ALBANY- Governor Kathy Hochul has signed legislation that imposes more stringent standards on the formation of villages in the state, however, her final approval of the measure included an exemption to permit the application for the new proposed Village of Ateres in Sullivan County to move forward under the old less restrictive rules.
In her bill approval message, Hochul said that the new more stringent rules will not apply to villages already scheduled for public referendum as of December 22, which is the same day the petition for Ateres was filed.
The proposed Village of Ateres would be 929 acres in size and would have a population of just over 830. It would span an area to include portions of the Towns of Thompson and Fallsburg. If not exempted by Hochul, the application for Ateres would have been impacted by the new law.
Earlier this year, members of the community voiced concerns about the new proposed village at a set of public hearings. Supports of the proposal say the new municipality is necessary because the current local government is not responsive to the needs of the Hasidic Jewish community that calls the area home.
A voter referendum to approve or deny the application for Ateres is scheduled for January 18.
