Town board enacts law ending two‑year renewals for special permits on multifamily dwellings

The Town Board on Oct. 8 enacted a local law that exempts multifamily dwellings in the service business residential district from the current requirement that special permits be renewed every two years.

Town staff explained the change during the public hearing, saying the current zoning code treats multifamily housing differently depending on the district and that "the analysis, whether it be a site plan application or a special permit application, is pretty much the same by the Planning Board" (speaker 2). The staff presentation noted that in some districts multifamily housing is approved by site plan and is effectively perpetual once approved, while in the service business residential district it requires a special permit subject to biennial renewal.

A board member moved to enact the law after the hearing. The motion carried on a board vote. Supporters said the change is "cleanup" to correct an inconsistency and called it consistent with the town's comprehensive plan. One board member framed it plainly: removing renewals for apartment buildings prevents the unrealistic situation of telling residents their permit had expired two years after approval.

No members of the public spoke against the change during the hearing. The board recorded the passage of the law and directed staff to proceed with the administrative steps necessary to finalize it.

What happens next: The local law will receive its formal numbering and administrative processing now that the board has voted to enact it; staff said the law will align permit treatment across districts and reduce unnecessary administrative renewals.