Moratorium plan draws comment
By William J. Kemble , Kingston Freeman Correspondent 8/11/04

GARDINER - Town Board members on Tuesday were given mixed reviews of a proposed moratorium prohibiting subdivisions of three lots or more in the Shawangunk Ridge area, where developers previously planned 350 units of residential luxury housing.

The comments came during a public hearing, where there were about a dozen speakers in an audience of about 60 people.

"This is what folks had asked for in the beginning," Shawangunk Ridge Coalition member Amy Little said. "I'd like to challenge the board to convince the public on why it's better to go with a moratorium on just one (district) zoning."

Save the Ridge coordinator Patty Lee Parmalee said opponents consider the moratorium to be a partial victory in the effort to prevent views from being destroyed.

"At first we were thinking it should only be a townwide moratorium, but since the Planning Board has proposed doing it on the ridge, it just seems foolish not to pass what can be passed right away as long as we hear a commitment from the board that they are starting a process to do the next as fast as they can," she said. "But we don't want to see protecting the ridge held up while a long process of writing a law for the rest of the town happens."

Objections to the moratorium came from several residents concerned that board members would unfairly restrict the ability of property owners to develop.

"You're telling somebody else what they can do with their property," said resident John Friedle, who owns a construction contracting company."If somebody owns land, he's paid taxes all of his life, he's worked here all of his life," he said. "It's finally getting to the point where maybe it's worth something."

Other suggestions made during the public hearing included setting elevation limits, which officials said could be added to the zoning revisions, but would not have an impact on approval of a moratorium.

Developers have said Awosting Reserve plans are expected to be scaled back for the 3,000 acres adjacent to Minnewaska State Park, a new application has not been submitted to the town.

Town officials kept the public hearing open through the Sept. 7 meeting, when they said a vote is expected on adoption of the moratorium.

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