Countryside Exchange – Rockland County, NY

Putting the Pieces Together:

Creating an Open Space Strategy in Rockland County, New York

Community Description
Community Issues
Sample Itinerary
Exchange Team Biographies

Topic 1: Creating a Vision
Topic 2: Joint Action for Open Space
Topic 3: Vibrant, Healthy Communities
Topic 4: Protecting Natural Resources

Introduction (top of page)

The Countryside Exchange brings together international teams of volunteer professionals to work with communities on their most important issues. Those issues usually center on conservation and economic development. The Exchange is a catalyst. It uses a visit by an objective team of “outsiders” to identify a wide range of potential solutions, create diverse coalitions, spur the emergence of new leaders and inspire collaborative action. The community also benefits from new ideas, networks and information that it can use to help shape its future.

Since 1987, more than ninety communities in the United States, the United Kingdom, Canada and Japan have hosted a Countryside Exchange. Over 600 professionals from England, Scotland, Wales, the United States, Canada, Japan, France, the Netherlands and Australia have participated as team members.

How Does the Exchange Work?

Communities are selected to participate in the Countryside Exchange through a competitive application process. Glynwood Center evaluates proposals based on such criteria as the depth of interest within the community, existing leadership and leadership skills and the strength and diversity of community members supporting the application. Applicants must also demonstrate flexibility, a willingness to learn new skills and processes and show commitment to working as a team and to developing a community based implementation strategy after the Exchange.

Once a community is selected, a Local Organizing Committee (LOC) is formed. The LOC is crucial to the success of the Exchange and must include a representative cross section of the community – business owners, farmers, developers, elected officials, conservationists and “average citizens.” The LOC identifies and refines the questions that the Exchange team will address. It also plans the Exchange week itinerary, takes care of logistics and handles publicity. After the Exchange, the LOC helps initiate implementation efforts.

Because the team is only in the community for seven days, thorough preparation by the LOC is critical. Glynwood Center provides a detailed handbook for local organizers. Glynwood staff attends several of the planning meetings and offers guidance on a whole range of Exchange preparation.

The Exchange Team

Glynwood Center draws upon its extensive international network to form teams consisting of six to eight experienced professionals. Each team is international and interdisciplinary in its makeup. Team members are selected by matching a candidate’s expertise with the issues identified by the community. In order to ensure that teams are objective, participants must have had no previous connection to the host community.

The team spends a very intense week in the community. A full itinerary of issue oriented roundtables, presentations, tours, panel discussions and community gatherings give the team an opportunity to speak with many residents, officials and organizations. The week culminates with the team presenting its observations and ideas at a public forum. A summary report is also published to assist the community with implementation.

Implementation

After the Exchange week, the team report is distributed throughout the community as a first step toward developing an implementation strategy. Most Exchange reports include some forty recommendations and determining priorities is one of the most important tasks facing the community. Glynwood Center continues to provide support during this period and maintains contact with its “Family of Exchange Communities” through its web site, www.glynwood.org, Update Newsletter, database and ongoing personal contact.

The Results

Just as communities vary, so do the results of each Exchange. Some team recommendations may be broad, others very specific. Some may be small-scale projects that can be implemented quickly. Others may be more complex, requiring a policy change, a significant philosophical shift – and time. In some cases, the Exchange may trigger a change that the community widely acknowledged was needed. The report may articulate an issue that leads to community discussion and an alternate solution. What most Exchange communities share in common is that the new and strengthened partnerships, expanded leadership base and collaborative action cultivated through the Exchange pay dividends long into the future.

THE EXCHANGE IN ROCKLAND COUNTY, NEW YORK

Community Description (top of page)

Rockland County, the smallest county in New York State, is located just 25 miles north of New York City, on the western bank of the Hudson River. Comprised of beautiful woodlands, steep cliffs, wetlands, waterways and the Palisades Cliffs, Rockland contains 21 state parks, the Palisades Interstate Park and Harriman Forest. These parks and forests represent 30 % of the county’s land area.

Rockland County is also a mature suburban community in the throes of major change. While the rate of population growth is slowing down, demographic change and the influx of ethnic populations continue to increase and enrich local communities, making the County one of the most diverse areas of New York State.

Rockland’s proximity to New York City means that larger metropolitan trends are major drivers of change in the County including the extent and nature of economic development, pressure for transportation system improvements, such as the expansion or replacement of the Tappan Zee Bridge, and the movement of New York City population outward to suburban areas. Deregulation of the power industry and nation-wide trends in retail development in the suburbs are even larger forces that place significant pressure on Rockland. After more than two centuries of continuous development, only 10% of the County’s “buildable land” remains undeveloped.

The five towns and 19 villages that make up Rockland, along with a cadre of community based organizations and the County legislature, all recognize the need to preserve and protect the County’s remaining open space. There are a number of significant efforts already underway including the County’s Open Space Program and the $22,000,000 open space bond proposal in the Town of Clarkstown.

The residents and elected officials of Rockland County realize that land values in the region will continue to increase and therefore, they need to work together to support open space protection and explore a variety of ways to coordinate and build upon the various efforts currently underway.

Community Issues (top of page)

The Countryside Exchange provided an opportunity for residents and elected officials to work together to consider this important issue. Specifically, the Local Organizing Committee generated the following questions for the Exchange team to consider:

How can we integrate existing physical and financial plans to protect open space in order to maximize the benefits? What else is needed to create a fully integrated open space management plan?
- What are some of the financial and/or organizational tools for financing purchase of open space lands and for achieving the best stewardship of the lands?
- What practices would seem best for Rockland County in terms of public-private partnerships, bond issues, real estate transactions, bequests and trusts?
- Which tools seem best suited to a coordinated open space master plan in Rockland County?
- How can we encourage some of our open space owners to integrate their land into open space concept – businesses such as manufacturers and hospitals, churches with cemeteries, school districts with large tracts of land that are fallow in terms of community use when school is not in session?
How can the various agencies, municipalities and non-profits work together to protect open space in Rockland County?
How can our open space plans help to shape and improve our downtowns, our existing residential neighborhoods, our affordable housing needs and our sense of community?
How can our open space plans be integrated/connected to enhance walking, biking and hiking and how can these pathways be integrated/connected with bus, train lines and commuter parking lots?
- How can our villages balance the economic revitalization of commercial areas with increased walkability and by adding green space to the downtown areas?
- How can we create open space, or the access to open space for underserved communities and neighborhoods?
- How can our open space plans best be coordinated to preserve and/or connect wildlife corridors, view sheds, environmentally important areas and areas of historic and geographic importance?
- How can we redesign our overly developed strip mall transportation corridors (e.g. Rte. 59) to create walkability, beauty and green space?

A SAMPLE ITINERARY: (top of page)

FOUR DAYS FROM THE ROCKLAND EXCHANGE

Friday, October 12 – River to Ridge Day

9:00 a.m.	Meet with County Officials to discuss County Open Space Plan
12:30 p.m.	Meet with Rockland County Solid Waste Management Authority
1:00 p.m.	Meet with Town of Rockland Parks and Recreation Department
4:00 p.m.	Free time for the Team

Saturday, October 13 – Villages and Downtowns

9:00 a.m.	Tour of Sloatsburg, Hillburn and Suffern
Noon	Montebello Community Day – meet with residents and elected officials
1:00 p.m.	Tour Spring Valley, Nanuet, Pearl River, Piermont, Nyacks, Haverstraw and Stony Point
4:30 p.m.	Picnic at Haverstraw Marina with members of the Board of Arts Alliance and elected officials of the Town of Haverstraw
7:30 p.m.	Walk through Haverstraw

Sunday, October 14 – Environmental Issues

9:00 a.m.	Walk the proposed Ramapo River Trail
11:30 a.m.	Brunch at Mt. Fuji
2:00 p.m.	Visit Torne Valley
4:00 p.m.	Community picnic in West Nyack
7:00 p.m.	Reception with community officials and community members

Monday, October 15 – Land Use Plans

10:00 a.m.	Discussion of Town of Clarkstown open space plan with Town Officials
1:30 p.m.	Lunch with Town Supervisors
3:00 p.m.	Meet with Palisades Interstate Parks Commissioner
7:00 p.m.	Attend Orangetown Planning Board public meeting on its comprehensive plan

THE ROCKLAND COUNTY EXCHANGE TEAM (top of page)

Brenda Barrett is the National Coordinator for the U.S. National Park Service for Heritage Areas. Her expertise is in historic preservation, land use planning and facilitation. Currently, she manages policy and budget issues and provides assistance to the 23 congressionally designated National Heritage Areas.

John Kinkaid is president of J.Kinkead Consulting and an engineer in Ontario, Canada. He has worked for twenty-five years with the government of Ontario on environmental and natural resources protection. He specializes in providing strategic and project level services in the areas of sustainable land and resource development, water management and environmental protection.

Val Kirby is the Project Officer for the Forest of Dean with the Countryside Agency and serves as an Honorary Lecturer in Cultural Heritage Studies at University College in London. As a Project Officer, she works with communities and local authorities to promote a wide range of economic and community regeneration projects under the Forest Regeneration Partnership.

Mark Morton works as a Regional Groundwater Resources Officer for the Environment Agency’s North East Office. He is a technical expert for groundwater resources and quality and is responsible for developing policy in the North East region and nationally.

Richard Scott is a Senior Environmental Planner for the National Capitol Commission in Ottawa, Canada. In this position, he has been the Project Manager for the Plan for Canada’s Capitol that is developing an overall land use plan for federally owned lands in the National Capitol region.

Mike Seddon is a Recreation Manager for the Forest Enterprise in the New Forest in the south of England. He is the team leader for management of recreation and communications for the Forest Enterprise land holdings. He is responsible for land use planning and enhancing the recreational value of the forest.

Fraser Symonds is an Area Officer for East Sutherland with the Scottish Natural Heritage, the Scottish Governmental Agency responsible for securing the conservation and enhancement of Scotland’s natural heritage and supporting its sustainable use. His job is to moderate between the demands of economic regeneration and the need to maintain bio-diversity.

Carol Wyant is President of Pathfinder Consulting that helps organizations grow and institute and manage change. Prior to this position, she was the Director of Statewide Partnerships for the National Trust for Historic Preservation where she worked to increase capacity and develop networks of statewide, local and national organizations to achieve greater results.

THE ROCKLAND COUNTY EXCHANGE TEAM REPORT (top of page)

Introduction

From October 11 – 17, 2001, a team of professionals from the United States, Canada, England and Scotland visited Rockland County, New York. Their role was to provide an independent, fresh perspective on the questions identified by the Local Organizing Committee (LOC). The team followed a busy schedule of meetings and visits and presented their recommendations at a public forum on October 16th.

By the end of the team’s visit, they were impressed with the many programs that were already in place to protect Rockland’s open space. However, they found that there is not enough co-ordination between these programs inter-municipally and among federal, state, county and local efforts. This situation can create problems for local residents, fragmenting the overall open space effort and contributing to volunteer fatigue, which may lead to less effective open space protection in the long run.

The team’s response to the LOC’s questions are divided among the following four topic areas: Creating a Vision; Joint Action for Open Space; Vibrant and Healthy Communities; and Protecting and Enhancing Rockland’s Environmental Resources.

Topic One: Creating A Vision- A Comprehensive Open Space Plan For Rockland County (top of page)

Observations

The Hudson River Valley, the Palisades, Native American heritage, the history of colonial settlement and nation building (including key events in the Revolutionary War) provide a unique combination of natural and cultural features. This heritage is complemented by an artistic and literary legacy of international importance.

Long term protection of Rockland’s scenic landscape of mountains, forests, hills, rivers, lakes and ponds is vital to the community’s well-being. It is also very important to preserve the “unseen” natural resources in the County, such as the aquifer that supplies water to more than 2 million people in Rockland and northern New Jersey.

During the Exchange team’s visit, it became very apparent that Rockland residents value their open space highly. More than 30% of the County is protected. Public investment in open space protection continues, despite high land values. Well-wooded lots and green edges define roads and property and make a significant contribution to the natural feel of Rockland.

Open space serves a variety of functions that are of immense value to Rockland County including:

Protecting surface and ground water, as well as flood control;
Preserving plant and wildlife communities – habitat and biodiversity;
Providing scenic beauty – expression of highly valued aesthetic qualities;
Creating a sense of place – community identity and separation;
Providing recreation – opportunities for many types of activity;
Creating opportunities for a variety of transportation systems – opportunities for innovative network planning and design;
Inspiring education programs and spiritual enrichment;
Protecting valuable cultural resources; and
Encouraging economic stability through property value enhancement.

The long history of home rule in Rockland provides a solid foundation for local involvement and community identity. At every level, local elected officials are providing leadership in the development of land use plans and open space protection strategies. There is an active volunteer community, with wide ranging expertise. The County also has a strong property assessment base that has enabled communities to raise large sums of money to help protect their open spaces. Finally, a wide range of programs from state and federal sources provide additional opportunities for Rockland’s communities to protect their open space, and through that, their natural and cultural heritage.

Recommendations

Define and rally around a shared and inclusive definition of open space. This definition must capture the full scope of open space scale and function. It would help raise awareness of open space values relating to environmental health and community well being. This definition should also recognise the benefits of non-traditional forms of open space such as utility, road and rail corridors, the Palisades Parkway and private lands.
Support a vision for open space. Rockland needs a community-based and owned vision for a coordinated, connected and widely valued system of open spaces. This vision should be built upon the local legacy of community commitment that has created the present open space network.
Establish a framework for coordinated local decision-making. Many local land use issues cross municipal boundaries and need to be tackled in a coordinated way. The extent of cooperation manifested in the county-wide waste recycling program is a possible model for municipal cooperation in other areas such as open space protection.
Integrate local, regional and national open space initiatives. There is a huge potential benefit for Rockland’s residents, if federal, state and not-for-profit initiatives can be integrated with the County’s plans. Sometimes externally driven programs may seem insensitive to the community’s commitment to local autonomy, but a marriage of local and regional programs offers great potential. A good example of this is the range of initiatives that focus on the Hudson River Valley.
Find and use techniques that protect open space, but do not require land acquisition. Preservation tools such as conservation easements, cluster zoning and voluntary agreements with private owners, are just three possible approaches.
Capitalize on Rockland’s rich and diverse history and cultural heritage. The County has a largely unexploited legacy relating to Native Americans, early settlement, the Revolutionary War, the fine arts and literature. An enhanced awareness of the breadth and depth of cultural heritage can underpin and enhance community identity and build support for a coordinated open space policy. It also offers the opportunity for new economic initiatives such as heritage tourism.
Facilitate the exchange of information. A significant amount of information has already been compiled by federal, state and local government sources, some of which is in the hands of community residents. However, despite excellent efforts to generate a county-wide database, there are a number of information gaps. There is a need to broaden the knowledge about available programs, particularly those at state and federal levels, and to help people identify resources that may support community participation in open space protection and enhancement.

Topic Two: Joint Action for Open Space (top of page)

Observations

Strong home rule makes identifying county-wide solutions a challenge. The County planning office has made great strides towards open space planning in recent years, but their work has not been universally adopted at the local level and the result has been an uncoordinated, piecemeal approach to open space protection.

There is currently an emphasis on acquiring land in order to protect it. There are inevitable constraints with this approach due to the limited availability of funds. This protection measure also gives rise to the public’s concern about taking properties off the tax rolls and reducing the tax base. The County has budgeted for acquisition funds and some municipalities such as Clarkstown, have passed significant bond referenda to protect open space. There are, however, noticeable differences in open space protection measures between towns and villages as a result of the high land values in the region.

There is a groundswell of support for protection of open space, but it is not coming equally from all parts of the community. Groups such as not-for-profit organizations concerned with health and the environment and long-time residents recognize the need for action. However, these groups are often working in isolation, lacking the coordination that could attract increased funding and bring about greater results. This scattered base of “open space champions” needs to be broadened to include those who are not yet aware of open space issues or are content to retreat to their back yards, and those who appear to have counter, vested interests, such as real estate developers.

There is insufficient coordination among those who have critical pieces of knowledge regarding the challenges ahead. Rockland needs a mechanism to connect the knowledge base already assembled, identify the gaps to target further research efforts, and disseminate the information to the broader, concerned community.

Recommendations

Create a “Rockland Open Space Forum” that crosses all municipal jurisdictions and includes representatives of all of Rockland’s local governments, major not-for-profits and private sector stakeholders. The role of the Forum is to set shared priorities for protection of open space and coordinate implementation.Such a Forum will need to be inclusive of all interested parties and set an agenda for open space conservation in such a way that individual members can act locally, but contribute to a county-wide cooperative solution. For this to work, a strategic planning approach is required that sets clear targets, develops annual action plans and identifies appropriate parties to take a lead role. The establishment of topic specific working partnerships may be required under the umbrella of the Forum.The Rockland Open Space Forum needs to be accepted and owned by the multiple constituencies throughout Rockland County. Therefore those persons who initially organize the Forum must be highly respected and be drawn from multiple constituencies. This Organizing Committee should serve no longer than 6-12 months, at which time elections should be held.The Organizing Committee is strongly encouraged to approach the elected leadership of each town, village, hamlet, and the county to seek a resolution endorsing the Forum and committing support for it. Local civic and not-for-profit organizations should be encouraged to pass such resolutions also.
Once the Forum has identified its major priorities for open space protection, funding through a county-wide bond issue or nominal increased sales tax should be considered. It is essential that the bond issue or increased sales tax mechanism specify the properties to be protected.

The Forum approach, which brings together disparate groups that appear to be working on conflicting agendas, has been adopted elsewhere to tackle environmental problems and has proved to be highly effective, e.g. Moray Firth Partnership.
Employ an Open Space Coordinator. A forum encompassing a wide range of interest groups working towards specific goals will require careful coordination. In order to provide sufficient momentum to match the importance attached to this topic, it is recommended that a dedicated “Open Space Coordinator” be employed. Funding for such a post will need to be provided by all key stakeholders and it is envisaged that all five towns would become involved. In addition grant assistance should be sought from appropriate not-for- profits, such as the Open Space Institute and Scenic Hudson. The role of the coordinator would be to act as secretariat, to provide a link between the Forum members and all parties involved in land management and land use and to ensure implementation of annual work programs.Although the coordinator would be responsible to the Forum, it may be appropriate to base such a post within the County Planning Office to provide access to the wealth of technical resources available there.
Create a comprehensive “Tool Kit.” Under the auspices of the Rockland Open Space Forum, community residents should investigate and develop a range of tools to protect open space, broadening beyond public acquisition to include conservation easements, agreements for public access, corporate sponsorship for acquisition and interim access to privately owned properties currently unused (i.e. quarries). The use of long term tax abatements to private owners in return for eventual ownership of private parcels needed for the open space inventory should also continue to be pursued in some instances.Existing progress with land acquisition should also be reinforced. A County Referendum on open space bond issues would be a significant positive step, as would similar moves in towns that have yet to grasp this due to competing demands on finite resources. The not-for-profit land trust approach currently being practiced in Rockland should be expanded.
Broaden participation. The support base for open space protection should be increased though education and active stewardship initiatives. Reach out to the multiple constituencies in Rockland, including children and youth, the business community, ethnic and minority populations, homeowners, other residents and tourists.
- Develop a school based curriculum for youth. For example, the National Audubon Society has developed a school curriculum to be taught by volunteers as well as a backyard habitat program for homeowners. An open space, environmental action or preservation advocacy organization could be developed for high school youth. Perhaps local business organizations could provide sponsorship.
- A “Welcome Packet” could be developed for incoming Rockland residents that would provide information on:
  1. local history, historic sites and celebrations;
  2. the most scenic view sheds;
  3. the County’s water supply – its sole source aquifer that provides potable water to Rockland and beyond;
  4. the range of plant and animal species in Rockland; and
  5. the passive and active outdoor recreation opportunities in the local and regional parks.
  The major theme of the Welcome Packet should stress the dependence of all residents on the health of the County’s environmental resources and the need for all residents to be responsible environmental stewards.
- Anyone who resides in Rockland can become involved in the open space effort by participating in a local audit. These audits of the characteristics of open space (such as wildlife, important view sheds, historical resources) will provide comprehensive site based information to feed into the strategic plan process.
Galvanize community support. Either as a kick-off event for the Rockland Open Space Forum or as an initial milestone after its inauguration, the Forum should hold a community-wide Open Space Summit. Further, the Forum should establish a schedule of public hearings to both report progress on targets established in the annual work plan and gather additional information from the public on key issues.

Rockland County, each town, village and hamlet and relevant not-for-profit organizations should incorporate appropriate issues identified in the Forum work plan into their own work plans and report on progress to their own constituencies.

Meetings of official and other bodies that already convene to discuss county wide issues, should include open space matters as a standard item on their agendas. This would provide a regular opportunity for the mayors and supervisors to review Rockland-wide problems related to open space and to discuss opportunities for collaboration to achieve mutually desired solutions.

Track progress. A registry of land protection should be established that enables individuals, community groups and other agencies to report into the Open Space Forum on individual successes. This would provide a comprehensive database of protected open space as the Forum gathers momentum across the County. It would also enable the Forum to maintain contact records of key leaders who could be contacted to share their experience and assist with resolving similar issues elsewhere in the County.

Topic Three: Vibrant, Healthy Communities (top of page)

Observations

The Hudson Highlands and the Hudson River define the borders of Rockland County and bring nature’s marvels into even the most developed areas. Traces of Native American communities and pivotal sites in the American Revolution can still be found in the region. Yet, as is so often the case, the grandeur of the scenery and the significance of the history are seen as just an everyday backdrop to the residents. The importance of these assets should not be taken for granted.

The Palisades Interstate Park Commission has just celebrated a century of work protecting the Palisades from inappropriate development and preserving more than 30,000 acres of parkland in the County, one third of the land base. Building on this legacy are a number of major federal and state initiatives to preserve, interpret and make accessible this landscape and its stories to the nation and the world. The National Park Service at the federal level and the Hudson River Valley Greenway at the state level are undertaking historical studies and community planning to develop historic trails, bikeways, hiking paths and even a water trail. The goal is to foster partnerships for quality communities, education and heritage tourism.

The beauty of the Hudson Highlands and the adjacent countryside was opened to development by the construction of the Tappan Zee Bridge and the New York State Thruway in the mid 1950′s. Over the next forty years residential development overwhelmed the landscape of early farmsteads and 19th century industrial villages. This rapid suburban expansion into rural areas left no time to plan traditional village centers. The county also lacks networks of sidewalks, paths or back streets to link residents together. This form of development has led to an over dependence on the car. Communities in the County are beginning to express concern about sprawling growth patterns, particularly strip shopping centers. Local leaders are rediscovering the importance of a “sense of place” and are supporting the creation of a new public realm, new places for neighbors to shop, pick up the mail and socialize in an informal setting.

Recommendations

Share Heritage information. There is a wealth of heritage resources in Rockland County. While there is an obvious focus on Revolutionary War history, other resources such as properties more than 100 years old and archaeological sites should also be included. The countywide database of historical sites and resources needs to be updated and widely disseminated to create greater awareness and help make the information more consistently accessible.
Support the work of the County Historic Preservation Board. The recently established County Historic Preservation Advisory Board could make an important contribution to the preservation of the county’s heritage by providing information on model ordinances, sources of funding and grant assistance. An important contribution is the initiative to identify and preserve the county owned historic and scenic roads by maintaining their scale and roadside amenities.
Expand the knowledge base on Historic Preservation. Communities and property owners need better access to information about historic preservation techniques. Available techniques include “Main Street” programs, tax credits for historic depreciable properties and rehabilitation grants. The County Historic Preservation Advisory Board could play a lead role in providing this information.
Increase protection for local historic districts. Only two local communities have currently protected their historic resources with a historic district ordinance. Other communities should consider this approach to preserving and stabilizing their historic assets. In addition, they will become eligible for assistance under the Certified Local Government program administered by the State’s Historic Preservation Office.
Interpret the Native American story. Current historic interpretation initiatives tend to be focused on Revolutionary War history. Initiatives centered upon Native American history are notable by their absence. A program that aims to interpret the Native American cultural presence on the landscape of Rockland County should be established to fill this gap. This could be developed through a study of the archaeological record and interviews with the region’s Native American residents.
Link to regional Hudson Valley Heritage initiatives. Every major organization in Rockland needs to link to the larger Hudson Valley heritage initiatives to provide the building blocks for community education, resource preservation and heritage tourism efforts. These initiatives include the Hudson River Valley National Heritage Area, the Washington and Rochambeau Historic Trail study by the National Park Service, and the Governor’s Task Force on the 225th Anniversary of the American Revolution.
Support the work of the Palisades Park Commission. The Palisades Interstate Park and the Parkway provide an incredibly valuable “green lung” for the communities of Rockland, the States of New York and New Jersey and the wider region. However, local communities in Rockland do not appear to have a great sense of ownership of this resource. The intention of the Palisades Interstate Park Commission to establish a “Friends of” initiative could make a positive difference to address this issue, by providing a sense of ownership and an opportunity to link the resource, facilities and activities available in the Park to some of the communities they serve.
Implement the pedestrian and bicycle master plans. Good planning has been done for longer distance strategic pedestrian and bicycle routes in the region. Examples include the “Mid Hudson South Region Bicycle and Pedestrian Master Plan” and the Hudson River Valley Greenway Trail. These plans, including public acquisition of the Long Path and a bicycle route within the corridor of the Palisades Parkway, will improve recreational and economic opportunities in Rockland and the surrounding counties.
Create walkable communities. Community residents have voiced their desire for welcoming and walkable communities. To strengthen existing efforts, communities should plan for and require sidewalks, bike routes and other alternative forms of transportation in all new and redeveloped residential and commercial areas.
Knit together existing communities. To improve the health of the population, the sense of community and as a step towards reducing traffic, towns and villages should work with their residents to identify key pedestrian and bicycle linkages to make existing recreation facilities, schools, transportation hubs and town or village centers accessible to children and other non drivers from residential areas.
Develop new community centers. The existing efforts to develop and reinforce community centers in towns and villages that are both inviting and walkable are welcomed by the people they serve. Currently, improvements to community centers are being achieved through mixed use zoning, strategic land acquisition and appropriate design standards to reflect the historic and scenic sense of place. There are good examples of such efforts in Nyack, Sloatsburg and Congers.
Improve the design of linear retail areas. Residents unanimously feel that local governments need to address the design and layout of commercial strip development, such as along Route 59. The proposal to improve the planning and appearance of strip development along Route 303 in Orangetown could be a model for others to follow. We recommend that communities continue the adoption of zoning standards to improve the walkability, human scale and aesthetics for commercial strips.
Experiment with alternative development models in key areas. Consider the use of such tools as “cluster” zoning that can achieve both development goals and open space protection. Such alternative development approaches could be tried on a pilot basis in selected situations to determine their feasibility, acceptability and the ability to achieve both development and protection goals.
Seek funding. Funding for these ambitious projects could come from a variety of sources including the TEA21 enhancement program, tax abatement for property owners who dedicate access and other governmental funding.

Topic Four: Protecting & Enhancing Rockland’s Environmental Resources (top of page)

Observations

Rockland County’s natural heritage includes major environmental resources whose protection is critical to its social and economic future and to the sustainability of healthy ecosystems. These resources include:

Surface and groundwater resources that ensure self-sufficiency of water supply to Rockland’s residents, businesses and institutions and provide or support a variety of aquatic habitats;
Picturesque forested mountain landscapes that are significant in their own right and as a resource of beauty and tranquility for residents and visitors; and
Habitat for plants and animals that help to sustain the environment for the future.

Many of Rockland’s residents and elected officials are keenly aware of the importance of the water resources in the County. One of the key objections to the proposal to build power stations in the Torne and Ramapo Valleys is the need to protect the water resources there. Residents are also concerned about existing and continued development on the aquifer in these valleys. This concern is by the heightened by the recent freon spill that resulted in a number of public supply wells being closed and the need for a major clean up of the aquifer, including construction of a remediation plant. Another development on the aquifer that has caused concern is the remediation of the old landfill in Torne Valley. The risk to drinking water supplies was so great that the site was brought into the Federal Superfund program so that remediation measures could limit the pollution of the aquifer.

As a result of previous developments and pollution of the aquifer, assurances given by developers that their proposals will not cause any harm are no longer trusted. From this concern has developed a widespread desire to protect the watershed in general in order to safeguard water supplies.

Residents tend to focus on the need to protect drinking water supplies. This is only one part of the picture, as protection of the total water resource is also vitally important to the environment. If the watershed is polluted, rivers become polluted, negatively affecting of animals and plants that depend on clean water for their survival. Communities in Rockland see the sale of land around reservoirs for development as problematic. This land was originally purchased to protect the water supplies around reservoirs such as Lake DeForest, and the communities realize that carving up of the land for development poses a real and tangible threat to their water supply.

The community considers the scenic beauty of Rockland County a great asset. This leads to problems when residential properties are constructed on ridge lines. While the residents of these properties get magnificent views over many towns and even counties, the many residents in those towns and counties have their view sheds disrupted by the development.

Groups within the community also see the preservation of natural habitat as important. Such habitat, when preserved or recreated, provides the intricate web of resources required by endangered species and common flora and fauna alike, if they are to survive. Preserve and protect these habitats and plant and animal life will thrive; destroy habitat and they will vanish. An important part of habitat creation and preservation is linking together “islands” of open space. The community has already recognized this need and wants to see such linkages further developed. Wetlands are especially important, possessing some of the greatest species diversity. Rockland’s conservation groups are aware of this, and advocate the preservation and enhancement of such features as the wetland in the Hackensack Valley below Lake DeForest.

Recommendations

Think and plan on the basis of watersheds, view sheds and the Hudson River waterfront. County and local governments, together with non-profits and development interests, should adopt a watershed and sub-watershed approach to planning, particularly as it relates to the protection of water resources, aquatic systems and important land-water interactions.Rockland should take advantage of watershed planning guidance and resources available through New York’s Department of Environmental Conservation, US Environmental Protection Agency and others, e.g. the Finger Lakes Region. The major valley to mountain, mountain to valley, and Hudson waterfront vistas should be recognized as enduring environmental resources that deserve protection for the greater public good.
Protect Rockland’s water supply. Rockland’s municipalities should, especially in crucial watersheds such as the Torne, Ramapo and Hackensack Valleys, safeguard water supplies through preservation of open space. If further development does take place then the maintenance of open space buffers between the development and the water supplies will be needed. Planning boards should consider the water supplies when making their decisions and if necessary impose conditions to maintain good quality and quantity of water.A range of groups, such as open space guardians, utilities, not-for-profit groups, towns and counties, and state and federal bodies need to work together to ensure water supplies are protected; “Collaborate for Clout.”Rockland County, through cooperation between the towns, villages and County, should consider establishing a County Water Authority to manage the available water resources in a sustainable manner. This will include measures to safeguard existing supplies from degradation by new abstraction.
Minimize flood related risks to public safety, public infrastructure and private property. Strengthen Rockland’s approach to the protection of floodplains and to the reduction of development related increases in runoff rates. This should be done through the firm application of restrictive zoning ordinances and the application of best practices for storm-water management, so that the risks to people and property are minimized.Recognize and incorporate the complementary benefits that floodplain and river corridor protection can provide. The community can benefit from water quality enhancement, wildlife habitat protection, and increased public recreation opportunities.
Protect natural habitats and species diversity. Identify potentially available and threatened forest, grassland, wetland, lake and riverine habitats with an emphasis on scale, connectivity and diversity.Secure cost-effective protection of these habitats and species drawing on a range of tools that could include fee purchase, conservation easements, and public and private land stewardship.Seek out public-private and non-profit partnerships capable of ensuring the ongoing management and, where necessary, enhancement of individual areas, e.g. friends groups and ‘adopt a stream-reach’ programs.
Improve the knowledge base. The catalogues, maps and inventories available in the county need to be made more accessible as a community wide resource.The central database should integrate information from expert individuals, local organizations, villages, towns, county, state and federal databases. As information from many different sources is brought together, data quality standards must be established.
“People friendly” performance indicators are needed. Data should be presented as ‘yes it’s safe to swim here,’ not, ‘the fecal colliforms count is less than 1 colony per 100ml’!
GIS and other dissemination and analytical tools should be used and central resources, where they are available, fully utilized.

Summary

Rockland County is extraordinarily beautiful. As well as having great scenic value, the mountains also define a series of watersheds and although more than 30% of Rockland County is protected, significant areas are still vulnerable to insensitive development and thus need protection.

Rockland”s natural qualities also define the character of the County. There is a complex mix of forests, rivers and lakes, and a rich local wildlife resource. This unique landscape is vital to the County’s well-being and to Rockland residents’ the sense of place.

Community concern about the remaining 10% of Rockland’s unprotected areas is not just directed at local elected officials. Many ordinary citizens who care about their community and its future, look for ways to actively volunteer their time to address issues of common concern.

Rockland’s cultural heritage also draws on a rich history, including Native American traditions, early colonial farmsteads and other buildings, pivotal events in the Revolutionary War and the artistic and literary legacy of the nineteenth century.

Rallying around the preservation of open space may prove to be not only a politically unifying and publicly popular concept in Rockland County, but also the most valuable tool the County has for controlling and shaping development patterns while preserving and protecting the County’s rich cultural heritage and natural resources.

A “Rockland Open Space Forum” that crosses all municipal jurisdictions and includes representatives of all of Rockland’s local governments, major not-for-profits and private sector stakeholders, could provide the means for developing a community-based and owned vision for Rockland.

The Forum could also provide a vehicle for Rockland County to:

Develop a shared and inclusive definition of open space;
Develop a strategic plan for open space protection that sets clear targets;
Develop a range of model tools that municipalities can use to protect open space;
Promote county-wide initiatives to protect open space;
Integrate historic preservation with open space protection;
Implement innovative people-friendly transportation initiatives;
Plan for livable, walkable communities;
Develop ways to protect watersheds and drainage systems; and
Develop links with all levels of government and not for profit bodies concerned with major federal and state initiatives for open space protection, heritage preservation, interpretation and tourism development in the greater Hudson Valley.

Glynwood Thanks You

Glynwood Center and the members of the 2001 Countryside Exchange Team would like to express our sincere thanks to the Local Organizing Committee and the residents of Rockland County, New York for their remarkable hospitality and support. People shared their time, their knowledge and opinions, their food, their houses and their meetings. The preparation, hard work and generosity of the community not only made the week a pleasant one, it also helped the team work together effectively in sharing their ideas and experience and in drafting this report.

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