LIBERTY – The Town of Liberty Town Board voted unanimously on Wednesday night to remove the Planned Unit Development (PUD) law from the town code, after holding a public hearing. 

A handful of residents showed up to the public hearing and voiced their opinions that the board should remove the PUD law, citing large developments as having negative impacts.

“In my neighborhood on Cold Spring Road I am surrounded by valuable agricultural land and farms in addition to wetlands and vital wildlife corridors—once destroyed we will not get these essential natural resources back,” said resident Sabrina Artel.

Other residents echoed her sentiments, saying that the town board should protect the town’s rural character.

“There are less burdensome and better-regulated ways to support development in our town and ensure that development does not exhaust our already-stretched natural resources,” stated resident Elizabeth Greig.  

Supervisor Frank DeMayo said that while he is voting yes, this decision will have an impact on the town’s budget, as development is “one of the major sources of revenue to the tax rolls.”

“I want us all to realize is that when we review the comprehensive plan… we’re going to have to take a close look at how we deal with this,” DeMayo said. “It has to be through smart growth. One of the struggles we have as a board every year is the budget.”

Councilman John Lennon mentioned that a similar situation happened in New Paltz, where residents asked the town board to remove PUD zoning and were willing to pay higher taxes. “As we move forward here, that could be the possibility,” he said.

DeMayo added that the town board will have to take a look at where they can “accommodate growth” and come up with solutions, such as zoning changes specific to certain areas. 

This decision comes at a time when many towns and villages across Sullivan County face new developments coming before their planning and zoning boards. 

“It has become even more obvious that we in Liberty are not the only residents that are being faced with threats from high-density development,” Artel said.