3. ENCOURAGE COLLABORATIVE LAND USE REVIEW PROCESSES THAT BALANCE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT AND ENVIRONMENTAL GOALS
Challenge: Existing environmental review processes often satisfy no one because they are set up as zero-sum propositions. This leads to frustrated citizens and can unnecessarily stall deserving projects.
Replace the adversarial review processes with collaborative and flexible approaches that ensure environmental protection and results in center-based and job-creating development.
- Empower the Greenway to mediate regulatory disputes between applicants, lead agencies and stakeholders to achieve economic goals and greater environmental benefits.
- Encourage the use of Generic Environmental Impact Statements (GEIS) in land use planning processes to pre-identify suitable development sites, identify potential impacts and mitigate impacts.
- Involve the public early in planning processes.
- Build flexibility into the permitting process to protect the environment while encouraging center-based development.
- Provide training and expert advice for local governments for the efficient conduct of SEQRA reviews.
One Comment
A current example of the urgent need to re-balance economic and environmental needs in land use can been experienced along the Catskill Aqueduct and elsewhere in Westchester County. Here, over the last few years, Con Edison has been implementing it’s Transmission Line Vegetation Management Policy (TVMP), resulting in the widening of the right-of-way (ROW) to it’s maximum extent – up to 200 feet on either side of the transmission towers). The widening has been accomplished by clear cutting every tree and shrub from the corridor, and thence applying herbicides to slow possible re-growth. The public outcry from local environmental organizations, from town, city and county governments and from local citizens concerning the severe environmental and aesthetic impacts of this activity has caused the Public Service Commission (PSC) to re-examine it’s vegetation management guidelines for all in-state transmission operators (Case 10-E-0155 ongoing).
At the core of this issue is that of the need for local notification, review and input for TVMP activity. A mandatory SEQRA process would ensure that ecological impacts, health impacts, property value impacts (and the like) would be fully considered, and that proper and appropriate mitigation would be planned.
We, as a community of Hudson Valley residents – whether homeowners, businesses or energy providers, need to work together to ensure smart, responsible solutions for our region. Solutions which balance energy needs with environmental concerns. The time to say that ‘anything goes’ in the name of electricity and growth has long past – we must focus on solutions which embody understanding of global warming, ecosystem services and restoration, value view sheds, riparian buffers and wetlands, protect both endangered and not-so-unique local flora and fauna.
For more background information on the Transmission Line Vegetation Management issue and on PSC Case 10-E-0155, please visit the Greenburgh Environmental Forum’s LORAX working group’s website: loraxwg.blogspot.com