Residents press authors to strengthen environmental protections; consultants point to agency limits

Residents at the Shandaken session pressed the consultants to make environmental protections more concrete, saying state land management (DEC/NYC Watershed/DEP) and regional tourism pressure create gaps the town should address. A participant asked whether the plan was slanted toward environmental goals because it was funded by the Environmental Protection Fund; consultants replied EPF funds the process but repeatedly pointed to survey results showing environment as the community’s top priority.

Beth Waterman, chair of the town’s Conservation Advisory Council, said the CAC has worked with the consultants and is pursuing a natural resource inventory to support planning decisions. “We were created 4 years ago to fulfill the goals of the Climate Smart Community… and the updating of the comprehensive plan is an important step for us in achieving that goal,” Waterman said. Karen Lee (CAC) added that the NRI meetings are scheduled for June 9 (5 PM, Pine Hill Community Center) and June 10 (8 PM, Town Hall), and said the inventory will compile maps and narratives for use by local officials and the public.