KIAMESHA LAKE—On January 18, the residents of Kiamesha Lake and the surrounding area will have a chance to voice their opinions regarding the proposed Village Ateres with their vote.

The voting process is slated to take place at Khal Toras Chaim Viznitz Shul Gibbers on 169 Barnes Blvd, near Kiamesha Lake, offering community members the opportunity to express their support or opposition to the proposed village.

The previous summer witnessed a series of public hearings aimed at assessing the legality of the Village Incorporation Petition for the Village of Ateres.

Despite encountering objections, such as missing names and an incomplete application, the petition was ultimately deemed legally sufficient, allowing the process to go forward.

Michael Mednick, the Thompson Town Attorney, said legal challenges arose from individuals within the district jurisdiction opposing the Town Supervisors’ decision to validate the petition.

Concerns were raised through an order to show cause; however, this case was eventually discontinued, paving the way for the upcoming referendum.

Jennifer Grossman, serving as an consultant of Catskill Mountainkeeper, expressed concerns about the potential impact on land use and governance stemming from the establishment of the new village.

She said the need for Sullivan County to adopt a sustainable vision for the future. 

“We’re looking at making sure that Sullivan County as a whole has a sustainable vision for the future, which means honoring the tradition of home rule for localities [also] take into account the nature of our natural resource space, which is finite water and land,” said Grossman.

The proposed Village of Ateres encompasses portions of the Towns of Thompson and Fallsburg, spanning 929 acres.

NYS Governor Kathy Hochul recently signed a bill implementing stricter standards for the formation of villages in the state. Despite this, the permit application for the proposed Village of Ateres has been granted an exemption from these new rules.

The Governor clarified that the increased standards would not be retroactively applied to villages already scheduled for public referendum as of December 22, coinciding with the filing date of the petition for the Village of Ateres.

If approved by the residents, the towns involved will proceed to submit their comprehensive evaluations to the Department of State in Albany for the final approval of the proposed Village of Ateres.