The Catskills and the Hudson Valley are feeling the strain of rising housing prices, while outsized real estate development threatens our farmland, forests, and open spaces. Housing and preservation are sometimes pitted against each other, but in reality, local communities need both affordable housing and a healthy environment to thrive. It’s essential to preserve the natural resources that make our region special while investing in thoughtful development that complements the area’s diverse landscapes and historic character.

Please join Catskill Mountainkeeper for an informational webinar on the Hudson Valley Community Preservation Act on Tuesday, May 19th at 6pm.

Register here.

The Hudson Valley Community Preservation Act, currently under consideration in Albany, enables NY towns to opt-in to use a critical tool for land preservation: a Community Preservation Fund. If the HVCPA passes in the state legislature, each town will have the option to create a new revenue stream to preserve farmland, forests, open space, and historic sites. With development pressure threatening to erode our natural resources, it's essential that communities have all the tools available to ensure development happens thoughtfully, alongside natural conservation. 

In this informational webinar, Mike Sweeton, former Town Supervisor of Warwick and Sullivan Renaissance Judge, and long-time advocate for land preservation, will share practical insights on how the HVCPA works. Drawing on Warwick’s successful experience, he will discuss the role of town officials and local interested parties in creating effective preservation programs.