Public comments accepted till Dec. 17; Public Hearings to be held statewide

The 2014 Open Space Conservation Draft Plan for New York State was released on Wednesday for public comment through December 17, with public hearings to be held statewide.

The plan guides State Environmental Protection Fund investments in open space protection.

It was released by Department of Environmental Conser-vation (DEC) Commis-sioner Joe Martens and Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation (State Parks) Commissioner Rose Harvey. 

The public hearings will be held from October 21 to October 23.

The Commissioners are inviting written comment with suggestions that could include:

• How the state and its partners can promote and enhance existing and new state lands as tourism destinations as part of a comprehensive open space conservation program;

• How the state can make public lands attractive to a diversity of New Yorkers;

• How DEC and State Parks can offer better access for sportsmen and women;

• How DEC and State Parks can work to provide outdoor recreation opportunities for New Yorkers and visitors of all abilities through Universal Access;

• Where DEC and State Parks can further develop Universal Access; and

• What the state can do to acquire and make more accessible lands near and in urban centers.

“The draft plan covers a lot of ground,” DEC Commissioner Martens said. “We urge the public to review the draft plan and give us comments that can strengthen the State’s Open Space Conservation program in the future.”

“New Yorkers and visitors to the state love open spaces and the plan will ensure New York’s natural resources are protected and preserved for future generations,” he said.

Specifically, the draft plan makes a series of common sense policy recommendations, according to Martens.

“(These) will protect wildlife habitat, protect water quality, provide opportunities for public recreation, protect working farms and forests, and build resiliency and protect property from the effects of storm surges and flooding,” he said.

The plan includes 137 priority projects that have been identified by the Regional Advisory Committees.

“New York State parks and public lands remain essential pieces in the building of communities,” said State Parks Commissioner Rose Harvey.

“These lands offer visitors peaceful or fun-filled getaways, promote healthier lifestyles and serve as important economic drivers for the State and local communities,” she said.

The draft plan was created through the work of nine Regional Advisory Committees composed of representatives of county governments and people knowledgeable in open space conservation selected by DEC and State Parks.

The nine committees correspond to DEC’s nine administrative regions.

Each committee was asked by the Commissioners to review the existing 2009 plan, including the list of priority open space conservation projects, as well as policy recommendations, to make New York’s comprehensive open space conservation program stronger in the future.

The Draft Plan makes recommendations on how open space conservation will help accomplish Governor Cuomo’s goals that include:

• Ensuring clean water, air and land for a healthy public and vibrant economy;

• Greening New York’s economy;

• Protecting natural resources and promoting outdoor recreation;

• Increasing and improving the visitor experience;

• Creating a 21st century parks system that is aesthetically compelling, energy and operationally efficient, and built to last;

• Working to address climate change.

Building upon the recommendations of Regional Advisory Committees, the Commissioners now ask the public to make recommendations.

Governor Cuomo created the NYS 2100 commission in response to Superstorm Sandy to improve resilience and strengthen the state’s infrastructure in the face of natural disasters and other emergencies.

Many of the open space recommendations included in the 2100 Commission report are integrated into the draft plan.

Prior to the scheduled public hearings, the public will have an opportunity to attend a workshop. The hearings themselves will be available in either an afternoon or evening session.

The workshops will be from 1 to 2:30 p.m.; the afternoon hearings will be 2:30 to 4:30 p.m.; and the evening Hearings will be 7 to 9 p.m.

Two Region 6 Hearings will be held, the first on October 21 in Utica at the State Office Building, Conference Room A, located at 207 Genesee Street.

The second will be in Watertown on October 22, at the NYS Region 6 Headquarters at the Dulles State Office Building (First Floor Conference Room), located at 317 Washington Street.

Two Region 5 hearings will also be held.

The first on October 21 in Saratoga Springs at OPRHP Saratoga Regional Office (Gideon Putnam Room), located at 19 Roosevelt Drive.

The second will be in Ray Brook on October 23, at the NYS Region 5 Head-quarters (Main Conference Room), located on Route 86.

There will also be an October 23 hearing at the State Fair Grounds in Syracuse in the Martha Eddy Room.

Public comments can be submitted by email to LF.OpenSpacePlan@dec.ny.gov or mailed to DEC by December 17 to: Open Space Conservation Plan; 625 Broadway; Albany, NY 12233.

Following the public comment period, the Plan will be finalized and submitted to Governor Cuomo for approval in 2015.

An electronic version of the draft plan is available at http://www.dec.ny.gov/lands/317.html