Encroachment—a term used by the U.S. Department of Defense to refer to incompatible uses of land, air, water and other resources—is " the cumulative impact of urban and rural development that can hamper the military’s ability to carry out its testing and training mission."
Certain types of land use near military installations can interfere with military operations by: obstructing air routes and communications with cellular towers, power lines and other similar structures; competing for or interfering with data and communication frequencies; depleting ground or surface water supplies, water treatment capacity and other resources; using extra air emissions in areas that may have emission thresholds; and prompting changes in training due to residents’ concerns. New development can also drive threatened and endangered species onto a military installation, limiting its operations. The growth of incompatible development around military installations has been a leading factor in the loss of training operations at military installations across the country and has resulted in realignment of mission‐critical components between military installations.
The website was created to provide a resource for community and military leaders, planning and zoning board members, developers, and citizens to make informed decisions about land use regulations and planning when developing in proximity to Fort Drum and its operations. This website will continue to evolve as a planning tool as we identify resources to assist in sound land use planning. The website was created by the Development Authority of the North Country with financial support from the Office of Economic Adjustment, Department of Defense and New York State Senator Patty Ritchie.
What are the biggest threats to compatibility at Fort Drum?
