BETHEL, NY — A petition encouraging the Bethel Town Board to adopt a moratorium on high density, multi-family housing and large-scale commercial development was presented at the March 12 town board meeting. 

The petition, containing hard signatures of over 515 Bethel residents, was submitted by Crystal Peck from the law firm Bailey, Johnson and Peck, and attorney Jeff Baker on behalf of the citizens group the Bethel Roundtable. Additionally Baker shared a proposed local law for the town to consider. The purpose of this law would be to enact the moratorium and allow the Town of Bethel’s Comprehensive Plan Review Committee, planning board and town board sufficient time to review and update the comprehensive plan and the necessary zoning to support it.

The petition and supporting documents describe the need for the moratorium due to the increased high-density projects proposed; and evaluated with current zoning that, the residents argue, does not adequately protect the natural resources and infrastructure of the town. 

In opening remarks, Bethel Roundtable spokesperson Lois Berkowitz said, “The topic of a moratorium and the need for it, has been part of the public conversation in Bethel for several years. More recently, this board made an important and wise decision to form a committee to update the town’s comprehensive plan. There is a need for a moratorium that allows the comp plan review committee the time to do its work, which has been on the minds of many residents.”