr of Alpine Rose Resorts has his way all this will be decimeted and degraded.The former owner of now bankrupt Ice City wants to create a 360 acreresort for wealthy sportscar playboys.The sprawling would feature a noisy pollution producer 3.2 mile racetrack, clubhouse, garages, volleyball courts etc. and a 4 acre concourse.

Though the developer promises economic benefits, many residentsfear the project will bring a wealth of problems in the way of air, noise,water and light pollution.The site is directly above the AquashicolaCreek . Run off including oil,gas and coolant from sportscars will findits way into the wetlands. New sewer infrastructure must also be constructed. Lighting would cause light pollution drowning out starry skies. Noise pollution would be great-50 cars at the same time at 60 decibels each. Muller says he will build a berm around the track tokeep noise in ,but it will only act as an amplifier creating echoes upand down the valley.

Please reject this noise,air and light pollution complex and help preserve remaining open spaces left in our beautiful state.

Sincerely,
V.F.
Meadowbrook, Pa


Eldred Township Board of Supervisors
P.O. Box 600
Kunkletown, Pa 18058

Dear Supervisors:

Please allow the village of Kunkletown to remain untouched. Please do not allow Richard W.Muller,Jr.,of Alpine Rose Resorts, or any of his associates toconstruct any part of the sportscar enthusiasts' resort he has planned for that area.

As an article in the Pennsylvania Sierra Club's newspaper pointed out recently, the resort would bring many pollution problems--"air,noise,water and light..."Supervisors, please vote to deny a permit to Muller.

We have already contacted our state representativeto urge him to deny state funding for the proposedproject.Thank you.

Yours truly, Katherine and William Bartholomew


Eldred Township Supervisors
P.O. Box 600
Kunkletown, Pa 18058
Dated Aug. 6

Dear Supervisors:

Please note that we live far away, in Bucks County. However, it has come to our attention that a developer, Richard Muller of Alpine Rose Resorts, wishes to develop 360 acres of gorgeous land, above Aquashicola Creek into a resort for sports car enthusiasts.

Have you ever been around tracks like these? They are noisy, unsightly areas filled with pollution. Possible economic benefits (and how much benefit would there be to the surrounding community if this is a self-contained resort offering soup-to-nuts services??) cannot totally overshadow what your township and maybe even surrounding townships might have to pay to mitigate air, water and light pollution, let alone the possibility of having one environmental disaster after another happening due to runoff of oil and water and chemicals into the Creek. And what about noise?

Noise not only ruins areas and their scenic as well as quality of life values, but also can contribute to a decrease in a person's sense of mental health and peacefulness. Building a berm around the track will do little to quash noise, and indeed, might exacerbate the problem by creating further amplification.

Eldred Township was one of the places we were considering to retire in. You can rest assured your beautiful area, now filled with farms, few developments, forests and small towns with real character, will be so negatively affected, that we would no longer visit, let alone live there.

Please resist the promise of better economic benefits. Look at history, this rarely happens. What usually happens is some developer, some corporation, makes out quite well, and the local residents lose their quality of life while their government take on fiscal responsibilities the area cannot sustain or support.

Thank you for your attention to this matter.

Very Truly Yours,

Sharon Furlong and Park Furlong


Dear Members of the BMPA,

It is quite clear that the proposed Alpine Rose Racetrack will take away the beauty and serenity of the Federallymaintained Appalachian Trail and threaten it's ecosystem on the Blue Ridge Mountains in the Poconos!

The possible degradation of our water resources are also of great concern to the Pocono Environmental Coalition & Wildlife Society, Inc. and should not be threatened by a project of this nature. The topography is unsuitable with a 25% slope or greater in some areas! Nonpoint source pollution will surely meander down to nearby wetlands where the Federally Endangered Bog turtle isknown to exist, as stated by the Federal Fish & Wildlife Agency. Furthermore, our members believe an unbiased third party, environmental assessment study should be done before any wetland permits be issued! We must stand united for the preservation of our ecosystem's that give life to humanity and wildlife!

Elizabeth Grieco
Pocono Environmental Coalition
& Wildlife, Inc. - a non profit org.
pecws@ptd.net

Muller must be stopped before he destroys the mountain for our generation and future generations. He has no regard for the ecological system in our area or the consequences he can cause. We have no need of a curving race course for people to learn driving skills, up to now all teens in our area have learnt to drive on our roads that are curvy and narrow, some have died unfortunately but then all teens think they can drive better than their parents and learning to drive at top speeds will only make them worse once they get on the roads, since a track has cars only going one way they will forget on a road traffic goes both ways. Our roads do not have membership fees. NOISE does the man think we are all morons he claims we will not hear 50 cars going 120 mph, when one can hear a bird sing or the neighbors lawn mower, these sounds are temporary not hours of constant high speed cars 7 days per week, actually I much prefer to hear the birds and lawn mowers at least they are friendly sounds.

Everyone come to the meetings and hear for yourself, knowledge is a wonderful thing.
Marion O'Donnell

Although I am not able to attend the hearing to oppose the Alpine RoseResorts' plan to build a race track on Blue Mt., I am familar with thearea, having visited the ancient Lenape Indian village ofMeniolagomekah, which borders the proposed resort.

This plan is absolutely without merit, and will cause untold harm to theenvironment, none of which seems to have gotten to the legislators --yet. Two important factors cry out for the defeat of this proposal:State Game Land will be affected, as the noise from the race cars willdisturb the creatures that live on it; and it will adversely affect thequiet and beauty of the Appalachian Trail, which traverses the proposedresort. Lastly, I don't see the logic of constructing a race track on asteep mountain slope.

Norman Muller

Thank you for all the hard work that you have been doing to preserve the area from inappropriate development. This developer is also at work with the same concept in New Jersey. In New Jersey, they are calling it a RACETRACK with projected attendance per event of over 100,000 people. Depending on the final site selection, the "Citizens United to Protect the Maurice River and its Tribuitaries", www.cumauriceriver.org, may have some inputs on the site.

J. Stacy