Land Use Symposium for YouthThank you Assemblywoman Ellen C. Jaffee and the NYS Department of Recreation and Parks for supporting this project with a $2500 grant in 2009 - helping to pay for food and supplies! Thanks also to HSBC Bank for supporting KRB's environmental education programs.
ROCKLAND P.L.U.S.: Planning Land Use with Students (See below for detailed report including list of professional mentors and budget)
“Collaboration,” “sustainable planning,” “youth,” and “professional mentors,” are the keywords of Rockland P.L.U.S., an annual land use charrette activity that has, over the last six years, engaged over 650 high school students, their teachers and a group of loyal professional mentors from the fields of planning, architecture, law, real estate development, affordable housing and environmental science and advocacy. Our case study focuses on the booming waterfront development in the Village of Haverstraw, on the Hudson River about twenty miles north of Manhattan, where high-end condo development competes for riverfront access with heavy industry and a largely Latino historic urban area. According to Arlene Miller, our of our mentors and a senior planner with the Rockland County Planning Department, “The Symposium is a fun, hands-on way for high school students to learn about the intricacies of land use planning and zoning-related issues.” The program begins with classroom visits by Sonia Cairo (Keep Rockland Beautiful) and Margie Turrin (Lamont Doherty Earth Observatory) to introduce students and teachers to our extensive case study booklet and the history of land use in Haverstraw, a poor, largely Latino village on the shores of the Hudson River, about 30 miles north of Manhattan. The massive “Harbors at Haverstraw” condo development is a brownfield redevelopment project that, when finished, will transform almost the entire length of Haverstraw’s unique waterfront with apartment buildings, shoreline promenades, a commuter ferry terminal, children’s museum and associated commercial ventures. The project is nestled between heavy industrial sites such as a quarry and a power plant, the majestic High Tor ridge overlooking the Hudson, and the historic downtown Haverstraw, where gentrifiers and generations of ethnic immigrants vie to define the village’s past and future. Rockland P.L.U.S. culminates with the convening of 135 students and their teachers from five high schools at the local community college for a day of planning charrettes overseen by professional mentors. Cornell Cooperative Extension in Rockland takes responsibility for recruiting and maintaining our cadre of professional mentors. In 2008, we began the day with a locally-produced documentary film in which bodega owners, youth and other Haverstraw residents talk about changes in their village, resulting in an excellent question and answer session with Vera Aronow, one of the film makers. In 2009, Edna Rivera, director of the affordable housing group H.O.G.A.R. provided a keynote presentation that highlighted Haverstraw youth who as adults provide critical leadership for the Village. What, we asked the students, would a sustainable plan for the Haverstraw waterfront look like, ie, one that serves current economic and social needs while preserving the environment and heritage for future generations? Students then joined charrette groups to use large base maps and movable chips and strings representing various types of buildings, paths, roads and open space to begin envisioning a sustainable waterfront development plan. By the end of the charrettes, the students had thoroughly explored a range of environmental and socio-economic issues associated with development - everything from effects on our watershed and open space to traffic, tax base, employment, and housing. With the help of mentors, the students explored concepts such as “impermeable surface,” “green building design,” and “affordable housing,” and they reviewed community character and needs. Using colored markers they recorded their land use decisions on their maps for presentation to other groups. The reader can probably imagine the diversity of entertainment and recreational options slated for development along the Haverstraw waterfront by these young planners!! In truth, however, the students take their roles as planners and community members very seriously, deriving a sense of empowerment from being asked for their perspectives that is tempered by a real appreciation for the complexity and trade-offs inherent in the planning process, as these comments from student evaluations show: “It was extremely interesting being able to have a say in what would become of our community.” “I liked being able to collaborate with students from other schools because you get different ideas from people who live in different communities.” “There was so much to consider and every little decision has pros and cons.” Our charrettes offer students from predominantly white and wealthy school districts and students from mostly poor and minority districts a rare opportunity to mix together in an academic setting. Also, the land use charrettes enable teachers to offer their students the kind of real-world, community-based and collaborative educational experience that is difficult to fit into a curriculum driven by standardized testing requirements. It is not unusual for participating students and teachers to get involved in local land use issues, such as proposed “big box” stores, main street revitalization efforts, and recreational area development. Rockland P.L.U.S. is a collaborative effort of Keep Rockland Beautiful, Columbia University Lamont-Doherty Earth Observatory, Hudson Basin River Watch, Cornell University Cooperative Extension, and Rockland County Americorps. The project grew, in part, out of our participation in the Pace University Land Use Leadership Alliance, a training program for local community “opinion-makers” focused on collaborative planning methods. Small grants from Assemblywoman Ellen Jaffee, Orange and Rockland Electric Company and other local sponsors have helped this project grow. Our collaborative charrette kit and process design owes much to the work of Karl Kehde, whose Smarter Land Use Project also focuses on building trust and dialogue among stakeholders. Like these leading thinkers, we hope our project fosters the embrace of a collaborative, as opposed to an adversarial, approach to land use, and provides youth with the knowledge and skills they will need to help bring about a more sustainable relationship between human settlement patterns and the natural world.
ROCKLAND P.L.U.S. ‘08 PLANNING LAND USE WITH STUDENTS
SUMMARY REPORT to O&R
On November 21, 2008, Rockland County’s Planning Land Use with Students (Rockland P.L.U.S.) brought together 120 students from high schools throughout the county to examine and discuss the environmental and socio-economic issues associated with land use planning and the challenges of building a sustainable community. Now in its fifth year, Rockland P.L.U.S. is well recognized among educators as a unique and valuable opportunity for students to apply classroom learning to real life situations. The program begins with pre-symposium classroom discussions and analysis of a prepared case study of a local development project. It culminates with a full day symposium where students meet with professionals involved in the planning process, and work together collaboratively on their visions, and the practical steps, for creating a healthy, sustainable community.
The Village of Haverstraw and the redevelopment of its waterfront district once again provided an exciting case study for analysis and discussion. This on-going redevelopment project continues to present a broad range of important issues for consideration, from economic revitalization to watershed and habitat preservation.
Rockland P.L.U.S. ’08 was built on our experience and feedback from past years. Teachers and mentors all agreed that this year’s symposium provided the best experience for all participates. Page Two, Rockland P.L.U.S. ‘08 Summary Report
Preparation for the Day
In preparation for the symposium, a team of program educators made two visits to each of the participating high schools. The first presentation engaged students in a lively conversation on the features of a healthy community and the impact that land use decisions can make on the environment and quality of life. We introduced concepts of sustainability, focusing on the economic, social, and environmental qualities that keep a community viable and healthy into the future. Students were provided with the case study booklet on Haverstraw’s waterfront redevelopment project and a set of guiding questions to help them prepare for their planning sessions at the symposium. During the second pre-symposium visit, the case study booklet, slides, and maps were used to aid in a discussion of some of the unique assets and challenges to the Village of Haverstraw.
The Symposium
This year, the symposium began with an excellent, locally produced documentary film in which bodega owners, youth and other Haverstraw residents talk about changes in their village. The film inspired an excellent question and answer session with Vera Aronow, one of the filmmakers.
After the film and introductions, the students broke out into their planning charrettes and began to consider a sustainable plan for the Haverstraw, one that serves current economic and social needs while preserving the environment and heritage for the future. Groups of 6 to 8 students (each group included students from several of the participating schools) worked collaboratively in a planning session. They were given a blank map outlining the redevelopment area, colored pen and pencils, and several moving pieces. Together they mapped out their vision for the redevelopment site, incorporating the insights they had gained from the case study. Their professional mentors observed this initial planning session, then provided the group with feedback and suggestions. After lunch, the students presented their final map to the mentors.
At the end of the day, students, teachers, facilitators, and mentors reconvened for a brief wrap up. Students shared some of what they learned from their participation in the program and their new found appreciation for the importance and complexities of planning for a balanced, sustainable community. They left the symposium feeling motivated and empowered to participate in the planning process in their own communities.
During the pre-symposium visits, students had been provided information on the American Planning Association’s High School Essay Contest. The subject of this essay contest came at an opportune time for our symposium participants. It was to be on the critical planning issues facing communities. Having examined all the issues around redevelopment in Haverstraw, students were encouraged to take advantage of this opportunity and apply what they learned to planning issues in their own backyards.
Page Three, Rockland P.L.U.S. ‘08 Summary Report
We continue to be inspired by the enthusiasm shown for this program by the teachers and students from North Rockland High School, Pearl River High School, Ramapo High School, Tappan Zee High School, Suffern High School, and Rockland Country Day School.
Mentors at this year’s symposium:
Exhibitors at the lunch-time “Sustainability Fair”, where students were given the opportunity to learn more about “green building” practices and sustainable planning options:
· Cornell University Cooperative Extension· Energy Management Solutions· Hackensack Riverkeeper· Keep Rockland Beautiful · Orange and Rockland Utilities· Rockland County Solid Waste Management Authority· Scenic Hudson
Page Four, Rockland P.L.U.S. ‘08 Summary Report
O& R Funding Summary
We thank Orange and Rockland Utilities, Inc. for once again supporting the symposium with a generous donation of $800. Your funds were put toward Rockland P.L.U.S. ’08 t-shirts for all participants and supporters.
Rockland P.L.U.S. ’08 Budget Summary
Curriculum Development $ 1,000 Pre-Symposium Classroom Presentations $ 1,200 Sustainability Fair Outreach & Coordination $ 200 Mentor Outreach $ 200 Facilities (Rockland Community College – In-Kind Estimate) $ 500 Breakfast (Inserra Supermarkets/ShopRite West Nyack – In-Kind Estimate) $ 100 Lunch provided by RCC Cafeteria Services $ 825 Apples from Dr. Davies Farm (In-Kind Estimate) $ 50 Booklet Printing (United Water – In-Kind Estimate) $ 3,250 Rockland P.L.U.S. T-Shirts $ 1,400 Supplies and Printing (folders, curriculum materials, name tags) $ 200__ $8,925.00
Thank you, once again, for your generous donation. We are now planning for Rockland P.L.U.S. ’09 and look forward to your continuing support.
Sincerely,
Andrew Y. Stewart, PhD Executive Director Keep Rockland Beautiful, Inc.
And the entire Rockland PLUS Coordinating Team: Margie Turrin, Lamont-Doherty Earth Observatory and Hudson Basin River WatchPaul Trader, Cornell University Cooperative Extension Kathy Galione, Rockland County AmeriCorps Sonia Cairo, Keep Rockland Beautiful, Inc.
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Above, students participate in a sustainable land use charette at the 2008 symposium held at RCC. In the photo below, Julie Lundemo and Dana Fjermestad from Pearl River High School present their land use plan for the Letchworth property in Stony Point to an audience of their peers in 2004.
“This important program offers students a hands-on opportunity to participate in an educational experience that is as close to the actual decision-making process as it gets. It’s hard work, but it can give these students the skill sets to become active, well-informed citizens who can make a thoughtful, meaningful contribution to their community.” -- O&R’s Section Manager – Community Relations Neil Winter Advisory Board Members:
Suzanne Barclay, Town of Orangetown Harriet Cornell, Rockland County Legislature Michelle Damiani, Orange & Rockland: President of Keep Rockland Beautiful Board Charles Frankel, Rockland Municipal Planning Federation Dan Miller, Rockland County Health Department Laurie Miller McNeill, Rockland Community College Edna Rivera, H.O.G.A.R. Joe Simoes, Town of Clarkstown Plannning Department Sara Tucker, HSBC Bank; Keep Rockland Beautiful Board Planning Committee Members Sonia Cairo, Keep Rockland Beautiful Kathy Galione, Rockland County AmeriCorps Andrew Stewart, Keep Rockland Beautiful Chuck Stead, Cornell University Cooperative Extension Margie Turrin, Lamont-Doherty Earth Observatory Columbia University | |
