Third forum planned

By TOM KANE

NARROWSBURG, NY — Because of the success of the two forums on economic development in the Delaware River corridor held last year, a visioning committee which sprang from those forums is developing plans for a third forum tentatively set for March.

The tentative subject will be ridgeline development and conservation subdivisions.

Model ordinances on these two subjects, successfully used by other municipalities, will be shared with local governments.

Ridge top development of the river valley to build homes with river views, thus ruining the pristine quality of the valley, is of major concern to the National Park Service, county planning agencies and the Upper Delaware Council, who are charged with protecting and managing the resource.

Balancing new building with preservation of the valley will become an important issue that needs to be addressed across state lines as the improved economy and the desire to move out of urban areas re-energizes the numerous subdivisions already approved through the zoning process from the last building boom in the 1980s.

Formulation of a strategy to encourage multi-community zoning and its implementation in the river valley is another important issue that will be explored.