Sign the petition to tell the Town of Highland Town Board to pause development in the Upper Delaware River Corridor to allow for needed planning and zoning reforms!
Last night, Delaware Riverkeeper Network petitioned the Town of Highland, located in Sullivan County, NY, to adopt a moratorium on any new development, expanding development, or change in land use within the portion of the Upper Delaware Scenic and Recreational River Corridor located within Town boundaries until the Town’s 10-Year Comprehensive Plan review is complete and its Codes and Regulations are reviewed and updated accordingly.
Given the large development applications being presented to the Town; the substantial community participation in the review process for these applications; the increasing risk of disastrous flood events due to climate change; and the local government’s obligation to uphold the objectives of the Wild and Scenic Rivers Act and residents’ environmental rights that are enshrined by the New York Green Amendment; it is prudent for the Town to pause development until a thorough Comprehensive Plan update that considers all of these factors is completed.
A moratorium allows the Town time to clearly and thoughtfully identify residents’ vision for future growth in their community– including development that aligns with the scenic and aesthetic character of the area, advances economic development and environmental protection, and promotes the overall public welfare– while alleviating pressure to rush project approvals within the River Corridor that might misinterpret, mischaracterize, or misapply current laws and/or advance development projects that undermine the goals of the newly crafted Comprehensive Plan. The moratorium would also give the Town an opportunity to address inconsistencies within and between the township ordinances, its Comprehensive Plan and the mandates and/or goals of The Upper Delaware Scenic & Recreational River Management Plan.
If you are a resident of the Town of Highland and would like to support this proposed moratorium, please read and sign onto the petition AND send an email to townclerk@townofhighlandny.com saying that you are in support of the Petition to Adopt a Moratorium on Any New Development in the Upper Delaware Scenic and Recreational River Corridor Portion of the Town of Highland to Allow For Needed Comprehensive Planning and Zoning Reforms.