Supporters of Summit Lake in Philmont, NY are celebrating a second court victory. Judge Richard Mott of Columbia Count Supreme Court has thrown out the Planning Board’s second approval of “The Woods,” a 22-acre high-end housing development in the lake’s wooded viewshed.

A Columbia County Supreme Court Judge recently sided with a conservation group in the second lawsuit seeking to overturn the Planning Board’s approval of the project

Summit Lake Conservation Group, with the support of local environmental organizations, has filed a second Article 78 lawsuit against the Philmont Planning Board, Board of Trustees, and Clover Reach Partners LLC, developers of “The Woods,” a 22-acre subdivision which will carve luxury homes into the pristine wooded viewshed above Summit Lake. 

On February 21, Clover Reach Partners—aka Claverack Builders—presented a revised site plan for “The Woods,” a subdivision of 16 high-end houses on the steep hillside above Summit Lake.

As a member of Summit Lake Conservation Group, I sued the Philmont Planning Board, Board of Trustees and Clover Reach Partners LLC to stop a housing development above Summit Lake. Here's my story.

Summit Lake wins in court! Judge sides with Summit Lake Conservation Group and overturns Philmont Planning Board’s approval of The Woods!