We, the undersigned residents and concerned citizens of the Town of Chester, object to the proposed zoning change that would change the current allowable 40+ year-old non-conforming seasonal camp to be reclassified as a Religious Institution with a School and additional open-ended accessory uses as determined by the applicant within the Town's agricultural rural zoning district.
Our Objections
This proposed change should be rejected because:
• The change in use is not consistent with the Town's Comprehensive Plan, nor with its present and proposed vision for future development.
• The AR-3 Zoning District is an agricultural rural zone intended primarily for farms, open spaces, parkland, regional hiking trails, and ridge preservation.
• The AR-3 District has low density residential uses mostly of non-traditional neighborhoods with large space of Open Area Developments (OADs) and managed by Homeowners' Associations (HOAs) that maintain substandard roads and lack in sidewalks.
The AR-3 District lacks municipal water and sewer services, making it unsuitable for the needs of high-intensity institutional uses.
• Religious Institutions and Schools are already permitted in other zoning districts within the Town, where proper infrastructure exists to support them.
Our Requests
We respectfully urge the Town of Chester to:
1. Reconsider adding the proposed zoning change that would allow for special use permits in the AR-3 Zoning District until an Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) is completed.
This study must evaluate the town-wide cumulative impacts of introducing expanded institutional uses within the AR-3 District, not just the effects on the camp property in question.
2. Hire Special Counsel to provide specialized legal guidance to the Town Board on this matter.
The Town Attorney currently manages numerous other municipal responsibilities and cannot devote sufficient time to thoroughly research and advise on this issue before the Town moves forward to adopt additional code changes and lift the current moratorium.
Conclusion
We believe this zoning change poses significant and long-term risks to the character, safety, and environmental integrity of the AR-3 District and the Town of Chester as a whole. We therefore respectfully request that the Town Board deny OR defer this zoning amendment until thorough environmental and legal review has been completed without the pressure of a timeline to adopt Comprehensive Plan and Zoning Code improvements.
Meetings:
November 5th, 2025 at 6:00PM Town Board
November 5th, 2025 at 7:00PM Planning Board
November 12th, 2025 at 4:30PM Town Board
November 13th, 2025 at 7:00PM Zoning Board of Appeals
Please email the town clerk Linda Zappala to let her know why you don't want the zoning law to be changed to allow year round living, and or schools, temples, or homes to be built on the property. It needs to stay a summer camp from June - September period.
Linda's Zappala contact information:
1786 Kings Highway
Chester, NY 10918
P: (845) 469-7000 x4
F: (845) 469-9242
Lzappala@thetownofchester.org