Green tech, open space and flood protection

Planning commissioner unveils ambitious planning agenda

By FRITZ MAYER

MONTICELLO, NY — Dr. Bill Pammer headlined a double bill at the government center on September 14, as he outlined two ambitious projects spearheaded by the planning department.

Pammer, commissioner of Sullivan County Planning and Community Development, unveiled plans for a Green Technology Park to be built on land owned by Sullivan County Community College (SCCC). The project seeks to give students the skills needed to benefit from the fast-growing field of so-called green technology, which makes use of such technologies as geothermal heating and cooling, solar power and sustainable building materials. The centerpiece of the program is “a proposed high-performance building called the Center for Advanced Sciences and Technology, or CAST.”

Companies involved in the development of sustainable building technologies are expected to occupy offices in the building.

The building is expected to be 50,000 square feet in size, and will cost $15 million to construct. It will be located on about 27 acres of the college campus in Loch Sheldrake. Funds will come from the State University of New York system, as well as the federal and county governments. County officials have committed to spend $7.5 million for the project, although that figure could be somewhat lower, depending on the amount of federal grants available. The county portion of the funding will come through bonding.

Despite the fact that the county is facing an extremely tight budget in 2007, the project got wide support from legislators. Legislator Ron Hiatt said, “We’re not going to have a tight budget forever.” He applauded the project and added, “The whole country is going to have to move in the direction of green technology.”

Legislator Leni Binder said, “The college has always been looking for an identity. This is the right project at the right time.”

Groundbreaking is expected in 2009.

Open space and flooding

In another major announcement at the executive committee meeting, Pammer unveiled a plan to provide flood mitigation for the county, while at the same time protecting open space. Called the Endangered Property Protection Program, Pammer said its aim is to “protect properties in Sullivan County from flooding, natural disasters and excessive development.”

Under the plan, the county will spend $16 million over 10 years on the program. There will be flood mitigation to minimize damage to Main Street businesses and residences. The county will also purchase rights to some non-farm parcels to ensure that they remain undeveloped. Further, the county will purchase development rights for some farms.

There are two proposed methods to pay for the plan: a .25 percent increase in the mortgage tax, or a new transfer fee of $1 for every $1,000 worth of value whenever a property changes hands.

This program also had broad support among the legislators.

Legislator Jonathan Rouis underscored the need for the program, saying, “It’s got to be a question of when we start this program, not if.”

Legislators Rodney Gaebel and Woody Wood, who both represent constituents who were severely impacted by the June flooding, expressed gratitude that the program had been expanded to include the flood mitigation component. The program is not expected to become fully operational until 2009.