LANSING, N.Y. — New York Gov. Kathy Hochul on Dec. 1 announced a land-purchase agreement between the Finger Lakes Land Trust (FLT) and New York State Electric & Gas Corp. (NYSEG) for the 470-Acre Bell Station, the largest privately-owned undeveloped lake shoreline in the Finger Lakes. Hochul in September had announced that NYSEG had canceled […]
LANSING, N.Y. — New York Gov. Kathy Hochul on Dec. 1 announced a land-purchase agreement between the Finger Lakes Land Trust (FLT) and New York State Electric & Gas Corp. (NYSEG) for the 470-Acre Bell Station, the largest privately-owned undeveloped lake shoreline in the Finger Lakes.
Hochul in September had announced that NYSEG had canceled the auction of land known as Bell Station with 3,400 feet of pristine shoreline on the east side of Cayuga Lake in Tompkins County, and that three state agencies would facilitate permanent protection of this parcel and maximize public access.
“The purchase of this land will guarantee its protection and preservation for future generations — making environmentally conscious decisions like this allow us peace of mind knowing our children and their children will have access to green space and a beautiful lakeview in the Finger Lakes,” the governor contended. “I am proud of the hard work and collaboration between our state agencies, NYSEG, and the Finger Lakes Land Trust to quickly move ahead with the sale agreement that will pave the way for the transfer of ownership of Bell Station.”
The New York Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) and the FLT will create a public wildlife-management area on the lakeshore portion of the property. Bell Station is recognized as a priority project in New York State’s Open Space Plan and designated as future public-access conservation land in the Town of Lansing Comprehensive Plan. The property sale does not require further review or approval by the Public Service Commission, according to the governor’s office.
The state says Cayuga Lake is a critical resource for drinking water, tourism, and recreation in the region. It contends that preserving Bell Station will help protect vital habitat for plants and wildlife, and greatly enhance public recreation opportunities by providing direct shoreline access to the east side of Cayuga Lake, which is 90 percent privately-owned. The lake supports sport fisheries, including largemouth bass, chain pickerel, northern pike, crappie, yellow perch, sunfish, gar, and bowfin.
The state says the plan is for the easternmost portion of the property to be used for the production of renewable solar energy.