Governor Paterson Announces State Selected for National Smart Growth and Drinking Water Protection Grant

ALBANY, NY (05/29/2010)(readMedia)--

Governor David A. Paterson today announced that New York State was chosen as one of only two states for a Smart Growth technical assistance grant to promote sustainable land use and water quality protection. The Smart Growth Leadership Institute chose New York and Missouri for this year's initiative, entitled "Aligning State Land Use and Water Quality Protection Programs." The program is funded by the United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).

"This grant builds on the work of my Administration's Smart Growth Cabinet, and also provides an opportunity for the State to move to the next level of sustainable land use reform," Governor Paterson said. "This is much more than an environmental initiative – it is also a way to promote economic development and fiscal sustainability by targeting our scarce State resources toward investments that will have long-term benefits. My Smart Growth Cabinet looks forward to working with the Smart Growth Leadership Institute in making that critical link between land use and water quality."

This grant is part of the "Enabling Source Water Protection Program," which assists selected states to align land use and drinking water source protection efforts. The project team includes the Trust for Public Land, the Smart Growth Leadership Institute, River Network and the Association of State Drinking Water Administrators. Experts from each of these organizations will work with New York's State Project Team to identify opportunities and propose new strategies to achieve source water protection goals more effectively and efficiently through sustainable land use policies.

Parris Glendening, Former Maryland Governor and President of the Smart Growth Leadership Institute said: "We are eager to work with New York's Smart Growth Cabinet, which we see as a national model for the kind of innovative, problem-solving government we need to tackle complex environmental and economic issues."

The project is funded under a cooperative agreement with the EPA's Office of Ground Water and Drinking Water. The Smart Growth Cabinet has been incorporating Smart Growth and sustainability into State operations and programs at various agencies, including: the Department of State (DOS), Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC), Environmental Facilities Corporation (EFC), Division of Housing and Community Renewal (DHCR), Agriculture & Markets and Department of Transportation, among others. The Cabinet has also been promoting Smart Growth legislative reforms.

The State Project Team will be led by DOS Director of Smart Growth Planning Paul Beyer, and will include several members of the Governor's Smart Growth Cabinet and representatives from select planning and advocacy organizations. State agencies participating on the State Project Team include DOS, DEC, Empire State Development (ESD), DHCR, Department of Health (DOH) and EFC. The project team will produce a plan to integrate land use and water programs and policies. It will also work closely with the EFC, which recently received a grant from the EPA to promote sustainable land use, energy efficiency and asset management in its water infrastructure funding program.

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The following quotes were provided in support of New York's selection for the Smart Growth and Drinking Water Protection grant:

Secretary of State Lorraine Cortes-Vázquéz said: "I commend Governor Paterson for his efforts ensuring that New York would benefit from this grant program, and am pleased that our State is being recognized for its groundbreaking work on promoting sustainable land use and water quality protection. This grant will enable us to continue to lead the nation in generating sensible economic growth while promoting and protecting New York's natural resources."

DEC Commissioner Pete Grannis said: "This is welcomed assistance from some very prominent national organizations, and a sign that New York's program is among the very best in the nation. I thank Governor Paterson for his work with the Smart Growth Cabinet, and we look forward to working as a State-Federal team to explore ways that State agencies can ensure a future for New York that has both a thriving economy and an abundant source of clean and healthy water."

DHCR Commissioner and President and CEO of nyhomes Brian Lawlor, said: "DHCR is committed to Governor Paterson's efforts to develop affordable housing and facilitate community renewal in a manner that is consistent with smart growth principles. This grant will enable us to utilize the expertise of key organizations to advance smart land use policies and programs to provide opportunities for low-income New Yorkers in an environmentally responsible manner. Whether it is the redevelopment of a brownfield to revitalize a community or the selection of a smart site location for a housing development, communities all across the State will benefit from the efforts of this integrated and collaborative approach."

EFC President Matt Driscoll said: "New York's selection to this innovative grant program is highly indicative of the success of the Smart Growth Cabinet in their work toward further integrating land use and water programs and policies throughout the State. We look forward to continue working with DOS and our other partners in State government, and thank Governor Paterson for his support of this important initiative."

ESD Executive Director Peter Davidson said: "New York State is fortunate to possess a wealth of water – a resource which we are duty-bound to conserve and protect. With this grant announcement from Governor Paterson, we will be able to explore new means to this end, finding innovative ways to preserve the water supply while enhancing the economic vitality of New York State."

Assemblyman Sam Hoyt said: "It is encouraging to see that New York is now being recognized nationally as an emerging leader in Smart Growth environmental and economic issues. The Legislature's commitment to Smart Growth Principles grows day by day and this announcement by the Governor is another step in that direction

Bob Yaro, President of the Regional Plan Association, said: "This grant will allow New York State to continue its leadership in helping communities to protect their public water supplies. RPA will provide technical assistance to the State in carrying out demonstration projects across New York."

Phil Myrick, Vice President of the Project for Public Spaces, said: "New York State has a legacy of natural, agricultural and scenic resources that provide immeasurable long term benefits for the region. This award is an important step in the State's effort to use common sense to protect the best of these resources in a way that supports more sustainable growth."

Robert Simpson, President and CEO of the CenterState Corporation for Economic Opportunity, said: "The Governor and his Smart Growth cabinet have positioned New York State at the forefront of a critical national conversation -- how to create jobs, promote sustainability, improve equity, and reduce the long-term fiscal impacts of sprawl. The business community understands that unfettered and sprawling growth patterns increase the long-term costs of government and strangle economic competitiveness."

Peter Fleischer, Executive Director of the Empire State Future, said: "Empire State Future, New York's statewide smart growth advocacy coalition, is pleased to see the continuing effort and creativity stemming from the Smart Growth Cabinet to address critical aspects of smart growth – namely the link between residential sprawl, land use and the quality of the water upon which we depend."

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