New York State Hudson River Valley Commission Correspondence and Subject Files

Arranged by type of material and therein chronological, alphabetical by subject and/or geographical by region, area or city/county.

The series consists of the correspondence and subject files of the Hudson River Valley Commission, which was set up by order of Governor Rockefeller on March 20, 1965 for the purpose of conducting a study of the scenic and cultural resources of the Hudson River Valley.

The permanent Hudson River Valley Commission was established by Chapter 345 of the Laws of 1966. It was first an independent agency and later made a unit of the Office of Planning Services (Chapter 45 of the Laws of 1971). In 1972 it was transferred to the Office of Parks and Recreation where it remained until it was abolished (Chapter 45 of Laws of 1980). The main function of the commission was to plan for the orderly development of the valley and to review construction projects within one mile of either bank of the Hudson River (two miles if visible from the river). These limits were substantially modified in urban areas.

The series includes project review logs, staff correspondence and subject files, minutes of commission meetings, transcripts of hearings, correspondence files concerning reviewed projects (with approval letters) and those projects excluded from review, and a few publications. In addition, many maps, plans, cross sections, and details are found throughout the series, as well as several aerial photographs and color schema for project buildings.

The maps found in the series are copies, often of print maps or plans annotated in color. The majority deal with projects reviewed by the commission, which was charged with determining if project development would destroy or substantially impair significant historical or recreational resources or bring about major change in the appearance or use of the Hudson River or the surrounding land. Generally these maps show: existing conditions and present use of land; actual or proposed subdivisions and construction, demolition, or similar actions; site development, often showing landscaping details such as existing trees to be retained or changes to panoramic views; surveys of property in the vicinity of proposed developments, including boundaries, topography, profiles of proposed roads, storm sewers, etc.; photocopies of smaller sized regional location maps and land use vicinity maps submitted with site plans; test data, cross sections, and details on plot plans for wells, trenches, percolation and often including an inset location map; locations for alternate project sites;

so-called "passive" (picnicking and parks) and other public recreation areas (boating and fishing) developed as part of hydro-electric power plants in the Hudson-Mohawk watershed and elsewhere in the state, which were included as exhibits to state and federal reviewing and licensing agencies; locations of power plants and index maps of project site locations often appearing as inset maps on the larger hydro-power exhibit maps; and land use (agriculture, undeveloped), land forms (flood plain, escarpment), and existing use (recreation, open space, industry).

Maps are also included with transcripts of hearings held by the commission for projects having an important impact on the Hudson River Valley and with statements submitted to the commission at public meetings or as part of reports to the Federal Power Commission. Illustrative maps are also found in printed brochures, leaflets, and newspaper clippings on proposed projects or activities impacting on commission activities.

Most of the maps are titled, have scale information, and often include the names of the planning consultants and/or engineers or surveyors preparing the maps or plans for the project. Map sizes range from 28 x 134 cm to 55 x 250 cm.

Rules and regulations for the commission's project review were published in the Official Compilation of Codes, Rules and Regulations of the State of New York, Title 9, Chapter 3, Part 160 (pre-1972) and Title 21, Chapter 21, Part 750 (post-1972). Other publications of the Commission and a large portion of its reference library may be found in the New York State Library.

Container list is available at the repository.

There are no restrictions regarding access to or use of this material.