For More Information:
William R. Steinhaus
Dutchess County Executive
(845) 486-2000
countyexec@co.dutchess.ny.us
August 30, 2001
STEINHAUS COMMITS NEW $2 MILLION TO PRESERVE OPEN SPACE AND
SAVE FARMS: SENDS PROPOSAL FOR PARTNERSHIP FOR MANAGEABLE
GROWTH TO LEGISLATURE
Poughkeepsie… Dutchess County Executive William R. Steinhaus has forwarded to the Dutchess County Legislature a proposal to create the Dutchess County Partnership for Manageable Growth. The proposed Dutchess County Partnership for Manageable Growth will expand the County’s existing Open Space and Farmland Protection program to provide up to fifty percent matching grants for open space and farmland protection, to provide matching funds for water and wastewater infrastructure, and to provide municipal open space and farmland protection planning grants for participating Greenway Compact communities. Steinhaus is also including an added $2 million in the 2002 Capital Fund program.
Growth management is the keynote of the new legislation. “This proposal provides a variety of techniques to better manage growth,” says Steinhaus. This initiative also takes the next logical step – helping 30 local governments provide the central utilities required to concentrate new development in and around our cities, towns, and villages. “It’s a partnership,” he added. “County efforts must be accompanied by the enthusiasm and financial support of the private sector and the local governmental units themselves.”
The proposed legislation, drafted by the Dutchess County Department of Planning and Development, was crafted in numerous meetings and discussions over the past six months that involved leadership from both the Executive and the Legislative branches of County government. “The support of the legislature for our initiatives to save open space has been gratifying,” announced Steinhaus. “Since January when I first asked legislative leadership to work together with the Executive branch to develop and craft a consensus document, I have remained confident that with a spirit of cooperation we all could embrace an expanded growth management concept, one which included smart infrastructure development as part of the open space preservation equation.”
The new program adds several important elements to the original Open Space and Farmland Protection Matching Grant program proposed by the County Executive in his 1999 State of the County address and adopted by the Legislature in December 1999.
- Farmland Protection grants may be increased to a maximum of
fifty percent (50%) of the total cost of fee, development rights, or
conservation easement acquisition provided that there is at least twenty-five
percent (25%) municipal participation.
- Municipal Open Space Grants may be increased to fifty
percent (50%) of total acquisition costs provided that there is at least
twenty-five percent (25%) municipal participation.
- The Partnership for Manageable Growth will provide
up to fifty percent (50%) of the cost of pre-construction/feasibility studies
and up to twenty-five percent (25%) of the cost of construction projects,
provided that all other available financial resources have been secured.
- Municipal applications for open space funds and water and
wastewater infrastructure funding shall require municipal participation in the
Greenway Compact.
- Greenway Compact communities may apply to the County for
fifty percent (50%) matching grants, not to exceed a County share of $10,000,
for adoption and implementation of municipal open space and farmland
protection strategies.
- The County will provide up to $3,000 to reimburse land conservancies for site-specific farm conservation plans to guide potential development away from active farmland and incorporate conservation design standards for any future subdivision.
Since the Open Space and Farmland Protection Matching Grant program was launched, Dutchess County has received more than $2.4 million in grants from New York State and committed $1.75 million in local Dutchess County dollars. The program’s success is based on partnership, a guiding principle of the Greenway Compact. “By leveraging our own matching funds and contributions from the private sector, we have taken steps to protect more than 1,015 acres of farmland and open space in Dutchess County,” the County Executive stated. “Based upon the demonstrated success of our open space initiative to date, I will recommend $2 million in the 2002 Capital Plan for open space and farmland protection, an increase of $1 million over each of the previous two years.”
Steinhaus concluded, “I want to acknowledge the tremendous amount of time and energy my senior staff and Commissioner Akeley have devoted to help craft this new Partnership for Manageable Growth policy. I would also like to acknowledge Legislature Chairman Kendall and other legislators who have contributed to the many discussions and who have demonstrated such an active commitment to achieving our goals. I am hopeful the Legislature will act soon to adopt our expanded program to preserve open space, protect our farms and better manage growth.”
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