Narrative of Resolution:
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RESOLUTION INTRODUCED BY THE PLANNING, COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT, REAL PROPERTY AND CAPITAL PLANNING AND BUDGETING COMMITTEE TO AUTHORIZE THE SUBMISSION OF AN APPLICATION TO THE NEW YORK STATE COSOLIDATED FUNDING APPLICATION (CFA) TO FUND DEVELOPMENT OF A WATERFRONT PARCEL IN THE TOWN OF DELAWARE, NY FOR USAGE AS A REGIONAL PUBLIC PARK
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If Resolution requires expenditure of County Funds, provide the following information:
Amount to be authorized by Resolution: $125,000 if funding received
Are funds already budgeted? No
Specify Compliance with Procurement Procedures:
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WHEREAS, the Upper Delaware River is an Approved Inland Waterway under the New York State Department of State's Division of Coastal Resources, eligible for funding under its Local Waterfront Revitalization Programs (LWRP); and
WHEREAS, the Sullivan County Division of Planning and Environmental Management (SCDPEM) received a series of LWRP grants that funded completion of a regional plan for the Upper Delaware River Corridor and implementation actions to advance its priority recommendation of expanding and improving public access to the river; and
WHEREAS, a 2017 community visioning process conducted for the hamlet of Callicoon reinforced the Upper Delaware River revitalization plan by also identifying expanded and improved public river access as a top priority of area residents and business owners; and
WHEREAS, after extensive due diligence that included consultation with the State, County, Town and other stakeholders in revitalization of the Upper Delaware River corridor, the Trust for Public Land (TPL) purchased a long-vacant 48-acre campground at the edge of the hamlet of Callicoon in the Town of Delaware containing nearly half a mile of river frontage; and
WHEREAS, TPL has subdivided the property for distribution to meet various public needs including approximately two acres to NYS DEC for a public river access site and six acres to the Town of Delaware for the site_ of a new wastewater treatment plant and for water supply/wellhead protection; and
WHEREAS, Sullivan County has acquired Lot 1 of the subdivision, containing 38.85 acres, for the development of a new County park; and
WHEREAS, utilizing a grant from the National Fish and Wildlife Federation, TPL engaged environmental, landscape design and planning professionals to create a master plan for the park; and
WHEREAS, the park plan was developed with input from key stakeholders and the general public, including a series of well-attended on-site workshops conducted during the summer and fall or 2020; and
WHEREAS, the plan details a variety of uses responding to public needs and interests such as several miles of walking trails, children's adventure play features, event space, areas for nature observation, river access, boat and kayak launch, a dog park, and primitive camping, and provides cost estimates and suggestions for phased development; and
WHEREAS, the Covid-19 pandemic and recent land use and development trends have reinforced an immediate need for new outdoor recreation facilities to relieve conditions of overcrowding, prevent resource degradation, and mitigate increasing conflicts between people seeking public access to the river and nearby private property owners; and
WHEREAS, development of the planned County park on the riverside property in Callicoon will support multiple County goals and objectives including economic development, improved quality of life, expanded opportunities for healthful recreation, natural resource protection and increased facilities to attract tourism and increase the length of visitor stays; and
WHEREAS, Round XII of the New York State Consolidated Funding Application provides funding opportunities to support park development, providing up to 75% of project costs; and
WHEREAS, Sullivan County, TPL and other stakeholders have been collaborating on project planning, phasing and budgeting; and
WHEREAS, the County is an eligible applicant for these programs.
NOW, THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED, the Sullivan County Legislature hereby authorizes the County Manager, Chairman of the County Legislature, and/or their authorized representative (as required by the funding source(s)) to execute any and all necessary documents to submit a CFA application seeking funding from multiple sources for the development of a passive riverfront park with walking trails on riverfront property in the hamlet of Callicoon. Up to $500,000 in project funding will be sought, with a potential minimum match requirement of up to $125,000; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, the Sullivan County Legislature hereby authorizes the County Manager, and/ or Chairman of the County Legislature (as required by the funding source(s)) to accept the award, and enter into an award agreement or contract to administer the funding secured, in such a form as the County Attorney shall approve; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that should the funding be terminated, the County shall not be obligated to continue any action undertaken or contemplated to be undertaken for the use of this funding.