Bethlehem needs your voice for critical town meeting

Bethlehem Tomorrow is a citizens action group that includes Delmar, South Bethlehem, Glenmont, and Normanskill that aims to protect and preserve farmland, forests, parks, and other open spaces for public benefit. They help to educate, engage and promote sustainability in towns at risk of losing important forested land to residential sprawl.

Forests like the one seen here were decimated by bulldozers on Elm Ave East last month to make way for single-family homes. Not only is this heartbreaking for wildlife habitats but it’s an outrage for climate change reasons. Housing construction of this size is completely out of balance with the population growth of Albany county. Developers also want to do the same to Elsmere Avenue Extension as well as Kimmey Drive erasing more open space.

Kimmey Drive and Elsmere Avenue Extension are both long-discussed but as of yet
unbuilt collector roads. They should not be referenced in the Comprehensive Plan as a done deal or “planned” or “supported” roadways. Such roadways presuppose new residential development in areas that are currently some of the largest remaining open spaces in Town. Maintaining open spaces is one of the highest priorities for all residents and is critical to fulfilling the Town’s commitment to addressing climate change and sustainability.

If you feel the same, please speak up! Join others in voicing your concerns about the current Comprehensive Plan at the town meeting on: Monday, March 28, at the Bethlehem Town Hall, 6 pm.

Make a difference with the following topics:

• I support limiting development by clustering new homes close together while protecting as much open space as possible.
• The current plan allows too many new homes to be built in our agricultural business districts. The plan should restrict homes in these areas to only one dwelling per four acres.
• The Normanside Country Club should be zoned as “Recreation” to protect it and the surrounding neighborhoods.
• I support the strong action against climate change in the comp plan such as electrification and energy efficiency.
• I support a sustainability committee being created by the town as soon as possible.
• I support strong regulations to protect against unnecessary tree removal, especially in environmentally sensitive areas.
• I ask that our town incorporate laws to make our town more able to withstand the impact of climate change as recommended by New York State (The New York State Community Risk and Resiliency Act.)

Your voice matters!