The main issues concerning the Town of Bethlehem’s possible open-space plan appear to be outright conservation, private ownership rights, recreational opportunities, development potentials and the major sticking point: money for open space.
On Wednesday, July 1, Town Planner Jeff Lipnicky gave a presentation to a couple dozen residents on an open space protection plan that created an agriculture and farmland protection subcommittee to address issues, needs and opportunities.
The purpose was to create a `bottom-up process` of open space protection with `a heavy dose of participation` from town residents.
Lipnicky said simply defining what open space means has been a reoccurring theme.
`This whole process of open space protection involved the voluntary participation of willing land owners,` he said. The town held a meeting of `large landowners` in May of 2008, which was any town resident with seven acres or more of property. The meeting brought up many of the concerns about respect for private property and trespassing.
A draft report from the town states that open space opportunities often present themselves as development of the town continues.
`As the Town of Bethlehem continues to grow and evolve, new development projects will continue to be undertaken, and existing development sites may also be renovated or
redeveloped,` it states. `As such, there is an opportunity to preserve open space resources such as wetlands, streams, and steep slopes during the development process. Cumulatively, the preservation of these various resources across several development sites can provide the benefit of preservation on a larger town-wide scale.`
Senior Planner Rob Leslie said recreation and pathways, parkland, agriculture and farmlands, and natural resources have all been discussed in various meetings held in town.
Education is another theme aimed at residents, according to Leslie, as well as the money issue.
`The fiscal ramifications really need to be looked at before the Town Board makes any decisions,` Leslie said.
One conclusion of the draft recommendation’s report to the Citizens Advisory Committee on Conservation (CACC) is that continued public involvement is key.
`Through the evaluation of residents’ input at public meetings and conversations with the
Citizens Advisory Committee on Conservation, it appears that community interest lay in
developing creative ways to preserve and finance open space,` it states. `During these difficult economic times, this report has established an action plan for the Town of Bethlehem that centers on recommendations that are both fiscally responsible and achievable. By continuing to work together as a community to address these needs and opportunities, the fruit of that labor will benefit not only current Bethlehem residents, but future generations as well.`
Several of those in attendance said the town needs to draft an actual plan for people to look at.
`I think CACC should take a stronger stand on open space development,` said town Planning Board member John Smolinski, who later added that `perhaps it’s the Town Board that needs more resolve.`
`If it has a plan and puts it on the table for everyone to comment on,` he said, `then I think everyone would benefit.`
A representative from the Hudson Mohawk Land Conservancy said there is a lack of response from town police when it comes to trespassing issues. Resident Lisa Evans, who has served on several town committees including the local waterfront revitalization plan, said there needs to be more urgency in terms of funding a plan.
`There isn’t anything [in the recommendation] in terms of funding things now,` she said.
Another resident, Ted Jennings, said an open space plan would only serve to help residents, saying, `A strong open space program goes a long way to increases property values in town.`
Resident Ken Neff pointed to the low turnout at the meeting, saying, `This doesn’t represent the community,` adding that many in attendance were committee members and `this is a game between two groups.`
Linda Jasinski, a frequenter to Town Board meetings, said private owner rights must be considered and if people wanted open space they could pool their resources together to purchase it.
`I’m an advocate of private land ownership,` she said. `I’m not happy with government ownership. Why doesn’t the town open a bank account for an open space fund?`
Comments on the open space plan can be e-mailed to [email protected], or by mail to 445 Delaware Ave., Delmar 12054.
The next CACC meeting will be on Monday, July 13, at Town Hall to discuss comments from the public and to update committee’s report. Several reports have been issued by the Bethlehem that can found at the town’s Web site:
www.townofbethlehem.org/pages/AdvisoryComs/advCACC.asp
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