It seems every time I visit Florida, the old saying favored by some real estate people and politicians – “The only good land is developed land” – comes to mind. For it seems that many suburban areas in the Sunshine State seem to see their land personality changing almost daily. Orange and grapefruit orchards become housing or commercial business landscapes. And it seems they often can’t widen or construct highways fast enough to keep up with traffic congestion.
The irony of the ongoing developing craze there is that rather than improving the overall appearance of the area, it usually does just the opposite as the older developed areas inside the newer ones often become eyesores as business and developers leave to relocate farther out and nearer the most recently developed lands. These abandoned suburban buildings and lots create a rather negative appearance as one drives from the outskirts toward the city limits. I call it the “Herd Mentality,” As the first more distant development pops up, many others, including older existing ones, follow and relocate.
On a much smaller scale we can see how this works locally. It hasn’t reached the scale of larger urban areas yet, but there’s sufficient visual evidence to see how it impacts the landscapes outside our city and village limits. The first step is new and some established businesses locate or relocate beyond the city or village limits, meaning more asphalt and construction replaces the natural habitat there. Utilities are necessarily extended to feed their needs. Electric, natural gas, water and sewage services further require installation and modification to the developing area.
As businesses relocate, leaving vacant buildings and lots inside the city/village limits, the tax base necessarily goes up for those businesses remaining, as does that of residences. Less expensive tax bases may also lure many city/village residents to relocate outside the limits, often building new homes or purchasing those in cluster developments. In either case, what was once farm lands or natural habitat is replaced by developed and manicured acreage, complete with required utility services and sewage disposal units. Road traffic also increases as this occurs, meaning increased road care and maintenance to the impacted areas year-round.
Increasing development depends on economic growth and fiscal health of both the area involved as well as that of the overall state. When New York’s started to freefall, it impacted both new development as well as existing ones. New development slowed to a crawl, businesses closed or relocated, and residential and commercial sales declined, in the process creating areas of vacant developed lands that suddenly were stagnant. Since many lie in plot rows, one after the other, too many being unused or vacant create a distinctively ugly visual impact. Availability of areas falling under the state Empire Zone program (See map http://chenangony.org/uploads/files/ez_completemap.pdf) often plays a role in development planning and approval.
To combat this cluttering tendency, many areas are now considering more careful open space planning when considering new development of previously undeveloped acreage. By doing so there will be areas of open space where flora remains interspersed among developed plots, lessening the bleakness created when adjoining developed plots may become vacated or undergo reconstruction.
The not-for-profit Chenango Land Trust (PO Box 1284, Norwich, NY 13815-4284, http://www.chenangocounty.org/chenango_land_trust.htm) serves as an excellent example of how open space can be preserved, given the proper planning. It currently has more than 500 acres under easement to protect them from development that would destroy both physically and cosmetically their appearance. Chenango Land Trust’s purpose is to promote the conservation of lands rich in natural resources, and historical or agricultural importance for the benefit of the general public, and to educate citizens about land conservation and protection.
I seriously doubt that Norwich or any of the county’s larger villages will ever see themselves facing an expanding development craze such as, say, Orlando or Las Vegas, but the appeal to visitors to our area revolves largely around its uncluttered rural nature. And each time more acreage is replaced by development, that appeal is lessened. I’m reminded of the old song “They tore down paradise and put up a parking lot.” Come to think of it, there’s currently a large parking lot that’s located where there was once a grasslands area that was home to pheasant and other wildlife. Sadly, that parking lot gets little business today, and the pheasants and other grassland species are nowhere to be seen.

Friends Hold Memorial For Nick D’Agostino
On July 12 three dozen friends and admirers held “A Celebration of Life” at Rogers Environmental Center honoring Nick D’Agostino who recently passed away at age 101. Nick was instrumental in the start of Trout Unlimited in New York State and made immeasurable contributions promoting the outdoors during his life. For more info contact Gary Sweet at g--lsweet@clarityconnect.com.

Oxford Rod & Gun Club 3-D Archery League Meeting 
The Oxford Rod & Gun Club is now organizing its second 3-D archery league of the summer.  The league will run for ten weeks beginning the week of July 25.  An organizational meeting will be held Monday, July 19 at 6 PM at the clubhouse on Ingraham Road in Oxford.  For more information contact Lance Diehl at 437-7208 or HYPERLINK "mailto:lancerd21@yahoo.com" lancerd21@yahoo.com .