By Jeff Cole, Channel 7 on February 6, 2024
TOWN OF ORLEANS, New York (WWNY) – Add Governor Hochul to the list of people who don’t want Blind Bay to be developed. It’s a major voice to be speaking out for local people who are fighting U.S. Customs and Border Protection from building a new facility on that piece of property.
The Blind Bay property is 20 acres with 295 feet of it along the St. Lawrence River. It’s an ideal location for CBP to build a new 48,0000-square-foot facility.
But environmentalist groups like Save the River and the Thousand Islands Land Trust don’t want that.
To stop it, the land trust bought the property in 2022 but still fears it could be taken by the government with eminent domain.
Now those environmentalists and supporters have more support from Governor Kathy Hochul.
The governor’s office released this statement:
“Blind Bay is a natural beauty and important ecosystem that must be preserved and protected, which is why Governor Hochul urges the U.S. Customs and Border Protection to consider alternative locations proposed by the local communities and stakeholders that will still fit the needs for its expanded facility.”
An alternative site that many support is the former Bonnie Castle Stables off Interstate 81 along State Route 12. It’s owned by the town of Alexandria.
There’s also interest by CBP to move to the property where Dockside Cottages is near Clayton. That idea faces plenty of pushback as well.
