A day-long forum held in Westchester County focused on Climate Change, Severe Weather and Riverfront Planning... Hudson Valley Bureau Chief Dave Lucas reports
Municipal officials, planners and citizen activists attended “Revitalizing Hudson Riverfronts: Opportunities in an Era of Global Climate Change” hosted by Scenic Hudson, the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation’s Hudson River Estuary Program and its Hudson River National Estuarine Research Reserve, Historic Hudson River Towns and the City of Peekskill.
The forum's mission: to explore how redevelopment of waterfronts along the Hudson River can stimulate the economy and create jobs; connect people to the river and protect the environment: Scenic Hudson's Steve Rosenberg says in the wake of Hurricanes Sandy and Irene, and what is now known about the data of a pending sea level rise, it is critical to think about what can and should be done on the waterfront in a different way.
Joe Cotter is president of National ReSources, which specializes in revitalizing waterfront properties. Cotter stresses the need for the environmental community to work with municipalities and the private sector toward coping with and planning for climate change.
Jerry Faiella is executive director of Historic Hudson River Towns - he says its time people hear the facts. Peekskill Mayor Mary Foster says expectations are the water will continue to rise. The forum marked one of the first times Hudson River towns have partnered with other agencies to produce a conference aimed at outlining priorities and sharing information about a climate change some are calling a "new normal".
