GOUVERNEUR — The Fort Drum Regional Liaison Organization will host a meeting June 3 in the municipal building that will be part planning exercise, part information session and part public input about growth potentials presented by the post's expansion.

"We're trying to get our arms around what's happening on base," said Andrew R. Nevin, senior planner with the Jefferson County Planning Department. "This is an educational process for everybody."

As part of the growth management study commissioned by FDRLO last year, project consultant Behan Planning Associates, Saratoga Springs, will discuss with municipal officials, and anyone else interested, various scenarios that could play out.

"It's sort of a hypothetical," Mr. Nevin said.

The goal of the study, which began in the fall, is to identify issues the region will face because of Fort Drum's continued expansion. It is being conducted by Behan and consulting firm EDAW, Atlanta, and is funded by a $180,000 grant from the Department of Defense.

"This is a chance to learn about the base and what the troop levels are," Mr. Nevin said.

While St. Lawrence County won't see the same kind of direct impact as Jefferson County, there already has been spinoff.

"What we think we're seeing is as housing costs increase in Jefferson County, people appear to be moving into St. Lawrence County," Mr. Nevin said. "We hear that from the St. Lawrence County Planning Office."

Another issue could be retirees who stay after they leave the military.

"I think St. Lawrence County and Lewis County could capture some of those people," Mr. Nevin said.

Those who come to the Gouverneur meeting, scheduled from 7 to 9 p.m. in the municipal building, also will take part in an exercise to determine the type of development they prefer.

"This is just a dialogue to see if we prefer this type or that type. It's very basic," Mr. Nevin said. "Over the course of the meeting, some priorities will be generated and a consensus will start to emerge."

Additional meetings will be scheduled for Jefferson and Lewis counties.

"I think the issues are different for every community," Mr. Nevin said.

Space is limited. To guarantee a seat, call 1 (877) 698-6429 or e-mail cwhittaker@behanplanning.com.