Open Space Goals

• Maintain the rural character of the town
  
• Protect open space
  
• Protect and encourage agricultural use of land
  
• Protect scenic views and roads
  

How Much Open Space Exists in Town?

Source: Town of Hurley Open Space Plan

Almost 79% of the land in the Town of Hurley is open space. About 46% of the open space is owned by government entities. The privately owned vacant space includes 37.6% of the total town acreage.

This vacant space, less wetlands, steep slopes and other acreage not amenable to development, captures the attention of developers looking for new opportunities. The decisions we make about our developable open space will shape the future of the town.

Survey response was clear. We value open space and want to protect it.

Current codes position us as reactors rather than initiators. We can only respond to plans developers present. We recommend changing that paradigm.

Act rather than react

We can learn from other communities that have revised their codes to supports their goals of maximizing open space. Revised codes can facilitate a planning process that will enable us to be proactive. With that process in place we can implement many conservation techniques to support our goals without compromising a landowner's development rights.

One of those techniques includes purchasing land or development rights directly. We should determine through a town referendum whether our community's commitment is strong enough to support establishing a fund to acquire land or development rights.

Can We Protect NYCDEP-Owned Land From Future Development

Photo by Ian Buckwalter, with permission

The NYC Department of Environmental Protection owns 32% of the open space in Hurley. If, or when, NYC invests in a filtration plant, this land could become more valuable to NYC as a site for real estate development. Rather than wait to see whether that time comes, we should take action now to protect this resource.

The town should join forces with the other watershed towns today to obtain a commitment from NYC to maintain this land forever as open space.

Change happens -- development happens. But we can, and should, become a partner in shaping that change.

Open Space Recommendations

• Promote the use of open space development techniques to supplement the Town’s zoning law and sub-division regulations for use by the Planning Board in dealing with developers. (CAC Open Space Plan)
  
• Designate specific roads as scenic and prepare standards for development on such roads regarding fences, natural buffers, expanded set backs and lot widths, and other measures to preserve the natural and historic character.
  
• Hold a referendum to determine whether support exists to establish a local fund for the acquisition of high priority open space parcels and/or development rights. This fund should be used as the match for grants from other public and private agencies. (CAC Open Space Plan)
  
• Protect and encourage agricultural use of land
  
• Protect scenic views (CAC Open Space Plan)
  
• Pursue a legal commitment from NYC to maintain the NYC watershed lands as open space