Holding Town Hall Accountable: Our Legal Challenge Continues
When residents, businesses, or developers apply for permits in Brighton, town leaders strictly enforce SEQRA, site plan reviews, and stormwater regulations. Yet, for the Brighton Town Hall Phase II Site Work, town administration has exempted itself from these exact requirements.
Significant unanswered questions remain regarding how this project was approved:
Bypassing Environmental Oversight: Land disturbance exceeds both town (1/2-acre) and state (1-acre) thresholds without DEC coordination, accessible SWPPP (Stormwater Pollution Prevention Plan) documentation, or required inspections.
Unresolved Stormwater Risks: After Monroe County rejected plans to discharge runoff into the maxed-out Elmwood Avenue sewer system, the town proceeded with a revised design without verified engineering or percolation data.
Procedural Violations: The Environmental Assessment Form was completed using an invalid municipal format, and tree clearing moved forward without mandatory Town Conservation Board review.
Legal Status & Court Update
When state regulators and town officials refuse to enforce local code, it falls on the community to step up. Our push for transparency and environmental compliance is before the Monroe County Supreme Court:
Status of Proceedings: While our initial filing was dismissed on procedural grounds, a new filing is underway and will be heard by Justice Sam L. Valleriani.
Ongoing Construction: Because our motion for a temporary stay was denied, construction continues and mature trees have been cleared.
The Precedent: Establishing legal accountability remains essential. Allowing municipal leadership to self-exempt sets a dangerous precedent for all future developments in Brighton.
Why Your Support Belongs in This Fight
Challenging a local government in court requires sustained resources for legal counsel, court filings, and expert engineering reviews. While the hill is steep, our position is clear: rules must apply equally to everyone.
Donate to the GoFundMe: Every contribution directly funds our legal counsel and filings before Justice Valleriani.
Spread the Word: Share this update with neighbors who support environmental protection and equal accountability.
[https://gofund.me/93282aa33