Bethel to extend moratorium

Lengthy environment review process sited

By FRITZ MAYER

KAUNEONGA LAKE, NY — With large subdivision developers waiting on the sidelines to carve up large lots in the Town of Bethel, the town board voted to introduce a new local law to extend the moratorium on large-lot subdivisions.

The move came after the town attorney made clear that under state law it was likely that the town would need to prepare a lengthy and detailed environmental impact statement (EIS) on the effects of the new law.

Town attorney Robert McEwan told the board that the new law will make substantial changes to some areas, and therefore, will have significant impacts on some town properties. Ironically, one of the reasons that the board moved to support the lengthy EIS process is because several developers have threatened to sue the town over the new zoning law.

Town supervisor Dan Sturm said, “I hope the EIS will protect our zoning changes.” He added that the alternative was to do nothing and hope that no one takes legal action against the town, which was not acceptable, even though the EIS process may be costly and time consuming.

Other board members agreed. Ted Yeomans said of the three-year planning process that went into creating the new comprehensive plan and zoning law, “If everything we’ve done is going to be thrown out by lawyers, then it’s a no-brainer.”

Councilman Richard Crumley said, “We’ve come a long way. We’ve made some people happy and some people unhappy. The future of the town is at stake: we’ve got to do it right.”

The citizen’s group Preserve Smallwood Country Life applauded that board’s intention to pursue the EIS in a statement that said that the step was “essential to ensure that Bethel’s new town-wide zoning laws are enacted legally.”

Before an EIS can begin, the town will fill out a lengthy environmental assessment form and circulate it to the relevant agencies at the county and state levels. Planner Alan Sorensen is assisting the town in that process.

Because the EIS process is expected to take up to six months, the board made provisions to extend the existing moratorium on subdivisions of more than five lots. The current moratorium expires on May 7; the new one will be crafted to last six months with an option to extend it for an additional two months.

Sturm made clear that the moratorium does not affect any commercial development or small-scale residential development. He added, however, that residential development results in $1.21 worth of town expense for every $1 of tax revenue. Commercial development results in 43 cents worth of town expense for every $1 of tax raised and, therefore, the town is interested in attracting commercial development.

A hearing on the proposed moratorium extension is scheduled for April 24, at 7:45 p.m. at the Bethel Senior Center.