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Pros and cons of SASS in Hammond

Posted 2/6/15

To the Editor: Five years ago, the citizens of Hammond gave me the privilege to hold the office of supervisor. That is a responsibility that I have taken seriously and hopefully performed with the …

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Pros and cons of SASS in Hammond

Posted

To the Editor:

Five years ago, the citizens of Hammond gave me the privilege to hold the office of supervisor. That is a responsibility that I have taken seriously and hopefully performed with the best interests of the Hammond people.

We addressed a number of issues; a Wind Law that was the result of over a year's work from a broad based citizens committee, a Hammond Comprehensive Plan that resulted from public participation and a regular Hammond Newsletter, improving communication with the community, to name a few. This has been done while providing good town services within budgets reflecting prudent fiscal management.

The town has now taken on another initiative that has resulted in a great deal of conversation, which I would like to take a moment of your time to discuss. This is the proposal for Hammond to participate in the application to the NY Department of State (DOS) to be designated a Scenic Area of Statewide Significance (SASS). This designation could apply to aspects of the entire American Thousand Island shoreline from Cape Vincent to Morristown and its purpose is to identify, evaluate, and preserve specific areas of scenic value within the designated area.

In 2012, after some of the other Hammond issues were addressed, I contacted the towns and villages along the river to assess their interest in working together for the purpose of applying to the DOS for SASS recognition. All agreed to take a hard look at the proposal. I then asked several individuals to assist me in coordinating the effort. In June 2012, the first organizational meeting was held at the Antique Boat Museum with almost every town and village in attendance, along with Assemblyperson Russell and representatives from the DOS. Based on the interest exhibited, the steering committee proceeded with the process of applying for a $75,000 grant to cover expenses of retaining the necessary professional assistance. The Town of Hammond, with the unanimous support of the Town Board, acted as the lead agency for the purpose of the grant application. In December of 2012 the state approved the grant application from the Town covering costs related to the project. It should be noted that the grant approval also required a $75,000 contribution from the local community “in kind” or in other words, community involvement equal in value to the amount of the grant. At this time, over the past two years, numerous volunteers from Cape Vincent to the Village of Morristown have worked on this project in varied forms and that requirement has been met. Over $75,000 worth of volunteer effort has been contributed to the SASS project to make it a success. After the grant approval, Dodson & Flinker, a professional organization, had been retained to undertake the evaluation and draft the application to the DOS, an effort now approaching completion. We expect the final draft to be available shortly and the final public hearing to be held in April. In other words, a lot of work has been done.

What is SASS? That is the question I am hearing most often. Simply put, aside from all of the possible incidental side benefits that our region might enjoy as a result of this project; multi town cooperation, tourism, improved grant activity, the sole purpose of SASS as part of the NYS Coastal Management Program is to identify, evaluate and preserve the valuable and greatly appreciated view shed of the Thousand Island Region. The identification and evaluation process is nearing completion.

Here is how the preservation portion works. First, there are no new permits, licenses or regulations that would be required within the SASS designated area. If a preexisting state or federal permit or approval is required under existing state or federal programs, then there is one additional step in that evaluation process that asks the appropriate permitting authority to comment on any impact the request may have on the view shed. This only applies to pre-existing permit, licensing or approval reviews for projects located within the SASS designated area along the river, Chippewa Creek and Crooked Creek shoreline and inland for up to one and a half miles in certain designated areas. In other words, if a proposed project already requires a permit from the Army Corps of Engineers, the Department of Environmental Conservation, the DOS or other agency, those agencies will also review the project for its scenic impact. Again, SASS will impose NO additional permits, licensing or approvals.

This shoreline area will be the only area of any concern, SASS has no impact on the balance of the town. In addition, there are no mandated controls, regulations or modifications to existing town laws. SASS will neither encourage nor prevent any type of development in Hammond or along the Thousand Island St Lawrence River shoreline other than to provide for a scenic view shed impact evaluation if a pre-existing permit or approval is required.

Questions: ron@acecontractorsny.com or visit www.scenic1000islands.com.

Ron Bertram

Hammond Town Supervisor