CATSKILL, New York (July 17, 2008) – The Greene County Legislature adopted a new Housing Action Plan at its meeting today that quantifies and assesses the county's current housing market, proposes highly specific action steps to streamline and focus the development process and sets guidelines that can be used by developers and municipalities to meet the housing needs of Greene County residents across a broad spectrum of housing choices.

The results of the year-long Hudson River Corridor Study were also presented to the Legislature. The goal of this study was to integrate local comprehensive plans and form a shared regional vision for appropriate growth and development of the seven communities comprising the Hudson River corridor. The project also included the preparation of county-level policies and standards to guide the Greene County Planning Board in the review of projects, along with an update and revision of the Greene County Planning and Zoning Referral Guide.

Commenting on the adoption of the Housing Action Plan, Karen Deyo, Greene County Legislator and Government Operations Committee Chair, said: “Developing a mix of quality housing options that are affordable to households across income spans is a key ingredient to maintaining vibrant communities and meeting the needs of Greene County’s 21st century workforce. This plan provides a roadmap for the county and municipalities to work hand-in-hand to create more housing options for our residents, from first-time home buyers to senior citizens.”

“A healthy regional economy depends not only on jobs, but also on places for the workforce to live and contribute to the community,” commented Keith W. Valentine, Greene County Legislature Majority Leader. “This report documents that current housing prices are more than three times the median family income for Greene County, which means that most units are not affordable to existing residents. This plan suggests practical, concrete ways we can address that issue.”

“The Housing Action Plan is very action oriented. Now Greene County needs to act,” said Larry Gardner, Greene County Legislature Minority Leader. “We need to work diligently to implement the strategies and tactics that were recommended to us and we have now adopted. This is not a plan Greene County can afford to let sit on the shelf.”

The plan is an important milestone for the county, as the detailed goals and action items will assist county departments and agencies and local units of government with practical tools to address the economics of housing. This plan is a policy document that recognizes workforce housing as an economic priority, needing focus, resources, coordination and collaboration among the several planning, housing and economic development entities within the county. This plan is also innovative as it includes a series of seven color fact sheets designed to provide information on a broad range of housing topics to be distributed throughout the county in order to raise the understanding of the importance of housing to the county’s economy and quality of life.

Endorsed with great enthusiasm from the Greene County Legislature, the Housing Action Plan and fact sheets will be distributed by Greene County Planning and Economic Development to local units of government and other audiences. The department will also be meeting with local units of governments and planning boards to discuss the plan's recommendations.

The 120-page Housing Action Plan spells out nearly 40 specific actions to achieve specific goals. Among the actions recommended are:

• Encourage second-floor housing on Main Streets to create mixed-use buildings in the village and town centers.
• Work with developers to encourage mixed-income home and rental projects.
• Encourage municipalities to allow density bonuses to developers in exchange for more community benefits.
• Explore the feasibility of establishing a Community Housing Trust, which would acquire land on which affordable housing can be built for those making less than 80% of median income.
• Promote housing rehabilitation programs and incentives.
• Work with municipalities, non-profits and county agencies to implement home ownership assistance programs.
• Encourage major employers to provide home ownership assistance.
• Allow housing developments for seniors such as continuing care retirement communities.
• Allow seniors to stay in their homes by permitting accessory apartments and elder cottages.

Funding for the Housing Action Plan was provided through a 2006 New York State Office for Small Cities Technical Assistance grant, as well as by the Greene County Legislature. River Street Planning and Development, a Capital Region firm with considerable experience in housing and community development, assisted with the development of the plan.

The Greene County Department of Planning and Economic Development provided overall project management for the plan development, while its partner, Greene County Department for the Aging, assessed senior housing needs. An Advisory Committee, composed of experts in various sectors of the housing market, played a key role by providing guidance, oversight and a forum for analysis for the Housing Action Plan throughout the process.

A complete copy of the report can be downloaded at the Greene County Planning and Economic Development website: www.greeneeconomicdevelopment.com.

Hudson River Corridor Study

The Hudson River Corridor Study presented to the Legislature and distributed to the local towns and villages outlines shared goals for the Hudson River Corridor, focusing on Hudson River shoreline, the Route 9W corridor, Hudson River to Catskill scenic corridor (Routes 23, 23A, 385 and River Road, village centers, and natural and rural landscapes. The plan also includes principals of growth and preservation in the areas of business-friendly communities, quality of place, transportation and infrastructure networks and government services.

“The Hudson River Corridor Study was very successful in bringing together the seven Hudson River Valley communities to create a shared regional vision for the future,” said Karen Deyo. “It represents a level of intermunicipal cooperation and professional planning that is forward thinking and represents the positive development that is taking place in Greene County.”

“The Hudson River Corridor Study provided an opportunity to identify a project priority list, to align resources of county departments and agencies and to spark interest in intermunicipal collaboration,” said Ray Brooks, Greene County Legislator from Athens. “All four towns and three villages had input and by pulling together as one, we'll stand a better chance of competing for state and Federal grants for corridor improvements that will benefit all of us in the long-run.”

“This was a groundbreaking study for Greene County,” said Peter Markou, Catskill Town Supervisor. “If we continue to collaborate with one another, the plan should result in revitalized waterfront villages, thriving commercial corridors, safe and efficient transportation systems and healthy natural areas.”

Among next steps recommended by the study was the formation of a Greene County Hudson River Corridor Committee that would provide a continuous forum for the leaders of the seven communities to convene on an ongoing basis to discuss common problems and opportunities.

The Hudson River Corridor Study was facilitated by Behan Planning Associates, LLC, of Saratoga Springs, NY, a professional consulting firm with extensive experience in developing community and regional plans. The Greene County Department of Planning and Economic Development managed the project, along with an Advisory Committee and its project partners: the Greene County Industrial Development Agency, Greene County Soil and Water Conservation District and Cornell Cooperative Extension of Greene County.

A new brochure summarizing the study, along with more detailed fact sheets and the study itself, are available for viewing on www.greeneeconomicdevelopment.com.

For more information, contact Greene County Planning and Economic Development at (518) 719-3290 or visit www.greeneeconomicdevelopment.com.