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Cochecton residents want protection from gas drilling

By Fritz Mayer
June 22, 2011



Several speakers referenced the towns of Highland, Lumberland and Tusten and the efforts those town boards are taking to limit gas drilling impacts to town infrastructure and character.

The purpose of the hearing was to hear public comments about proposed updates to Cochecton’s comprehensive plan, subdivision law and zoning law.

Of the 60 or so who turned out for the hearing, the overwhelming majority were concerned that while the zoning update makes no mention of gas drilling, there is also no language that would protect against it. In the comprehensive plan update, there was a single line which said that there is a potential for natural gas drilling in the town, which some residents objected to.

Resident Laurie McFadden, who is also an attorney, was concerned that proposed documents were presented in such a way that it was very difficult to compare the existing laws with the proposed updates, and what language from the existing laws had been deleted.

She noted, for instance, that the following line that was contained in the existing zoning law was eliminated from the proposed new law: “Areas of greater than 25% in average slope… shall not be altered re-graded cleared or built upon to any extent…”

She asked if the board was aware of this and other similar changes that had been made to the zoning law by the consultant Tom Shepstone.

Shepstone was repeatedly brought into the conversation with some residents speculating that he had slipped language into the updates that would make it easier for gas drilling and other development activities to go forward in the town.

Ted Haber, who identified himself as a member of the Cochecton summer community, asked in reference to Shepstone, “Once gas drilling became a big issue, and you knew that your primary consultant in developing the plan, was not only an advocate for the industry, but was a lobbyist for the industry… why wouldn’t the board at that point have sought some other independent consultant to add to Mr. Shepstone’s input?”