Thanks to the many Rockland residents who participated in the Rockland Community Meeting series to craft a vision for the next 20+ years and develop a set of actions and guidelines to ensure that the vision is realized. It is obvious that the Rockland community shares a deep commitment to the history and future of the area and this work will benefit generations of Rockland residents to come.
At the third and final meeting, the community agreed upon a final vision statement:
In 20 years, Rockland is thriving with protected rural agricultural landscapes, an active farming agricultural economy and rich natural, historic and scenic resources, much the same as we enjoy today. Community members new and old value and work together to preserve the quiet rural character and elevate the significance of Rockland’s rich history. Rockland’s natural and scenic resources are protected and residents are able to travel with safety and ease between homes, public spaces, working farms and cherished gathering places in the community. The plan for the future is compatible with this vision and our rural heritage and honors the community’s commitment to preserve the past and the land.
Participants also signed off on the following community priorities:
✧ #1: Protect Rural and Agricultural Character
✧ #2: Protect Natural Resources including water and night skies
✧ #3: Preserve and Honor Historic Sites and Structures
✧ #4: Address Transportation Needs & Safety with minimal changes to existing roadways
✧ #5: Foster Existing and New Community Connections and Relationships
Lastly, meeting attendees prioritized recommended community actions and signed up to follow, participate in or lead initiatives. If you missed the opportunity to sign up or missed the meeting and would like to be involved with a community initiative(s), please take this survey to sign up—we’ll leave it open a few weeks and then we’ll follow up with interested folks to connect them with each other and any resources and contacts we can provide.
So, what’s next? We’re working on producing a formal report that can serve as a guiding document for both the Rockland community and for Warren County as they update their comprehensive land use plan that will guide decisions for the next 20 years. We’ll stay in touch with updates as we make progress!
THANK YOU to everyone who put so much thought and time into this process!
Top photo by Mr. Wayne Chatfield-Taylor.