Chatham adopts build ban

By: MATTHEW SHEEHEY IndeNews March 22, 2005

CHATHAM-Before a mostly grateful audience March 17, The Town Board approved a moratorium on major subdivisions.Advertisement

       The law stops developments of three lots or more for the next six months, giving planners a chance to finish the Comprehensive Plan and start adjusting zoning regulations to better protect open space.
       Residents had filled Town Hall in recent months, arguing that suburban sprawl was on its way to Chatham and something needed to change.
       The moratorium does have its detractors, especially people who believe it hurts the value of their land, but none of them spoke at Thursday's public hearing.
       The action does, however, include a hardship variance.
       Responding to moratorium opponents, Councilman Tom Meyn cast the sole No vote.
       "I know the majority of you here are in favor of the moratorium, but I just wanted to say I received a number of calls from people who oppose it," he said.
       Expecting a re-run of the lengthy comments made at previous meetings, Supervisor Jesse DeGroodt limited speakers at the hearing to two minutes.
       But it wasn't necessary because only one resident, Comprehensive Plan volunteer Randi Walker, spoke on the issue.
       She said she was happy the Planning Board had offered its input and invited everyone to participate in Comprehensive Plan efforts.
       Planners made several zoning recommendations, which Councilman Kary Jablonka said could be used while zoning laws are revised.
       "Some of the changes proposed certainly look good to me," said Mr. DeGroodt.
       He said he's particularly interested in zoning that encourages growth in a hamlet pattern, which echoes existing settlements here.
       Building homes in a hamlet setting, said Mr. DeGroodt, also saves open space and gives homebuyers more affordable options.
       Before any zoning changes, however, there's a lot of work to be done, said Mr. Jablonka, who previously led the Comprehensive Plan Committee.
       "We all share a vision [of Chatham's future]," he said after the moratorium was adopted. "But really wrestling with what that means is the hard part."
       People have to figure out how exactly to bring in affordable housing, establish different land use patterns, and protect farms and rural character, all goals of planning volunteers and the Chatham Keep Farming project.
       "What does this stuff mean beyond words and images in everybody's head?" said Mr. Jablonka.
       Attempting to help answer that question will be planning consultant Nan Stolzenburg, whose contract was extended by the board for a year.
       To contact reporter Matthew Sheehey email msheehey@indenews.com.

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