Housing developers in New York state are warning that more robust wetlands protections set to take effect next year could unintentionally promote sprawl.
They say new restrictions on developing near wetlands in urban areas could prevent building near existing infrastructure and push builders to look at more rural, less developed locales. That will make it harder for the state to create new housing, a major priority for Gov. Kathy Hochul (D) and lawmakers, they warned.
“It’s a really frightening situation we’re being thrust in,” said Dan Bargabos, president of Heritage Homes, who builds houses in the Syracuse area. “We have to be respectful of density, trying to use less property to house more people. … [This] urban classification has thrown everything way out of balance. So density is going to decrease.”
The Department of Environmental Conservation is finalizing regulations that are required by state law and expected to extend state protections to 1 million acres of wetlands. The DEC will have new jurisdiction, imposing a 100-foot buffer around these wetlands — whereas current federal requirements are less stringent.
