A ‘man with the plan’

Sullivan will be urban by 2020

By DAVID HULSE

MONTICELLO, NY — Sullivan County’s new commissioner of planning and community development says he has first-hand experience of how developing communities can lose their identity. “When I lived in Florida, there were times when I almost couldn’t find my house,” he told an audience at a June 2 press conference.

The Monticello native said he doesn’t plan on that happening in Sullivan County and the county’s developing comprehensive plan is an important tool in preventing it. “It’s going to be a comprehensive strategic plan…What are the emerging issues? What can the county do to help the municipalities?”

With the bearing of a drill instructor, the former Fulbright scholar said, “You hear a lot about sustainable economic growth. I’m going to give you a hard definition for it….retain stewardship and find retail and services that meet our needs and avoid gridlock.”

Pammer said it would be important to take stock of what Sullivan County had so it can be preserved before population changes overwhelm the county. “We’re on the threshold of urban development. In 16 years we will be designated as such,” he said.

It could happen sooner. “God forbid there is another [terrorist] attack. We’re sitting on a champagne bottle with over 300,000 people in Orange County. All you have to do is pop the top,” he said.

And how will he get citizen involvement from residents who often ignore local government until it makes them angry?

Pammer said planning requires a very heavy citizen involvement component and that he believes more people will want to take part actively. He will use mailings, meetings, the internet and any other available means to get that needed participation. “It’s going to be built from the bottom up,” he said and it won’t rely solely on those with existing voices in local government. “The old school doesn’t work anymore,” he added.

The county has asked the towns to appoint focus groups to begin the discussion in July.

A successful plan will also require active participation from local governments, which must be encouraged to consider it in their local planning and zoning issues. “It’s an educational process. Information sharing heightens everyone’s sensitivity. We want to enhance home-rule,” he said.

The planning process is grant funded at $100,000, but Pammer said the methods to be used will produce a $250,000 value.

Pammer invited the public to stay abreast of the comprehensive plan work on the county government website, co.sullivan.ny.us.

Legislative Chair Chris Cunningham said he and Pammer will soon begin a “charm offensive” in visits to local governments around the county to drum up interest in the process.

Pammer said that his ultimate objective is completion of a plan by February of 2005. After that, he said the plan will become a “living document” that will help direct the resources of the county planning department.

Pammer returns to Sullivan after service with U.S. State Department in Eastern Europe, where he collaborated with U.S. Agency for International Development on “nation building,” by teaching public management courses in the Republic of Moldova.