We need your support in urging the Town of Highland to adopt a moratorium on any new development, expanding development, or change in land use in 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 Code is reviewed and updated accordingly. Please submit your own comment to the Town Board in support of the moratorium to townclerk@townofhighlandny.com.
A moratorium presents an even more powerful tool for protecting the Upper Delaware River from development projects that pose a myriad of risks including flooding hazards, negative impacts to the local community character, and may lead to increased safety hazards from climate change-induced weather events. The Town of Highland must consider these risks in conjunction with their obligations under the Wild and Scenic Rivers Act and New Yorkers’ constitutional environmental rights under the New York Green Amendment.
These are some suggested points you could make in your own comment to support a moratorium:
- There has been a high level of demonstrated community concern for how development along the Scenic and Recreational River Corridor can adversely impact community character, natural resources, economic growth, property values, community safety, and the health of the Delaware River. Our community has prioritized these aspects including through its active participation in securing the Scenic and Recreational River designation and the development, implementation, and enforcement of the Upper Delaware River Management Plan. For these reasons it would be prudent of the Town of Highland to adopt a moratorium until the revised Comprehensive Plan is complete and fully incorporated into the Town’s codes and regulations. I am in support of the Town of Highland adopting 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.
- The Town is currently in the process of updating its ten-year Comprehensive Plan, which has not been updated since 2012. A development moratorium is timely and appropriate during the pendency of the review process. A moratorium instituted immediately will allow the Town time to update and establish a revised Comprehensive Plan without risking a rush of development applications, approvals and/or construction, particularly if such development may be inconsistent with the goals and objectives of the revised Plan (1), and thus non-compliant with new or amended ordinance language. I am in support of the Town of Highland adopting 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.
- I am in support of the Town of Highland adopting 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. A moratorium would allow the Town of Highland to identify land uses and development strategies that align with the scenic and aesthetic character of our town and community and provide beneficial recreational and eco-tourism opportunities for residents and visitors in alignment with our town’s character and priorities. A moratorium would also help advance our vision for economic development and environmental protection while ensuring full compliance with the mandates, vision, and goals of the Scenic & Recreational River designation and the Upper Delaware River Management Plan.
Please submit your own comment to the Town Board at townclerk@townofhighlandny.com