A picture of regional growth

Eight counties partner to produce regional map

By TOM KANE

UPPER DELAWARE RIVER VALLEY - One good picture is worth a thousand words.

That adage will come to mind when you view a new regional map showing the location of new development that falls within the eight counties that surround the Upper Delaware River Valley.

The map, which is the product of a unique partnership called the Upper Delaware River Roundtable, focuses on growth in Delaware, Sullivan and Orange counties in New York, in Wayne, Pike and Monroe counties in Pennsylvania and in Sussex and Warren counties in New Jersey.

“It’s really an excellent planning tool,” said Rich Caridi, the chairman of the Pike County Commissioners on the occasion of the unveiling of the map at the commissioners’ meeting on June 18. “It is impressive to actually see the growth where it is happening.”

“We have reproduced initially 300 copies of the map for distribution to municipal officials and other agencies,” said Michael Mrozinski, assistant planner at the Pike County planning office.

The map is the first project of the river roundtable, which is a voluntary partnership of representatives from state agencies, county governments and grass roots organizations who meet every other month to communicate and explore collaboration to enhance the future of the river valley.

“The idea of the map came out of a meeting held in September 2007 when it was suggested that, due to the bisected nature of the Upper Delaware, a regional map would be a useful tool to provide local municipalities with an overview of what development has occurred outside of their own boundaries,” said Sue Currier of the Delaware Highlands Conservancy, which is serving as the financial agent of the informal network.

“The map shows only the development from January of 2006 to the present,” Mrozinski said. Included in the map are commercial projects of 10,000 square feet or larger and residential development of 20 lots or more.

The map will be updated from time to time, he said.

The first stage was to have the map printed. The next stage will be to make it available on the Internet, he said.

Any Pike municipal official who wishes a copy should contact Mrozinski at 570/226-6293. Officials in other counties should contact their county planning office.