CRITICAL PUBLIC HEARING TUESDAY NOVEMBER 10th
Hi all!
A critical PUBLIC HEARING is this upcoming TUES, Nov 10. Although changes have been made, there are still grave concerns with the current plan that will be voted on by the Town Board in December.
CALL TO ACTION
What: Attend the Public Hearing
Date: This TUES, Nov 10
Time: 6:00pm
Where: Bethlehem Town Hall: 445 Delaware Ave
Wear RED to show a message of solidarity and opposition
PLEASE SHARE AND GET THE WORD OUT!
Sound planning demands that we measure infrastructure, environmental, and neighborhood impacts before changing zoning codes, none of which have happened despite repeated requests from residents for such studies.
Just as 400 of us showed up at Town Hall in June to demand change, let's pack Town Hall - again! Show up and speak during public comment to demand that the Town Board halt action on the amendments outlined below, complete all necessary studies, and protect Bethlehem before it's too late.
In addition, email your concerns and comments to:
TownBoard@townofbethlehem.org AND
BethlehemForward@bethlehemny.gov
Bethlehem’s Future Is at Stake —
SHOW UP on Tues, Nov 10 at 6 PM!
The Bethlehem Town Board is in the final stages of adopting sweeping zoning amendments that will forever change Bethlehem, with a critical public hearing set for Tues, November 10 followed by a final vote in December.
Although the Town Board backed away from its plans to abolish the Residential A & B districts, the Board still intends to adopt zoning changes that allow high-density housing developments across the rest of our town—leaving our roads congested, our infrastructure overextended, and our community character vulnerable to severe overdevelopment. The fight to preserve Bethlehem is far from over!
Residents must act now. These amendments would dramatically increase permitted housing density, threatening Bethlehem’s traditional neighborhood character, environment, and infrastructure. Brand new Mixed-Density Residential and Commercial Mixed-Use districts, notably in Slingerlands, will surge allowable housing density by up to 400%. Meanwhile, upzoning traditional Delmar neighborhoods in Core Residential districts permits automatic density spikes—eliminating mandatory public hearings and compromising established neighborhood character.
Rushing this vote defies sound municipal planning. The Board is moving forward without completing town-wide traffic, environmental, or infrastructure impact studies. Adding thousands of housing units without prior analysis risks severe gridlock along Route 85, Delaware Avenue, and Route 9W, while destroying open space and farms, worsening flooding, polluting waterways feeding Five Rivers Environmental Center, and overloading aging sewer and water infrastructure.
There is no excuse for skipping critical studies. Sound planning demands that we measure infrastructure, environmental, and neighborhood impacts before changing zoning codes. Once developers secure vested rights under the new zoning, the town cannot legally reverse these changes.
Over 400 red-shirted residents have packed town meetings and more than 2,000 have signed petitions. Now we must tell the Town Board that we strongly oppose forced high-density development and its impacts on our community!