JEERS to LEGOLAND

Dear Nieces and Nephews

JEERS: To Legoland which is not being the good neighbor it promised to be. Three times in recent months Legoland has been cited for contaminating a waterway with runoff from construction. As a story reported, recent rainstorms have sent silt from the construction site into the Otter Kill, turning it the color of chocolate milk and endangering the many local waterways it flows into. Local officials say that Legoland has “proposed additional remediation measures” which are under review but that does not answer many larger questions. If there are better ways to protect local waterways, a concern ever since Legoland first announced it wanted to come to town, why are they not being put in place? In fact, why were they not put in place before? The best Legoland can do is blame “challenging” weather. And what if those challenges continue, as they seem likely to? When will the Town of Goshen conclude that Legoland is not up to keeping the promises it made and halt construction until adequate measures are put in place?

http://www.recordonline.com/opinion/20180806/editorial-3-cheers-for-cooperation-and-jeer-for-legoland 

Phil Royle, when asked about he environmental violations, blames the extraordinary weather as the cause of the detrimental effects to the local environment. He has done so with each violation.

Phil, this severe runoff is due to the clear cutting of 100 acres instead of the “5 acres at a time” approach. Under the DEC guidelines, IF you clear cut more than 5 acres, you are required to have a back-up remediation plan, ON SITE, to compensate!  

 

Had you followed the law, you and Legoland Merlin entertainments would not be in the mess you’re in now. And we would not see these environmental blunders.

But never fear! Legoland is also in today’s THR’s Business News for charitable giving. $3K to Pets Alive Animal Sanctuary, Beautiful People of the Hudson Valley and off course, Merlin’s Magic Wand! Remember, while it is nice to raise money for charities, does  money raised  i.e received from other people, compensate for the damage Legoland has done to Goshen and Orange County?

http://www.recordonline.com/news/20180805/legoland-ny-raises-3k-for-nonprofits   

No, it does not.

But that’s not all. There’s the runoff into the Otterkill AND now sewage spills!!! Five, yes, five!

Not a very good way to “build relationships”.

About the violations

Goshen town attorney Rick Golden gave a rundown of the three violations issued to Legoland New York by the New York State Department of Environemtnal Conservation (DEC) since construction started in the spring:
The first violation was sent to both Legoland and the town of Goshen. The violation states "there was turbid water leaving the Legoland site and that there was more than 5 acres of disturbed soil at one time.” The DEC also issued a notice of violation dated June 7 to the town for "not properly overseeing the Legoland operation and allowing those violations to occur.” Golden said he responded to the notice on behalf of the town on June 29, telling the DEC that there is no violation for disturbing more than five acres with a stormwater pollution prevention plan, and that the turbidity runoff at the location had been rectified.
The second violation occurred when heavy equipment unknowingly disturbed a sanitary sewer pipe near the ground level, resulting in five spills. The pipe connects the Arcadia community to the village of Goshen’s sewer treatment plant. Each time the pipe broke, the holes and leaks got an immediate temporary fix, Golden said. Each spill averaged 250 gallons per spill. Legoland said it will replace the pipe, running a new line from Arcadia to the treatment plant. A bid is now out on the job, which Golden said would get done very soon.
The third violation, issued on Wednesday, July 25, is for turbidity in the Otterkill Creek and a feeder stream, "causing a visible contrast from natural conditions that was observed by DEC staff on a site visit." The notice says Legoland allowed the silt to escape the site. The DEC and the town asked Legoland for a new stormwater pollution prevention plan, and are now reviewing it. Violations of the state's Environmental Conservation Law are subject to fines up to $37,500 per violation per day. The DEC wrote to Legoland that "This violation will be referred to our Office of General Counsel for the appropriate enforcement.” The DEC also said communications from the town were unclear, unlabeled, and without subcatchments, which is used to model the runoff from a site. The DEC said the original plan needed to be updated to identify the flow and stockpile areas, and add further erosion and sediments controls. “More aggressive stabilization is needed," said the DEC.

http://www.chroniclenewspaper.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20180801/NEWS01/180809992/Three-strikes-for-Legoland-as-it-gets-another-runoff-violation 

At  Legoland Windsor in the UK, Merlin Entertainments is building their expansion on environmentally sensitive land.

At Legoland Fl, even though a team of "experts" from Goshen gave the Legoland Goshen project the "green light," as indicated in their Field Trip Report  (prior to a vote btw) all is not well in Winter Haven Fl either.

 

 http://www.townofgoshen.org/LegolandFEIS/APPENDIX%20P%20-%20TOWN%20LLFR%20SITE%20VISIT%20REPORT.pdf 

  

Legoland Fl, established in 2011 is located in the old Cypress Gardens (botanical garden and theme park. (upper left). The garden was, according to Legoland, preserved.

This appears to be a better strategy initially . Establish a theme park where there was a theme park. Not the current strategy of building/expanding on environmentally sensitive lands and ignoring the environmental laws of the US and the UK, respectively. But wait! (see below)*      

Annexation into city of winter haven:

For expansion and services

http://www.winterhavenchamber.com/blog/largest-legoland-expansion-in-resorts-history 

WINTER HAVEN, Fla. (Nov. 6, 2015) – LEGOLAND® Florida Resort will begin the process to annex its Polk County property into the City of Winter Haven, Fla., a decision the resort considers a key step in the evolution of the area into a world-class destination for the benefit of residents and visitors alike. 

http://www.winterhavenchamber.com/blog/legoland-florida-resort-to-begin-process-to-annex 

*BARTOW— County commissioners split Friday on whether to vote to allow Winter Haven to annex a portion of the former Cypress Gardens property owned by the county. Polk County has owned the property, which is protected by a conservation easement , since 2004.  

http://www.theledger.com/article/LK/20160124/News/608075985/LL/ 

Where did that conservation easement go? Does everyone see the Legoland Modus Operandi?

The road we follow now determines where we will be in the not so distant future.

And there will be no turning back. 

Let’s change course NOW! Before it is too late!!!!