Dutchess County is awarded $47,000

Mary Mangione, Acting Executive Director of the Hudson River Valley Greenway, recently announced the approval of three Greenway Community Council Compact Grants to communities in Dutchess County amounting to $47,000. The Towns of LaGrange, Rhinebeck, and Milan applied to the Greenway for grants to undertake land use planning projects in each of the communities to implement Greenway Connections, Dutchess County’s Greenway Compact Program.

One of the major objectives of the 1991 Greenway Act is the development and implementation of a regional compact strategy. The Greenway Compact is a voluntary regional planning vision developed in partnership with the county, local communities, and the Greenway. The Compact differs from a typical comprehensive plan in that it specifically promotes the Greenway criteria of natural and cultural resource protection, regional and local planning, economic development, public access to the Hudson River (as well as other regional and local resources), heritage and environmental education, and encourages regional cooperation. Approved in March 2000, Greenway Connections was the Hudson River Valley’s first Compact plan.

One of the benefits of the compact program is the ability to apply to the Greenway for additional funds, above and beyond the Greenway’s Communities Council grants, for planning projects associated with the County’s Compact. LaGrange received $17,500 to put towards the development of an open space plan identifying open space parcels within the Town and identifying strategies to protect that open space. Milan was also awarded $17,500 to put towards the implementation of their recently adopted Comprehensive Plan including updating their zoning code. The Town of Rhinebeck received $12,000 to develop an open space aid affordable housing strategy thereby implementing goals identified in their comprehensive plan.

Mangione said, “Participation in the Greenway Compact Program is essential to successful regional planning. We are pleased that these Dutchess County communities are seeking Greenway grant funds to implement the County’s Compact Program. The Towns recognize that sound land use planning and open space protection are important to not only the Towns’ and County’s character, but also to the character of the region as a whole. By developing and implementing these planning strategies they are setting up a framework that will guide appropriate development for years to come. The Greenway is delighted to assist these communities with their planning projects.”

The Hudson River Valley Greenway is a State program within the Executive Department, established by the Greenway Act of 1991. It is designed to encourage Hudson River Valley communities to develop projects and initiatives related to the criteria of natural and cultural resource protection, regional and local planning, economic development, public access to the Hudson River (as well as other regional and local resources), and heritage and environmental education. It provides technical assistance and small grants for planning, capital projects, and water trail and land-based trails that reinforce the Greenway Criteria. The participation of municipalities in Greenway programs and projects is entirely voluntary and has no impact on municipal home rule. To date, there are now 232 Greenway Communities out of the 258 eligible municipalities in 13 counties within the state-designated Hudson River Valley Greenway. Dutchess and Westchester Counties are the two counties who have developed approved Compact Plans. Currently, there are 45 communities in those counties that have passed local laws agreeing to implement the compact plans; 29 in Dutchess County and 16 in Westchester County.