March 2017 Newsletter: Transfer of Development Rights Update

In April 2016 a program of Transfer of Development Rights was introduced to the Ballston Town Board.

In the following months a debate on this issue resulted in the Town Board deciding to revisit the 2006 zoning regulations and rewrite them to reflect the Comprehensive Plan. In November, Nan Stolzenburg, a town planner secured by Ballston, presented an update and summary of Recommended Zoning Changes for the Town of Ballston. The listing of Ballston Lake on DEC’s 303-D list of Impaired Water Bodies required that the Town Board make some changes in its zoning to address this issue. In Jan. and Feb. the Ballston Town Board conducted two workshops to put wording to Nan’s recommendations. When the final zoning changes are developed the Town Board will conduct a public hearing for everyone to have an opportunity to voice their feelings about these changes. l look for this to happen in May or June. If you want to check out the zoning changes go to the town web site at townofballstonny.org look at town alert yellow sheet and scroll to the bottom to see zoning recommendations.

The new zoning changes will deal with the following concerns:

1. developing stream and wetland buffers to control storm water and runoff
2. size, density, and location of new developments
3. location of retail, housing and industrial zones
4. use of land in the rural zone
5. use of conservation subdivision design in new developments
6. maintaining the integrity of existing land uses and water resources
7. connectivity of recreation activities between neighboring towns
8. definition of what is included as a agricultural activity
The new zoning document will incorporate ideas how to implement the TDR idea. With the new zoning, all
the Ballston Boards will have a better tool to direct development in the town