Town building moratorium has few fans
Some want it extended, or rejected
By Michael Valkys Poughkeepsie Journal April 7 , 2005

None of the more than 100 people who turned out Wednesday night for a hearing on the Town of Poughkeepsie's proposed nine-month residential building moratorium seemed especially enthused about the plan.
Developers and some residents said it would be a mistake that would delay or kill projects that could add money to town and Spackenkill school tax coffers. Other residents and environmentalists said the moratorium does not go far enough and should be extended to at least a year and include commercial development as well. Many also claimed residential development would actually hike taxes by creating an increased need for police, fire and other services.
The town board took no action after the more-than-two-hour session at Arlington Middle School and will spend the next month mulling whether to approve the measure.
Resident Virginia Buechele likened the board's decision to driving a car.
''The stop sign the town is approaching has moratorium written all over it,'' Buechele said. ''I don't see how development is going to help our taxes.''
Another resident agreed and said the moratorium should be extended longer than the nine months proposed.
''I see no reason why we can't have a moratorium,'' David Bagley said. ''Cover all development, not just homes.''
But Kenneth Miron, a resident, developer and head of the Stevenson Group, said he is against any type of moratorium and suggested the move to enact one does not reflect the opinion of most residents.
''A minority is always louder and better organized than the majority,'' Miron said, adding a ban may scare developers away in the town and elsewhere.
''Your decision has enormous economic impacts throughout this county,'' Miron said.
Betty Bomba, a zoning board member, said the moratorium would also prevent local contractors from getting needed work.
''A moratorium would probably do more harm than good,'' Bomba said. ''Most of these people depend on that work to support their families.''
The project generating most of the discussion Wednesday was a Westchester County developer's plan to add 468 town-home units on the Casperkill Country Club property off Route 9. Officials from Ginsburg Development of Hawthorne have said the moratorium could derail the project and they oppose it.
9 months proposed
The moratorium would halt residential subdivisions of 11 lots or more for nine months. Projects already granted planning board approval and commercial development would not be affected.
Town leaders have said the moratorium would give them time to wrap up a long-awaited update to the town's master plan.
The moratorium is opposed by the town planning board, the Fairview Fire District, the Dutchess County Department of Planning and Development and the Dutchess County Economic Development Corp.
It is supported by the town's Conservation Advisory Commission and several nonprofit citizen groups.
Michael Valkys can be reached at mvalkys@poughkeepsiejournal.com
MEETING MAY 4 A public hearing on a proposed nine-month moratorium on most residential development in the Town of Poughkeepsie is set to resume May 4. The town board meets at 7 p.m. at town hall off Overocker Road. For information, visit www.townofpoughkeepsie.com or call 845-485-3620.

Copyright © 2005, Poughkeepsie Journal .

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