TOWN OF HIGHLAND, NY — In its meeting on Tuesday, June 9, the Highland Town Board passed a pair of moratoriums, looking to pause certain types of development until the town has had the time to fully study and prepare for their impacts. One puts a 12-month pause on data center development; the other does the same for package plants, a type of sewage treatment plant often used to treat wastewater from a cluster of properties in a rural area. 

The text of the moratoriums obligates the town to conduct a land use review of the prohibited use during the period of the moratorium. The data center moratorium obligates the town to review and potentially amend the town's comprehensive plan and zoning law, as well as review the potential impacts of data center facilities and hold at least one public hearing, among other requirements. The package plant moratorium obligates the town to develop and adopt land-use classifications for package plants, along with citing standards and performance standards, as well as conduct at least one public hearing, among other requirements. 

Discussion at the meeting regarding both moratoriums focused on the harm that could result from overdevelopment, particularly on the Town of Highland's water resources. Town supervisor John Pizzolato said that, in the town's comprehensive planning process, approximately 60% of the discussion centered on protecting its water resources. 

Data centers

Speaking on the data center moratorium, Pizzolato acknowledged that there is a statewide moratorium currently under discussion. A one-year ban on data center development has passed the New York State Legislature and has gone to Gov. Kathy Hochul for her signature. 

"This is pre-emptive," said Pizzolato. "This is your town board saying we care about you, we care about the land, and we're the first town in Sullivan County to propose these sorts of moratoriums."

He added, "Knowing there is a state law that is going to the governor's desk to be signed is one thing, but as we all know, when there's a change in regime in Albany, in the federal government, there can be a big morale change; there can be big values changes, and we want to ensure that our town and our residents are safe and that we hold clear the reasons that we're all here, and I think we can all agree on most things, and most of the reasons that we choose life in a rural area."

Pizzolato said that, once passed, the moratorium would be shared with other towns throughout Sullivan County. He hoped that other towns would also put it into effect.

Package plants

The moratorium on package plants came out of the Town of Highland's comprehensive planning process, said Pizzolato. 

Highland is currently working to update its comprehensive plan, a visioning document for the town's future. The town will review its code following that process to ensure it is aligned with the plan's vision. 

Additionally, said Pizzolato, the moratorium gives time for work to be completed on a county-wide study of water resources and aquifers currently being conducted by Sullivan County. 

The moratorium defines package plants as "pre-manufactured, modular, compact water supply or wastewater treatment systems assembled in a factory and transported to a site."

They're an economic way of dealing with wastewater, said town board member Frank Monteleone, giving the example of a hypothetical 10-lot subdivision that could be served with one package plant. However, he said, the amount of water used in that treatment process creates a lot of pressure on the aquifer, with the exact level of impact uncertain until more study can be done on the aquifer itself. 

The moratorium will apply to applications yet to be submitted, but will not apply to those already in progress. 

Pizzolato mentioned the Camp FIMFO campground development as one that would not be affected by the moratorium. The Camp FIMFO project proposes $40+ million in upgrades to a historic tenting campground, which includes upgrades to wastewater collection and treatment facilities and the construction of additional septic disposal systems. 

However, another discussed development would be covered by the moratorium. Residents asked about the impact on plans from Camp Teumim for a 26-lot subdivision in the Town of Highland, on land adjacent to the Lumberland lake of Loch Ada. Pizzolato said that, while the moratorium isn't targeted at that project or at any one project in particular, that project would be affected by it.