{"type":"rich","version":"1.0","provider_name":"Transistor","provider_url":"https://transistor.fm","author_name":"Radio Chatskill","title":"Proposed Camp FIMFO Development Raises Questions for Upper Delaware River Management","html":"<iframe width=\"100%\" height=\"180\" frameborder=\"no\" scrolling=\"no\" seamless src=\"https://share.transistor.fm/e/c5f4c6d3\"></iframe>","width":"100%","height":180,"duration":776,"description":"The debate over a proposed campground development along the Upper Delaware River is reaching a critical point as the Town of Highland planning board prepares to weigh approval. The Camp FIMFO project, a $40 million-plus project renovating a historic tenting campsite in Barryville with modern amenities, has already drawn scrutiny from the National Park Service, which determined the development does not conform with the Upper Delaware River Management Plan — a document designed to guide development while protecting the river’s nationally significant environmental and recreational resources.So what happens if the planning board approves the project anyway?Liam Mayo, news editor at The River Reporter, recently explored that question in depth, examining the options the National Park Service would have — including the rarely used and often misunderstood concept of eminent domain.“The National Park Service’s determination has been in the background since 2023,” Mayo said. “But in December, the Park Service sent a letter to the planning board re-emphasizing that even after years of tweaks and adjustments, the project still doesn’t conform with the River Management Plan.”The agency’s concerns focus on two major points. First, the River Management Plan prohibits permanent structures at campsites, and the Park Service considers the proposed park-model RVs at Camp Fimfo to qualify as such. Second, the project’s scale would substantially increase the intensity of use in the corridor, which could alter the traditional character of the area.Jeff Spitz, head of the planning board, told Mayo that the board is still reviewing the project and weighing the Park Service’s concerns. “Until that process is complete, it’s unclear how much influence the Park Service’s non-conformance finding will have on the decision,” he said.If the planning board moves forward despite the Park Service’s objections, the federal agency has limited tools. The first option is continued negotiation, working...","thumbnail_url":"https://img.transistorcdn.com/q7XXsnSXT_u4mZLCn3chUorwDmUD_kWiB272D6emB18/rs:fill:0:0:1/w:400/h:400/q:60/mb:500000/aHR0cHM6Ly9pbWct/dXBsb2FkLXByb2R1/Y3Rpb24udHJhbnNp/c3Rvci5mbS80N2Uy/OGY5MWUwZThkYTEw/NDVkZGM2ZGZkZDIw/ZjliOS5wbmc.webp","thumbnail_width":300,"thumbnail_height":300}