GUILDERLAND — As a committee continues its work on updating the town’s comprehensive plan, Guilderland Town Board members on Dec. 5 agreed on the need for a moratorium but delayed for later deciding when, for how long, and to what the moratorium would apply.

Public comments near the start of the meeting showed a range of views.

Chuck Klaer shared a list of Capital District businesses expected to fail in the near future, some with branches in Guilderland.

As the town works on plans and policies, Klaer said, riffing on “The Music Man,” it’s important to realize “we’ve got trouble right here in River City.”

Robyn Gray, who chairs the Guilderland Coalition for Responsible Growth, had challenged the board on Nov. 9 to declare a moratorium on development while the updated comprehensive plan is finalized. She received positive responses from board members — Supervisor Peter Barber had been absent, out with COVID-19 — and pressed them to take up the matter at their next meeting.

On Dec. 5, Gray clarified that the moratorium should not be “on every single project in Guilderland” but rather apply to projects that require infrastructure like sewer or water.

“You certainly don’t want to stop businesses,” Gray said.

Jon Phillips on Dec. 5 spoke, as a business owner and Guilderland Chamber of Commerce member, against a moratorium. He said that growth helps both schools and businesses.

“The construction workers eat at our restaurants, patronize our stores, and grow the community,” he said. Phillips went on, “Housing brings in people that can also live in our community who can also be employed.”

He pointed out that currently every project is reviewed individually and said words like “moratorium” scare him.

Gerd Beckmann shared with the board pictures of a recent one-car crash on Route 146 in Guilderland Center, as an example of heavy traffic in town.

“I hope that the board continues to consider carefully the implications of traffic speed control,” he said. The speed limit where the recent accident occurred, not far from the high school, Beckmann noted, is 35 miles per hour. “It needs to be better controlled,” he said.

Beckmann said there is a “significant increase in traffic” and, “traffic and safety affect the quality of life in this town.”

Board views

Later in the meeting, Barber opened the discussion on the moratorium, saying, “I think we’ve all said at various times that a moratorium would be appropriate. The only question I think is going to be: When?”

Moratoriums adopted while a town works on its comprehensive plan, Barber said, are typically six months with a six-month extension beyond that if needed.

Barber went on to say, “We really have to be careful ….. the idle talk of a moratorium” had led to several people calling him.

“I don’t want people to be rushing to file applications,” he said. “Nor do I want to preclude people who have applications that are now working with DOT and DEC and whatnot … to feel that they are now working under an artificial deadline.”

Councilwoman Amanda Beedle said that, after time and money has been invested in committees collecting data, “It’s just to make the smart decisions about what development we are allowing to happen here.”

She brought up the “strain and stress” on water infrastructure and roads. “This is a conversation that gently needs to start happening as the vision for our town goes forward …,” said Beedle. “It’s not putting a chokehold on all development …. It’s not to stymie business; it’s to make sure the town has healthy growth.”

Councilwoman Christine Napierski referenced the subcommittee reports — on agriculture, economic growth, environment, housing, open space, and transportation — and recited a list of recommendations that she said “would, in fact, require changes to our zoning code.”

She named preserving farmland and open spaces, preserving viewsheds, cluster developments, smaller lot sizes, and accessory dwelling units. She also mentioned the need for rules on short-term rentals like Airbnb because of a recent case before the zoning board.

“These are all things I support, by the way. I think maybe most of us do,” said Napierski. She said projects could come along that would violate “guidelines that we want to put in place.

“So that’s why a moratorium is necessary, to say, ‘Hold it; wait a minute. This is a project that may not be in compliance with our future vision of our town.’”

Barber again cautioned about “not spooking anybody” to which Napierski responded, “A moratorium is a temporary pause …. I don’t think a six-month moratorium is going to be that detrimental to most projects.”

“I agree 100 percent,” said Barber, but he went on to name a couple of applicants who “got scared” because they are under a tight schedule for state approval and can’t deal with a six-month delay.

Councilman Jacob Crawford asked about the timeline for the Comprehensive Plan Committee’s work to which Barber responded he thought the committee would present its recommendations to the board in August.

Crawford said it is important to discuss the “strains on infrastructure.” He said, “It’s not just water and sewer” and went on to name emergency medical services, parks, police, and firefighting provided by volunteers.

“It’s not something we necessarily need to wait completely on ….,” said Crawford. “I think some of our larger impact projects or large-scale apartments are more of a concern for me.”

Beedle advocated for workforce housing, housing for the elderly, and affordable housing. “Working with a lot of the impoverished people here in town,” she said she knows such housing “is a necessity.”

Beedle asked, “Can there be stipulations put into a moratorium that allow those types of projects that are almost mandatory be allowed to start the progression?”

“Oh, absolutely,” responded Barber. “You can tailor your purpose.”

Barber went on to say that the town planner had told him that less than 1 percent of the town is good for residences, “which means every time an apartment comes out now it has to be a PUD,” he said of a Planned Unit Development, which has to be approved by the town board.

A moratorium on that, he said, is “the town board telling itself it can’t act, which seems kind of incongruous.”

Again, Barber cautioned, “I understand it’s public perception and whatnot so I think we’ve got to be mindful.”

“Yes,” said Napierski, “We don’t want to create a rush to build.”

“We’re not looking to tell people to stop their proposals necessarily,” said Crawford, “but we want to make sure that they are in keeping with the new plans that were being developed.”