THOMAS J. SHEPSTONE,
AICP
POSITION:
Principal - Shepstone
Management Company
Planning and Research Consultants
100 Fourth Street, Honesdale, PA 18431
Phone 570-251-9550 FAX 570-251-9551
E-mail: smc@ezaccess.net
http:www.shepstone.net
EDUCATION:
BS in Agricultural Economics
Specialty in Rural Development
The Pennsylvania State University, 1973
CERTIFICATION:
Member, American Institute of Certified Planners
ACTIVITIES:
Executive Director, Lackawaxen-Honesdale
Shippers Association
Member, American Planning Association
Member, Pennsylvania Planning Association
Member, New York Planning Federation
Member, Community Dev. Advisory Board - Monroe, Pike and Wayne
Counties Extension Service
Ex-Chairman, Wayne Memorial Health
System
Ex-Chairman, Wayne Woodlands Manor Nursing Home
Ex-Board Member, Delaware Otsego Corporation
Ex-Board Member, Wayne County Housing Authority
PUBLICATIONS AND PRESENTATIONS:
"Self-Help Planning," Pennsylvania
Township News
"Local People Join Forces to Save Upper Delaware," Planning
Magazine
"Methods of Archeological Protection for the Upper Delaware
Scenic and Recreational River," River Management Plan
"Changing Emphasis on National Parks Requires New Citizen
Participation and Management Concepts," Emerging Technology
and Processes in Community Development Conference, Pennsylvania
State University
"Local Land Use Controls for a Federal Resource," Water
Resources Association of the Delaware River Basin Conference
"Changing Land Uses Demand New Zoning
Approaches," Pennsylvania Planner
PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE:
1977 to Present:
Sole principal of Shepstone Management Company (SMC). SMC has specialized in market research, economic development and environmental assessments as well as land use planning, having developed and assisted with the administration of land use regulations in dozens of communities. The firm has operated primarily in New York and Pennsylvania but has extensive experience in representing both private and municipal clients throughout the Northeast, North Carolina and Wisconsin.
SMC has assisted several communities and counties with economic development planning. It aided Sullivan County, New York, with the assembly of an Economic Development Strategy in 1997 that has been closely followed and used to bring forth millions of dollars in State aid for projects. Wayne County, Pennsylvania and Columbia County, New York have also received SMC's help in developing economic development strategies. SMC has, too, assisted with the preparation of agricultural economic development plans for Broome, Greene, St. Lawrence, Sullivan, Schoharie, Schuyler and Steuben Counties, New York.
SMC regularly works with Industrial Development Agencies in both New York and Pennsylvania on benefit/cost analyses, environmental assessments and packaging of applications for financial assistance. The firm has been involved in projects in Ulster County, Buffalo (Erie County), Pike County, Sullivan County and numerous other locations. It also assisted the Catskill Watershed Corporation in developing a 5-county strategy for use of $60,000,000 in New York City funds provided for economic development of the region and guided the Sullivan-Wawarsing Rural Economic Area Partnership in developing a Strategic Plan for economic development.
SMC has conducted numerous major environmental assessments in compliance with the New York State Environmental Quality Review Act and local environmental assessment regulations in both New York and Pennsylvania. It has helped many communities prepare Comprehensive Plans, Zoning Ordinances, Subdivision Regulations and other planning documents. The Wayne County Comprehensive Plan is one example and that project included two large opinion and information collection surveys - one of resident landowners and the other of second-home owners.
Mr. Shepstone chaired and provided professional leadership to the Federal-State-Local planning team that prepared the innovative Land and Water Use Guidelines adopted by the Secretary of the Interior for the Upper Delaware Scenic and Recreational River. These guidelines represented a new flexible approach to federal involvement in protection of valuable natural resources.
SMC prepared the Neversink River 21st Century Plan for the Thompson-Monticello Joint Comprehensive Plan Committee and helped develop recreation master plans for parks in Honesdale, Lackawaxen and Delaware Township, Pike County. It also assisted Smithfield Township, Monroe County, with establishment of priorities for use of funding available to it under the Monroe County Open Space Initiative and worked closely with the Route 97 Scenic Byway Committee to help prepare a Corridor Management Plan for that highway.
Mr. Shepstone is also frequently retained to appear as an expert witness on behalf of clients. This has included professional testimony in hearings by the Pennsylvania Liquor Control Board, United States Federal Court, the Pennsylvania Public Utility Commission, the Interstate Commerce Commission, the Maryland State Legislature and the Health Services Agency of Northeastern Pennsylvania as well as the state courts and various local agencies. Testimony is usually requested on subjects related to population trends, economics and development activity.
SMC has also prepared a number of feasibility studies and market research reports for private development projects, including convenience stores, housing and assisted living projects, meat processing facilities, retail enterprises and branch banks.
SMC's transportation work has included detailed traffic impact reports for large residential and commercial development and assistance to rail user groups in Maryland and several other states in establishing shortline railroad operations.
Finally, SMC helped the Wayne and Monroe County Housing Authorities (Pennsylvania) obtain financing for various housing projects. Mr. Shepstone also assisted both Authorities in administrative roles during critical transition periods.
1973 to 1977:
Wayne County Director of Planning. Obtained $6,000,000 in program assistance from the Appalachian Regional Commission, the Land and Water Conservation Fund, the Pennsylvania Community Facilities Act and the Farmers Home Administration. Helped the Wayne County Housing Authority reorganize and develop a 73-unit senior project. (Subsequently served as Acting Executive Director). Also, organized the Wayne County Redevelopment Authority and made successful application for Community Development Block Grants used for a variety of community center, housing rehabilitation and small town revitalization projects.
1973 (March to Novomber):
Community Development - Youth Agent, Pennsylvania State University Cooperative Extension Service, Carbon, Pike and Monroe Counties. Worked with variety of youth organizations to initiate community projects.