Carmel board opens hearing on moratorium for new multifamily site plans in HMC zones
September 05, 2026 | Carmel, Putnam County, New York
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The Town Board of Carmel opened a public hearing Sept. 2 on a proposed moratorium that would pause new site-plan approvals for multifamily dwellings in HMC zoning districts while the board reviews inconsistencies between the town’s newly adopted master plan and the zoning code.
"I'm proposing a moratorium, regarding the issuance of new site plan approvals for multifamily dwellings in HMC zones," Councilman Kearns said, explaining the pause would allow the town to update zoning to promote strategic, infrastructure-aligned growth.
Board members unanimously voted to open the public hearing. With no immediate public comment on the moratorium, the board agreed to accept written comments for seven days — through Sept. 9 — before further action.
The proposal, as described at the hearing, would not automatically bar all applications: Kearns said the town would still be able to review applications and allow ones "that fit within the fabric of our community." The board framed the moratorium as a temporary measure to give staff and elected officials time to align zoning text with planning goals identified in the master plan.
Next steps: the hearing record will remain open through Sept. 9 for written comments, after which the board indicated it may consider adoption at a later meeting.
Provenance: topic introduced SEG 142; public hearing opened SEG 175–180; motion to accept written comments SEG 203–209.
"I'm proposing a moratorium, regarding the issuance of new site plan approvals for multifamily dwellings in HMC zones," Councilman Kearns said, explaining the pause would allow the town to update zoning to promote strategic, infrastructure-aligned growth.
Board members unanimously voted to open the public hearing. With no immediate public comment on the moratorium, the board agreed to accept written comments for seven days — through Sept. 9 — before further action.
The proposal, as described at the hearing, would not automatically bar all applications: Kearns said the town would still be able to review applications and allow ones "that fit within the fabric of our community." The board framed the moratorium as a temporary measure to give staff and elected officials time to align zoning text with planning goals identified in the master plan.
Next steps: the hearing record will remain open through Sept. 9 for written comments, after which the board indicated it may consider adoption at a later meeting.
Provenance: topic introduced SEG 142; public hearing opened SEG 175–180; motion to accept written comments SEG 203–209.
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