To the Editor:
The following is an opinion that I offer as a private citizen residing in the town of Guilderland.

The recent Enterprise article about the benefits associated (or not) with development [“Does development benefit or break municipalities,” The Altamont Enterprise, Feb. 29, 2024] made something clear. That something is that the academic study of development is an inexact science that offers up unclear solutions.

Recent discussions regarding the need (or not) for some sort of building moratorium in Guilderland seem to me to prove that point. We read in The Enterprise article that the best use of land on a net-net basis is agricultural, yet the moratorium conversation ignores agriculture pretty much entirely.

The article speaks of the benefits of mixed-use development, yet moratorium proponents oppose anything that increases density. Moratorium proponents offer lip service to the concept of affordable housing, yet their focus on standard single-family housing is called a non-starter due to what’s described in the article as the high cost of such housing.

Beyond that, I have to call into question what the intrinsic value of the new, or the old, or any comprehensive plan may be without effective and utilized enforcement mechanisms. Guilderland's existing comprehensive plan, as well as several of the followup studies that were conducted, speak of the need to preserve the character of the town's rural areas, yet administrative decisions over the years have favored the continuation of suburban sprawl.

I personally consider newer developments such as Mat Farms and Black Creek Estates to be prime examples of such sprawl, and feel very much the same about proposed developments such as that proposed by Albany Country Club, as well as the Black Creek Run subdivision to be yet further examples of realities that render the words and philosophy of existing planning studies irrelevant.

Interestingly, the proponents of a building moratorium are silent as the tomb about development activity such as this. I can but wonder why.

Guilderland has no need of a building moratorium at this time. Guilderland needs to do a much better job of enforcing the standards that are already in place while the community engages in a discussion about future planning that is conducted free of political influence and without being railroaded by a small number of people who believe that the loudest voices are the only ones that matter.

Their focus on building walls around Guilderland is not only morally reprehensible, it’s a non-starter both economically and legally.

I have some really fond hopes for the future of the community I’ve been proud to call my family’s home for almost 40 years. I hope to see some of them actualized.

Donald Csaposs

Guilderland

Editor’s note: Donald Csaposs works as a grant writer for the town of Guilderland. He is also the chief executive officer of the Guilderland Industrial Development Agency.