It was just a few years ago

December 22, 2001

Woodbury OKs law to limit growth

By Chris McKenna
The Times Herald-Record
cmckenna@th-record.com

Woodbury – There will still be more cars and school kids. But maybe not as many.
The Town Board has decided after more than a year of deliberation to limit development by requiring that homes be built on larger lots – a minimum of three acres in much of the southern Orange County town.
"The purpose of this law is to mitigate development in this town," Councilman John Keleman said Thursday night before a 4-1 vote in support of new zoning.
Keleman said the law was needed to address booming enrollment in Monroe-Woodbury School District and heavy traffic on Route 32, the two-lane thoroughfare in Woodbury.
"I think this is a very, very important law," he said. "It touches many quality-of-life issues in this town."
Until now, Woodbury's zoning rules allowed new home lots of one or two acres in most parts of town. That will rise to three acres except in places with access to municipal sewer service, where the minimum lot size will be two acres.
The new zoning will not apply to projects that have received preliminary approval from the Planning Board. Sheila Conroy, supervisor-elect and chairwoman of the Planning Board, said Thursday night that she knows of six such projects.
Councilman Henry Dobson voted against the law. He said he objected to the board voting before three new members take office in January.