SOUTH FALLSBURG, NY — The board of the Town of Fallsburg voted on June 27 to adopt a one-year building moratorium on residential developments that have more than five units or homes.

The town is in the process of updating its comprehensive plan, and is experiencing a building boom that is, according to town officials, putting pressure on town infrastructure such as the town sewer systems.

The resolution adopting the moratorium says, “The Town is especially concerned about the impact on its sewer systems, which are close to or at capacity. This stop-gap or interim measure is intended to preserve the status quo pending the adoption of an amended comprehensive plan, and amended planning and zoning regulations, in accordance with the amended comprehensive plan.”

In comments at a public hearing and at the town meeting, Supervisor Steve Vegliante stressed that the current building boom is unprecedented in the municipality. There are currently some 5,240 houses in the town, and Vegliante said plans for 4,200 are in the works.

Some in the town, however, complain that the moratorium is aimed at the summer Hasidic community, which is driving the construction boom in the town. There are some 1,200 homes that are already approved to go forward that will not be impacted by the moratorium, and another 3,000 units that are in the planning stages that are now on hold because of the moratorium.

The owner of L.C. Construction, Leon Castillo, who is involved in much of the construction activity in the town, said at a public hearing that he believes the moratorium is being adopted not to address planning issues but to slow down the growth of the Hasidic summer community. Castillo’s employees turned out in large numbers to the public hearing and supporters warned that the moratorium would put many construction workers out of work.

However, it is not unusual for a municipality to impose a building moratorium when updating a comprehensive plan. The Town of Bethel experienced a development boom in 2006, and town officials decided to update the comprehensive plan, and they also adopted a building moratorium.