About Us
Our Mission
The Coalition for the Responsible Growth of Dover (CRGD) is committed to work together with citizens, elected officials and other community groups to promote environmentally sustainable and responsible development in the Town of Dover.
History
CRGD was formed in March 2008 as a result of discussions among numerous Dover residents who were becoming increasingly concerned that the desire for the sensible redevelopment of the former Harlem Valley Psychiatric Center (HVPC) was proceeding in a manner inconsistent with the community’s long-standing vision of appropriate development. It became apparent that those concerns could best be expressed by working together, pooling expertise and resources, and remaining actively involved in the review of the HVPC redevelopment plans.
CRGD’s Mission Statement provides, in part:
The Coalition supports development plans, including redevelopment of the Valley Psychiatric Center that is of a scale and nature compatible with the Town and will not present burdens to the Town’s infrastructure or impacts the environment. The Coalition supports land use planning that protects the character of the Town, preserves open spaces, protects the local environment, habitat, water quality and ecology and, in particular, protects the Great Swamp and the Housatonic Valley Watershed.
The redevelopment of the HVPC represents a unique opportunity for the Town to ensure that what results is a mixed-use development that fits within the character of the Town and does not overwhelm the Town’s infrastructure, including its schools and roads. The Town has a once in a lifetime opportunity to ensure that the redevelopment plan is carefully and fully considered. The Coalition believes that this is not a time to rush to action, cut corners, or engage in shortsighted unsustainable development plans, and is therefore determined to provide the input necessary to make the ultimate decisions as sound as possible.
OSI
CRGD is a project of the Open Space Institute, Inc., a nonprofit public charity exempt from federal income taxes under Section 501(c)(3) and 509(a)(1) of the Internal Revenue Code.
