KNOW FIMFO

05/27/2026

There is a meeting of the Planning Board tonight, Wed, May 27, at 6 PM. FIMFO is not on the agenda, but we are expecting an update on the process and status of the FEIS.

Meanwhile, the CAMP FIMFO RESORT has submitted a new ground water discharge application, requesting a permit from the NY DEC for the release of “ 29,230 gallons per day (GPD) of subsurface discharges of treated-sanitary-waste-to-groundwater from 14 new subsurface discharges.” This discharge will go into the Delaware River.

There remain serious concerns about underestimating water usage — be aware that "Sampling information is only required if the disposal system is designed to discharge, or discharges 30,000 GPD or more."

The difference between the application and the trigger for responsible monitoring amounts to a rounding error.

Remember, underestimating water usage was cited as one reason why the Northgate application in Hinsdale, MA, was denied.

YOU CAN READ THE PERMIT APPLICATION AT THE LINK BELOW AND SEE FOR YOURSELF HERE - THIS IS NOT A CAMPGROUND THIS IS A RESORT AND WATERPARK.

https://appfactory.dec.ny.gov/dartsearch/Details?APPL_ID=1261093&IsStimulusChecked=false

Please email to the DEC and tell them we must protect our river!

Public comments to the DEC are due by Friday, June 5, 2026.

Submit your comments to the NYSDEC Region 3 office at [email protected].

Be sure to include the application ID number in your letter: 3-4834-00154/00003.

PLEASE CONTINUE TO WATCH THIS SPACE FOR MORE DETAILS - FIMFO and NORTHGATE have deep pockets and lots of lawyers and are are counting on the public losing interest in a long process but what is at stake is OUR TOWN and OUR RIVER.

Thanks to our planning board for their diligence and everyone who loves our town. ❤️

04/22/2026

There is a planning board meeting tonight, April 22, at 6 PM at the Highland Community/Senior Center. As of this morning, no agenda has been posted.

We expect an update on FIMFO and the progress of the Town’s response to the FEIS, which contains many unanswered questions and concerns about safety, the environment, the character of Route 97 with the impact on traffic, two enormous swimming pools, with water slides, pickleball courts, permanent cabins and pools in the flood plain, new parking lots on the riverside, and so much more – it is sometimes difficult to understand how we got this far with a plan that presents so much risk and so much potential long term environmental damage, and that has been determined by the National Park Service to be non- conforming to the River Management Plan.

Those who have been following along may remember that this project was almost approved in a close vote WITHTOUT an impact study in a close vote by the previous planning board.

Why anyone would have pushed this forward without further study remains a mystery, especially as we continue to hear concerns on every level, from the most technical — eg. regarding the Barnes Toxic Waste Site, the impact of hundreds of new septic lines, power grid concerns, hydrology concerns – to the most human, as in how this will truly affect our town, our character, and our resources.

We understand FIMFO is pushing for a vote to approve the project, even as there has been no commitment to mitigating risks and impact, no safety drills, and zero concern for the River Management Plan, which they have repeatedly dismissed out of hand. Be aware: if they can build this giant water park and resort, who’s next? What will the river corridor look like in five years?

Thanks to everyone who has continued to fight for the river and against irresponsible overdevelopment.

The towns people have spoken – there were hundreds of letters and comments against this project and record turnouts at the public hearings. We hope that the planning board was listening, they have the right and the responsibility to say NO to FIMFO and demand a plan that is safe for our town, partners that work with the town in good faith, and projects that conform to high standards of safety, the environment, and the River Management Plan.

Happy Earth Day, Everyone!


They paved paradise
And put up a parking lot
Don't it always seem to go
That you don't know what you've got
Till it's gone

— Joni Mitchell

03/25/2026

There is a meeting of the planning board tonight, Wednesday, March 25 to be held at the Senior Center, at 6PM.

FIMFO is not on the agenda, but as per usual, we expect an update as the town continues to finalize their notes and comments on the proposed FEIS to return to the applicant.

If done correctly, there remains a fair amount of oversight and review before any vote on the FEIS can be called: so many issues have been brought without any answers - nothing has changed in regard to evacuation plans, specifically for cabins in the flood plain; there are noise concerns, environmental concerns, safety issues, and on and on.... and is there anyone who believes that a new parking lot on the river side of Route 97, visible from both the river and the road, is a good idea when our common goal is to keep our area's pristine, rural nature intact?

We have heard from many folks that they are concerned that visible waterslides and parking for day trippers on the river will fundamentally destroy the value of the river corridor and potentially home values in the surrounding hamlets.

Above all, this project remains non-compliant with the River Management Plan as determined by the National Park Service.

We highly recommend anyone interested in this project read the attached letter from the NPS to the town, linked below.

We are treading dangerous ground - if FIMFO is allowed to break the River Management Plan, who is to say what is next? More cluster housing and overdevelopment on the corridor?

Thanks to everyone for their support and as ever the planning board for their hard work and patient approach. We love our town and we love our river. ❤️ 🇺🇸

LETTER FROM NPS TO TOWN OF HIGHLAND:

https://townofhighlandny.gov/wp-content/uploads/20251210-NPS-Comments-draft-FIMFO-FEIS.pdf

02/20/2026

This week's River Reporter includes KNOW FIMFO's response to their recent article about eminent domain, and we are sharing it again here —

“We support the Park Service’s authority and resolve, but there has been no real discussion of ‘eminent domain.’ No one wants that, including the park service.

“What everyone wants, including the [Highland] Planning Board, the NPS and most importantly, the citizens of the Town of Highland (who have come out to speak at public hearings overwhelmingly against this project, and have written literally volumes of letters of concern about the environment, the nature and character of our town, our legacy, and how we protect it all for our children) is responsible development. We look forward to projects that are consistent with our values and the rural nature of our town, that add value to our community and reject short-sighted and inappropriate resorts and waterpark complexes designed solely to make money for an out-of-town corporate developer, at the expense of our well-being.”

Not incidentally, this photo was taken at the Planning Board meeting that voted whether or not to even have an Impact Study — FIMFO was pushing against any study at all, with no regard to their true impact or the large public outcry. They knew then what we all know now: a hard look at this project would shine a light on all of the risks, including potential environmental hazards, flood dangers, and a negative, lasting impact on our rural character.

Since then, we have learned the true scope and scale of the this resort and waterpark and radical reshaping of the Kittatinny Campground, including towering waterslides, new parking lots on the river side of Route 97, and hundreds of septic systems and infrastructure for cabins that are not in any way "temporary" as FIMFO suggests.

FIMFO remains non-compliant with the River Management Plan as determined by the National Park Service.

FIMFO is not on the agenda for the Planning Board's next meeting on Februrary 28, but we expect an update. Please continue to follow us for more details. Thanks to the Planning Board and every one who has fought to keep our town and river safe from corporate overdevelopment. 🏞

TOWN OF HIGHLAND, NY — Know FIMFO, a citizens group formed to advocate against the Camp FIMFO development project, released a statement responding to the article “ Big Bad Wolf or Paper Tiger …

02/12/2026

Leave it to the The River Reporter to gin up false controversy and disparage the National Park Service without any regard to what is good for our Town.

We support the Park Service’s authority and resolve, but there has been no real discussion of “eminent domain.” No one wants that, including the Park Service.

What EVERYONE wants, including the Planning Board, the NPS, and most importantly, the citizens of the Town of Highland — who have come out to speak at public hearings overwhelmingly against this project, and have written literally volumes of letters of concern about the environment, the nature and character of our town, our legacy, and how we protect it all for our children — is RESPONSIBLE DEVELOPMENT.

We look forward to projects that are consistent with our values and the rural nature of our town, that add value to our community, and reject short-sited and inappropriate resorts and waterpark complexes designed solely to make money for an out-of-town corporate developer, at the expense of our well-being.

The National Park Service maintains the proposed development, does not conform with River Management Plan and the existing land use and rural character of the area.

Please see the NPS comments in this letter to the town linked below.

FIMFO remains hostile towards the Park Service, the River Management Plan, and has been continuously dismissive of the Town’s public comments.

The Planning Board’s comments on the Final Environmental Impact Study, which is in the review process are lengthy and considered – it is up to FIMFO to respond to them thoughtfully, and in detail, including all concerns about water usage, permanent structures, and many safety issues including the expenses of flood management and evacuation plans.

A vote on this project may come in the next few months - Please watch this space and share this with friends and neighbors.

Thanks to everyone for their love and concern for the river and our town.

https://townofhighlandny.com/wp-content/uploads/20251210-NPS-Comments-draft-FIMFO-FEIS.pdf?fbclid=IwY2xjawP61idleHRuA2FlbQIxMABicmlkETFwSkV6a1R2Mkl5MGpYcnRyc3J0YwZhcHBfaWQQMjIyMDM5MTc4ODIwMDg5MgABHpidkA23rSBPNtyG06PGB18pPjTtbFQB6yf4RaQgPG8oUjDWf7FU7e8X33AP_aem_H1Jgdjgh0epLrrVqmIgl0A

01/28/2026

The Town Of Highland has received a letter from the National Park Service responding to the draft of the Final Environmental Impact Study that the town has reviewed and commented on.

The NPS letter details their ongoing concerns and continued determination that the FIMFO proposal does not conform with the River Management Plan, and that it is not consistent with the rural nature of our town.

In addition there continue to be concerns about water use, the increased intensity of the proposed development (RV parks have a higher intensity than tent campgrounds), and post-flood clean up guarantees to be paid by FIMFO and not by taxpayers.

You can see the entire letter on the Town of Highland Website linked at the bottom of this post. It is as you can imagine quite dense, below are some details.

**The National Park Service maintains that FIMFO is not consistent with the existing land use and character of the area.

For instance, they state clearly that “concrete pads and parking spaces at every campsite, functionally permanent cabins and RVs that remain on campsites year-round at the majority of campsites, the installation of utility lines for many of the structures is not consistent with the existing land use and character of the area.”

**The NPS recommends the elimination of concrete pads at ALL campsites and that no additional areas will be paved within 150' of the river, including no future paving of the proposed riverfront parking lot.

**NPS recommends the evacuation plan be revised with a greater emphasis on prevention of persons and equipment in the FEMA Special Flood Hazard Area when flood events are likely or forecasted, rather than waiting until high waters reach the action stage at the Barryville gage to begin evacuation:

“The annual removal of camping structures and equipment would give the operation a more accurate estimate of the amount of time it takes to evacuate structures from the floodplain, and they could update the plan accordingly.”

PLEASE NOTE the NPS Requires an Explanation of the Town of Highland’s determination of how FIFMO fits the Rural Nature of the Town: “According to local governing sovereignty and zoning laws - TOH will ultimately determine the consistency of FIMFO with the rural community character of the area.”

** NPS requests explanations from the Town of Highland Planning Board explaining any possible determination on how the proposed development could have a harmonious relationship with existing adjacent (rural) uses, with a detailed explanation of how a development of this size, nature, and intensity of operations could be in harmony with orderly development of the Town that in resides.

See the entire letter here:

https://townofhighlandny.com/wp-content/uploads/20251210-NPS-Comments-draft-FIMFO-FEIS.pdf

12/17/2025

We’ve been getting a lot of requests for an update on FIMFO: here is what we know.

FIMFO has responded to substantive comments in their preparation of the FEIS on behalf of the Planning Board.

If you attended any of the meetings or saw the updates, you know there were many questions asked by the board about safety, the environment, and the impact on every level of our town.

These new comments are integrated into the updated draft, but whether or not they have been answered to anyone’s satisfaction is unknown. The Planning Board delegated responses necessitating expert review to Town Engineer and Town Attorney for their review, and the Town Engineer identified responses outside of his expertise and forwarded them to experts in those areas.

FIMFO continues to dismiss the National Park Service finding that this plan does not conform with the River Management Plan, putting our entire area at great risk for over-development.

We continue to hear that FIMFO is moving to buy other campgrounds just upriver. It is no exaggeration to say that allowing FIMFO to tear up the River Management Plan and build cluster-housing, clear-cut 14 acres of tree, and install and parking lots on the river side of Route 97 will only open up the corridor for gross over-development.

The decision to permit FIMFO’s resort park is of great moral and environmental consequence, we hope and pray the right decisions are made.

We’d like to add again that no one here is anti-business or anti-tourism in any possible way, but we are looking for responsible development and shepherding of our river. There will be no second chances.

We are now waiting for the Final Environmental Impact Statement, which the Planning Board is expected to vote on EARLY THIS YEAR in JANUARY OF FEBRUARY.

This is happening very quickly now after several years of due diligence, but we feel that the massive amount of public comments must be taken into consideration when the Board votes on this project, and we encourage more time for public review of the new document.

Not to take seriously the hundreds of letters and in-person comments against this project undermines the public’s power in deciding the destiny of our own town.

Do you want the future of our town to be decided by out-of-town corporate developers who have shown nothing but disdain for the taxpayers, the citizens who have passionately spoken up to protect our river and our town?

Ask, where is the money going? Because it will not be to our town.

We continue to thank the Planning Board for their hard work, and everyone who has come out to fight for the River and the character of our town. Please watch this space, talk to your neighbors, and be ready to come out and let the Planning Board that you love our town, and love our river. Holiday Blessings to everyone, Thank you. 🇺🇸

06/09/2025

The Planning Board is convening this Wednesday, June 11, at 6PM for a workshop on the Camp Fimfo Final Environmental Impact Study. We urge everyone to attend this and the upcoming workshops as well. We hope the Planning Board will continue to ask tough questions and not accept rote answers and dismissals from FIMFO/Northgate/Sun Resorts.

The FEIS is extraordinarily large and hard to navigate, but you can take a look for yourself at https://townofhighlandny.com/meeting-minutes/, where you will also find the letters submitted during the public comment period.

Please note: these letters are almost 100 percent against this project. There are hundreds of pages of thoughtful and passionate letters of great concern, and perhaps a dozen for the project, the majority of which were form letters signed by employees of FIMFO. You can look at the link above and see for yourself.

We especially encourage local leaders and candidates to review these letters, and to cease from forwarding misinformation on behalf of FIMFO. We keep hearing that "Some people are really for this," but where were they during the extended public hearings?

Please listen to the town, please listen to the taxpayers and make this a government by the people and for the people, and not one bullied by outside corporate interests who have shown such disdain for our town, the environment, and our future.

Thanks as ever to everyone for showing their love for nature, and our town, and to the Planning Board for their diligence.

Applicant and Owner, SUN NG Kittatinny RV, LLC, LaBella Associates is submitting and the Final Environmental Impact Statement (FEIS) for the Town of Highland Planning Board review.

05/30/2025

FIMFO has submitted their Final Environmental Impact Study. It will be made public via the town's website soon.

Whether it is indeed final, remains to be seen. This is the corporate response to hundreds of very specific questions and concerns put forth by the public during the public hearing and the extended public comment period.

Expect a very large document which, if true to FIMFO form, will brush away the serious and legitimate concerns put forth by taxpayers without any real consideration for mitigating the unacceptable environmental risks, or responding to the enormous public outcry, and made even more confusing with lots of legal talk arguing away the rights of the town and the authority of the National Park Service, who has declared FIMFO non-conforming to the River Management Plan.

Theirs is a world of high-paid lawyers and Albany lobbyists, not one of real people living in a cherished rural environment.
FIMFO/NORTHGATE has one singular goal: to build a resort and make money for their shareholders, the environment and our town be damned. The have shown nothing but disdain for our town, our future, and the environmental legacy we leave for our children.

Once again, we encourage everyone to read the public comments available on the Town’s Website. They are detailed and passionate, and cover everything from environmental dangers to the impact on the rural character of our town.

You can read the letters here: https://townofhighlandny.com/meeting-minutes/

What’s next?

According to Planning Board Chairman Jeff Spitz: “The planning board does not have a specific timeframe to respond to the proposed Final Environmental Impact Study, but will try to have a response around 60 days. We have scheduled a number of workshop meetings that are open to the public. they will be at Town of Highland Town Hall on and is open to the public.
June 11th - 6pm (2 hrs)
June 25th- 5pm (before PB meeting- 1 hr)
7/9- 6pm- 2hrs
7/23- 5pm before PB meeting, 1hr Will schedule more as needed.

There are no more public hearings. FEIS will be posted to town's website and there is a physical copy at town hall that can be reviewed there, arranged through planning board secretary. Planning boards job at this time is to review the responses and determine if addressed adequately.”

PLEASE WATCH THIS SPACE FOR UPDATES.

THANKS TO THE PLANNING BOARD FOR THEIR CONTINUED HARD WORK, AND EVERYONE WHO HAS COME OUT TO COMMENT AND PROTECT OUR TOWN, OUR RIVER, OUR RURAL CHARACTER, AND WHO HAS SAID NO TO GROSS CORPORATE OVER DEVELOPMENT. ❤️ 🇺🇸. ❤️ 🇺🇸

04/26/2025

Our response to a candidate for the Town of Highland Town Council who has come out in favor of FIMFO without knowing the facts. Please share this with your friends and neighbors. We hope other candidates will listen to their constituents, and learn the facts. 🇺🇸