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Residents press board for assurances as Malta Gardens’ protections and a moratorium on development are debated
Summary
Concerned residents urged the board to protect Malta Gardens; staff said the site’s Planned Development District (PDD) status and New York State protections make conversion difficult, while board members debated moratorium timing and conservation‑easement options; the board pledged a letter to residents and scheduled further workshops.
At the workshop, residents raised urgent worries that Malta Gardens, a manufactured‑home community, could be sold and redeveloped, potentially displacing long‑time occupants. A resident (S12) said "Rumors are going all over the park…they're driving me crazy," asking whether the town could guarantee protection.
Presenter (S4) and board members responded that Malta Gardens is a Planned Development District (PDD), meaning a change from manufactured housing to another use would require legislative action by the town board. "If somebody came by and it was not a plan development district…they have the option of going to the zoning board of appeals to appeal," S5 said; Presenter (S4) added that, in the PDD, "any change in that zoning has to be authorized or done by the town board."
Speakers also cited state protections. A meeting participant (S7) referenced "real property law section 233" (transcript phrasing) as a state provision that protects manufactured‑home park tenants through notice and potential compensation requirements; the board asked staff to confirm legal details and provide guidance to residents.
Community advocates proposed conservation easements, including temporary (term) easements modeled on neighboring Clifton Park. Speakers discussed practicalities and funding: S1 reported Clifton Park’s experience with term easements and said the fiscal impact had been "calculated up to less than 1%." Other members cautioned about the long‑term financing and enforcement of term easements and suggested alternate tools including mitigation fees or transfer of development rights.
The board also debated a possible moratorium to pause certain project types while zoning updates are finalized. Staff said as many as "over 20" new development applications had been filed since moratorium talks began, and several members argued the draft moratorium—if adopted—would not affect those already‑filed applications. The board agreed not to act on a moratorium at the workshop and to consider it at the evening town board meeting; the town office said it will draft a letter to inform Malta Gardens residents about protections and next steps.
Ending: The board set a PDD workshop for May 19 to continue discussion of plan‑development districts and conservation measures; staff will prepare a letter to be sent to Malta Gardens residents explaining the process and protections.
