TOWN OF LIBERTY – The Liberty Town Board voted Monday night to approve a one-year moratorium on the construction of new summer camps within the town.
At a packed board meeting, which was moved from the town hall to the senior citizen center across the street, emotions ran high as residents spoke in favor of the proposed moratorium, which would give the town a chance to review the exact definition of a summer camp and where such camps could be located.
The discussion of a moratorium was triggered by a recent proposal that was brought before the town planning board by a developer seeking to build what appeared to be a housing development consisting of several two-story multifamily dwellings.
The plan was to include a small building which could be used for handicapped children and the project was said to be a “summer camp.”
The proposal drew immediate concern that there might be a loophole in the town’s zoning law regarding the definition of summer camps.
Other issues raised were that camps could be built in areas zoned for residential use and that these projects might be taken off the tax rolls.
After much discussion Monday night, Town Supervisor Charles Barbuti, and Councilmen Russell Reeves, Dean Farrand, and Brian McPhillips voted to support the measure. Councilman Vincent McPhillips abstained.
The one-year moratorium allows for two extensions for an additional six months total, if necessary.
Existing summer camps in the Town of Liberty are unaffected by the moratorium
