The Webster Town Board approved a six-month moratorium on large-scale developments during its June 4 meeting, a move intended to give the community a pause to update its comprehensive plan and zoning.
The decision came after public outreach and questions from the board about projects in the approval process and any relief for developers with projects that could be delayed. The moratorium was approved unanimously by the board.
The town is in the process of updating its comprehensive plan for the first time since 2008; the moratorium would give time to finish before more approvals come through. The intention is to prevent a project coming through the approval process that doesn’t align with the vision of the updated comprehensive plan, which will be rooted in smart growth principles.
What is smart growth? The state-administered program focuses on four key themes: equity, economy, environment and energy/climate. The principles include prioritizing infill, encouraging compact neighborhood design and building on unique traits to create an attractive community with a sense of place.
Not all types of developments fall under the moratorium. Instead, it affects subdivisions of more than four parcels, large-scale solar projects, data centers and properties located in select office and commercial districts. The affected properties and development types won’t be allowed to advance any site plans, subdivision plans or special permits for the six-month period.
Exemptions for the moratorium include plans for:
What’s not affected by the moratorium includes:
The moratorium includes a provision for the town board to grant relief to developers affected by the moratorium. Those developers would need to submit an application with a $150 fee that outlines the money the property could not generate due to the moratorium and the harm.
This article originally appeared on Rochester Democrat and Chronicle: Webster pauses large developments with 6‑month moratorium
Reporting by Steve Howe, Rochester Democrat and Chronicle / Rochester Democrat and Chronicle
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
By Steve Howe, Rochester Democrat and Chronicle | USA TODAY Network
