Planning staff: county files CFA for comprehensive plan update; rail trail, parks and solar projects advance
August 07, 2025 | Sullivan County, New York
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Heather, planning staff, told the Sullivan County Legislature the county filed a Consolidated Funding Application to update the county comprehensive plan for the first time since 2005 and assisted the village of Bloomingburg with a matching municipal application.
“Comprehensive planning, we did successfully file our grant through the consolidated funding application process for the update to the Sullivan County comprehensive plan. It's not been done since 02/2005,” Heather said. She said planners also supported Bloomingburg’s application to update a municipal plan.
Nut graf: Planning staff reported multiple active projects and grant efforts — from a long‑overdue county comp‑plan update to trail construction, parks work, housing funding and a large utility solar proposal — and placed two resolutions for legislative action on today’s agenda.
On the Sullivan‑O&W (ONW) Rail Trail, Heather reported that a soil boring at the Neversink Crossing revealed more soft soils than anticipated, but follow‑up testing indicated a redesign was not required and Reeves Excavation was cleared to resume interim grading. “That project is on track to continue and complete next year,” Heather said.
Funding for the trail will use two sources: $100,000 awarded by Friends of the Upper Delaware River and the remaining $275,000 the legislature had previously authorized and which remains in the county fund balance. Heather said the county needs to authorize memoranda of agreement with the town of Fallsburg before the county can execute the payments the town will receive for completed work. She described a resolution on today’s agenda to authorize those MOAs.
Planning staff also updated legislators on housing initiatives and outreach to municipal housing committees, regional economic development grant efforts targeting downtown revitalization, and the Town Line solar project — a large utility solar proposal spanning the town lines of Forestburgh and Thompson for which an application is anticipated in November. Heather said discussions are underway with the two towns about pooling $150,000 in intervener funds rather than splitting them into smaller amounts.
Parks updates included a redesign of parking at Kalakud Park to reduce paved area, active trail construction at Lake Superior State Park and a proposed three‑year food‑truck concession contract (identified as Rell’s Kitchen in the report). Heather moved two resolutions in a block related to parks and the rail trail; the block motion passed on a voice vote, recorded in the transcript as 4‑0.
Ending: Planning and grants staff said the county will continue outreach to municipalities for grant opportunities and will post the 2024 benchmarking report on the county website once reviewed.
“Comprehensive planning, we did successfully file our grant through the consolidated funding application process for the update to the Sullivan County comprehensive plan. It's not been done since 02/2005,” Heather said. She said planners also supported Bloomingburg’s application to update a municipal plan.
Nut graf: Planning staff reported multiple active projects and grant efforts — from a long‑overdue county comp‑plan update to trail construction, parks work, housing funding and a large utility solar proposal — and placed two resolutions for legislative action on today’s agenda.
On the Sullivan‑O&W (ONW) Rail Trail, Heather reported that a soil boring at the Neversink Crossing revealed more soft soils than anticipated, but follow‑up testing indicated a redesign was not required and Reeves Excavation was cleared to resume interim grading. “That project is on track to continue and complete next year,” Heather said.
Funding for the trail will use two sources: $100,000 awarded by Friends of the Upper Delaware River and the remaining $275,000 the legislature had previously authorized and which remains in the county fund balance. Heather said the county needs to authorize memoranda of agreement with the town of Fallsburg before the county can execute the payments the town will receive for completed work. She described a resolution on today’s agenda to authorize those MOAs.
Planning staff also updated legislators on housing initiatives and outreach to municipal housing committees, regional economic development grant efforts targeting downtown revitalization, and the Town Line solar project — a large utility solar proposal spanning the town lines of Forestburgh and Thompson for which an application is anticipated in November. Heather said discussions are underway with the two towns about pooling $150,000 in intervener funds rather than splitting them into smaller amounts.
Parks updates included a redesign of parking at Kalakud Park to reduce paved area, active trail construction at Lake Superior State Park and a proposed three‑year food‑truck concession contract (identified as Rell’s Kitchen in the report). Heather moved two resolutions in a block related to parks and the rail trail; the block motion passed on a voice vote, recorded in the transcript as 4‑0.
Ending: Planning and grants staff said the county will continue outreach to municipalities for grant opportunities and will post the 2024 benchmarking report on the county website once reviewed.
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