Wallkill Valley Times July 31 2019

Vol. 37, No. 31 3 WEDNESDAY, JULY 31, 2019 3 ONE DOLLAR The Summer League 4-H fair Page 40 Page 26 w w w .W V T I M ESON L I N E . c om Montgomery kicks off comp. plan process A good year for farmers! Rain and heat bolster corn crop New plan might be the answer to concerns over development By LAURA FITZGERALD [email protected] The Montgomery town board recently kicked off the comprehensive plan process, which might be the answer to residents’ woes as they mobilize against large-scale development in the town. The town board approved a request for proposals (RFP) for a planner and a resolution for an advertisement for a comprehensive plan committee at their regularly scheduled meeting on July 11. The RFP, which has a deadline of Aug. 12, kicks off the process for the creation of a new comprehensive plan. A comprehensive plan is a document that establishes the land use policy of a community and presents goals and a vision for the future that guides official decision making. The plan is usually created after a lengthy planning process involving public input from all sectors of the community. New York requires zoning law be adopted in accordance with the plan, so the plan provides the Continued on page 37 Martin Nop, owner of Martin Nop Diary Farm, LLC, stands beside an eight-foot-high field of corn. The field was planted in mid-May. By LAURA FITZGERALD [email protected] While it may have been a slow start to the year, the Wallkill Valley’s farmers are optimistic about this year’s harvest. The year started out wet and rainy, which caused many farmers to delay planting their crops. Martin Nop, owner of Martin Nop Dairy Farm, LLC, said this was the first year he planted corn after the 4th of July. Jack Hoeffner, owner of Hoeffner Farms, estimates his crops are 10 days behind schedule. Hoeffner said a late planting could be problematic if there is an early frost, however the growing season is going well so far. Hoeffner said the delay in plantings might cause intermittent shortages during harvest. A low supply pushes the price of corn up. However, with the Continued on page 2 SERVING CRAWFORD, GARDINER, MAYBROOK, MONTGOMERY, PINE BUSH, SHAWANGUNK, WALDEN AND WALLKILL