BETHEL – A huge crowd gathered in the gym at the Duggan School in White Lake on July 9 to attend a moratorium discussion about a formal draft law calling for a six month pause on high density multi-family development in Bethel. The topic, as well as the draft law, were posted on the agenda for the town board meeting presided over by Supervisor Dan Sturm.

The draft law was presented to the town board in March, by Attorney Jeff Baker, who was hired by the citizens group The Bethel Roundtable, which also presented a petition, signed by 549 Bethel residents, requesting the moratorium.  

“There is a critical and compelling need to impose a six-month moratorium on the approval and construction of large-scale multi-family developments, multi-family dwellings, mixed-use developments, conversions of seasonal dwelling communities, and major subdivisions,” the petition states. 

Since the Bethel Comprehensive Plan is undergoing revision at the same time as a surge in the construction of multi-family dwellings, the Bethel Roundtable members say there is cause for concern about the cumulative impact upon the town’s natural resources. A pause allows time to complete the Comp Plan and amend zoning laws, which shape the manner in which the town invites growth.

During the public hearing, Sturm explained why he is not in favor of a moratorium, although he supported one in 2008, which he says led to more restrictive zoning laws. 

He stated, “Although moratoriums can be a great tool, they should only be enacted when urgent or emergencies exist.” 

He cited financial losses to property owners due to an increase in the tax burden, uncertainty in planning and investing, economic consequences, and housing shortages. 

Sturm asserted, “Bethel may have the strictest zoning laws in Sullivan County today.”

Roundtable Chairwoman Denise Frangipane said the Comprehensive Plan states there are six large-scale developments pending that would create 330 dwelling units.

An expansive comment period followed. White Lake resident Mary-Ellen Seitelman, through conversations with the DEC and Dept. of Health, shared that there is no total measurement of water consumption amounts for the town and that to proceed with welcoming thousands of new residents is “like having a blind man direct traffic.” She said there is no law requiring well monitoring at multi-family developments, although it exists for single-family dwellings.

Another White Lake resident, Henne Altman, said, “After all these years, where are we?...All the things that go on are put aside. The Town is responsible to take care of the people who live here, who work here, who pay taxes here—There are so many things wrong with the system. Why are there so many things being approved? Why are there hundreds of houses being built every day? You are not here to please the developers, the electricians, the plumbers…What you do is just shrug it off and do nothing.”

Attorney Steve Barshov said, “A moratorium is an easy way out,” and asked, “How can one presuppose that multi-family development won’t continue when it is lifted?” He suggested an ad hoc committee of opposing factions to join in formulating a path forward.

Various members of the religious community cited a petition against the moratorium with 800 signatures, data indicating a decline in the population of Bethel, and reasons why growth should be welcomed. They said that although Bethel Woods also uses high volumes of water and causes traffic, “No one complains about them.”

Frangipane asked the board to set a course for the legal process to hold a properly posted public hearing. “We did not ask for a discussion to be on the agenda. We asked for a public hearing followed by a vote by the board on this specific moratorium, (not any moratorium or moratoriums in general). We’re asking for strong planning to expedite the Comp. Plan,” she remarked.

Sturm acknowledged the expressed concerns and finally requested a motion, offered by Councilwoman Wendy Brown, to hold a vote for the proper posting of a public hearing. The board voted against it by one vote.

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Town of Bethel resident Adrienne Millman asked the town board to consider a moratorium on large developments in the town, saying the increased dwellings have caused her faucet to emit a “trickle of water” and that she has to purchase all water consumed.