Program guidelines and application cover sheet are available on the PMG webpage. Applications must be submitted on or before 4 p.m. on Monday, Dec. 5, 2016. For questions about Open Space and Farmland Protection, contact Brian Kehoe at bkehoe@dutchessny.gov or (845) 486-3600; for questions about Water & Wastewater Facility Development, contact Ed Mills at emills@dutchessny.gov or (845) 486-3601.
Created in 1999, the Partnership for Manageable Growth has helped to protect almost 3,373 acres of farmland and open space in Dutchess County. In the most recent PMG funding round, awards totaling $935,000 were made to partially fund the purchase of development rights at six farms in five towns. These awards were made after thorough review and ranking by the County’s Planning Board. County staff are working with project partners to complete these projects quickly. The PMG (is designed to assist the County and its municipalities in implementing the recommendations of adopted planning documents including Directions: The Plan for Dutchess County, the Dutchess County Agricultural and Farmland Protection Plan, Greenway Connections, and the Dutchess County Water and Wastewater Plan.
Hans Klingzahn, Chair of County Planning Board, said, “The quality of applications reviewed in 2015/2016 were of very high quality. We are pleased to see that County staff and partners are quickly moving to complete that round of purchase of development rights. We are excited to review a new set of potential projects.”