TOWN OF MONTGOMERY — The Town of Montgomery is considering temporarily halting the development of massive warehouses amid over-development concerns among residents.
A local law will be drafted to impose a commercial development moratorium geared toward warehouses and distribution facilities larger than 100,000 square feet.
Supervisor Brian Maher said he noticed during his campaign an overwhelming number of residents whose quality of life is at a point of being affected by new warehouses.
“Our intent is to balance the importance of development while maintaining the quality of life our residents deserve as we update our outdated comprehensive plan,” Maher said.
The moratorium would suspend development approval for six months, with the possibility for an extension.
There are seven warehouse projects of more than 100,000 square feet pending before the twon Planning Board, including two proposed million-square-feet warehouses.
The draft will be presented at a Town Board meeting on Thursday for board members and the public to provide feedback. If the town decides to move forward after an initial discussion, a public hearing would be set.
Some residents spoke in favor of the moratorium at a public comment session on Jan. 14, noting the town is in need of smart growth, otherwise its character would be lost.
Maureen Halihan, president and CEO of the Orange County Partnership, expressed concerns about the loss of job opportunities and school district funding if a moratorium is imposed.
Maher said communication is key, and the town has begun to reach out to parties that would be affected by the moratorium to hear their feedback.
“We look forward to hearing from residents, business owners, realtors, builders and other local stakeholders to address any concerns as we move forward,” Maher said.
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