BETHEL – The Bethel Town Board voted 3–2 on Jan. 28 to introduce a six-month moratorium on the acceptance of new applications for high-density residential development, setting a public hearing for March amid ongoing debate over growth and zoning in the town.

The proposed moratorium, Local Law No. 1 of 2026, would pause the review of new high-density residential projects while Bethel finalizes and begins implementing zoning recommendations expected to come out of its comprehensive plan update.

Supervisor Dan Sturm and council members Wendy Brown and Adam Gold voted in favor of introducing the moratorium. Council members Billy Crumley and Bernie Cohen voted against it.

Town officials said the revised proposal shortens the moratorium from one year to six months and updates the effective date to Jan. 28, 2026. Projects already in the review pipeline would still be allowed to proceed.

Sturm said the moratorium is intended to prevent new high-density proposals from advancing before the town has the opportunity to align its zoning code with recommendations in the comprehensive plan, which officials expect to release for public review by mid-to-late March.

Public comment reflected the split on the board. Several residents thanked the majority for reintroducing the moratorium, arguing it is necessary to avoid development decisions that could conflict with upcoming zoning changes. Others said the pause is unnecessary given the advanced stage of the comprehensive plan process and questioned whether any new high-density projects are currently pending.

The board referred the proposed law to the Bethel Planning Board for review and to the Sullivan County Division of Planning and Environmental Management under county referral requirements. The town will also act as lead agency for environmental review.