Lancaster’s population grew by roughly 50% between 1980 and 2020.
Now some town leaders want to slow things down.
The Lancaster Town Board next week plans to consider a resolution to pause new commercial residential development in the town for one year.
The proposed law, sponsored by Council member and Supervisor-elect Robert Leary, would establish a one-year moratorium on applications, approvals and construction of commercial residential development, like apartment complexes, condominium buildings and townhome communities.
The mortarium is necessary, according to Leary’s resolution, because Lancaster “has experienced significant and rapid growth” and its zoning code does not adequately address commercial residential development.
The yearlong pause would give the town board time to make revisions and amendments to the zoning code to better accommodate this kind of development, according to the resolution.
If the moratorium is not passed, “there is a potential that such uses could be located in unsuitable areas within the Town or on lots without adequate dimensional regulations in place,” according to the proposed law. The temporary halt is also needed to address issues such as “adequate water supply and sewer capacity, potential road improvements and the continued maintenance of green spaces.”
Projects that have already received all approvals from the town will not be affected if the law passes.
Supervisor Ronald Ruffino Sr., whose term as leader of the town ends Dec. 31, said if this law passes, the town is sure to be met with lawsuits it will not win.
“Developers have the right to develop the land they own,” Ruffino said in an interview with The Buffalo News.
Not only would the town lose any lawsuits brought on by such a moratorium, it would also lose projects, Ruffino said. He believes the law will have a “negative ripple effect” on the town, as developers will move their projects to other municipalities.
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