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Legislature urges DEC to pause and reverse new freshwater wetlands regulations; supporters and opponents spar in public comments
Summary
Resolution 113‑25 urging the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation to pause implementation and reverse its freshwater wetlands regulations passed after public testimony from lakefront property owners who support litigation and others who said the rules protect water quality.
The Chautauqua County Legislature adopted Resolution 113‑25, urging the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) to pause implementation and reverse newly adopted freshwater wetlands regulations. The resolution passed after public comment that included sharply contrasting views from local stakeholders.
Public comments: litigation vs. protection Jim Orfritz, president of the Chautauqua Lake Property Owners Association (CLPOA), told the legislature he supports Resolution 113‑25 and said the CLPOA plans to file suit challenging the regulations and their implementation. Orfritz argued the regulations were implemented without sufficient impact analysis and said the damage from what he called “flawed regulations” is being felt after only three months; he asked the county to join the association’s litigation and “support our efforts in word and indeed at this time and before action is too late.”
Opposing public comment came from homeowner John Jablonski, who said he lives a quarter mile from Chautauqua Lake and urged legislators to vote against the county resolution. Jablonski said wetlands protect flood storage and argued protections are important for lake health and the local economy.
Legislative discussion and vote County Executive Paul M. Wendell Jr. and other county representatives described outreach through NYSAC and said the issue has produced different impacts around the state; they framed the resolution as a request for additional review and caution in implementing a regulation that could have broad effects on property owners and local regulators. Legislator Nelson (Legislator) opposed asking DEC to reverse the regulations on environmental grounds, saying “protecting the environment can ultimately benefit the economy.”
The resolution passed; the transcript recorded at least three no votes from Legislators Nelson, Carl and Pavlok. The final roll call totals were not read into the record on the transcript excerpt.
