Open space meeting held

More workshops ahead

By FRITZ MAYER

MONTICELLO, NY — The county’s open space plan was laid out for a group of about 40 residents and several officials at the Ted Stroebel Recreation Center in Monticello on March 25. The plan was created over the course of about three years by the Sullivan County Department of Planning and Environmental Management and several other organizations, and was adopted by the county legislature in December 2008.

The goal of the plan is to protect the natural resources of the county while encouraging so-called smart growth, or growth that won’t impact negatively on the natural resources.

The plan looked at resources divided into several areas including recreational and cultural resources, biodiversity resources, agricultural resources and water resources. In general terms, the areas with the greatest number of resources that should be protected are located closer to the perimeter of the county, while the area that seems most suitable for growth and development is located in the center of the county and runs roughly along the Route 17?soon-to-be I-86?corridor.

One section of the 100-page plan deals specifically with promoting growth in targeted areas. Strategies in that section, for instance, are spelled out like this: “Develop a comprehensive plan for the I-86 corridor to attract and focus development in appropriate, highly visible and accessible locations.” And this: “Focus residential development within and around existing areas of density and encourage development that preserves open space in less dense areas.”

Given that New York is a home-rule state, there is only so much leverage county government can bring to bear on open space issues. Therefore, county personnel are seeking to work with the towns and villages and other groups to promote the conservation of open space and the management of growth. The planning department will hold a series of workshops through the fall focusing on different aspects of the plan.

The schedule:

• April 29, Open Space Planning in Your Town, Bethel Senior Center, Kauneonga Lake.

Session is designed for municipal officials and planning board members.

•May 6, Stream Management Solutions, CVI Building, Liberty.

Session will focus on stream management and storm water runoff issues.

• July 1, Making Trail Connections, Parks & Recreation Building, Wurtsboro.

Session will cover existing and proposed trails in the county and encourage new connections.

• September 9, Farmers Marketing, location to be announced.

Session is designed primarily for farmers and agricultural producers.

• November 18, Wildlife Habitat in your Back Yard. Location to be announced.

Session will focus on what homeowners can do to create and protect wildlife habitat.

For more information call 845/807-0672.