New City, NY – The Clarkstown Town Board has introduced a proposal for a six-month building moratorium that would temporarily restrict approvals for certain large-scale residential, commercial and industrial development projects while town officials review zoning regulations, infrastructure needs and long-term preservation plans.
A public hearing on the proposed local law is scheduled for Sept. 15, 2026, at 6:30 p.m. at Clarkstown Town Hall in New City.
Under the proposal, the temporary moratorium would apply to multifamily developments, large-scale subdivisions and certain commercial and industrial projects. The town specifically identified projects such as artificial intelligence data centers among the types of development that could be affected because of their potential impact on transportation, the environment, infrastructure and public safety.
The proposal follows recent action involving the Clarkstown Community Preservation Act, which is intended to provide the town with additional tools to preserve open space, natural resources and other properties considered important to the community. The state Legislature passed the act earlier this year.
As part of the planning process, Clarkstown intends to appoint a new Community Preservation Board. The board would work with town staff to develop an updated preservation plan and examine how future development should fit into the town’s long-term land-use goals.
Town officials also plan to use the moratorium period to review existing studies and recommendations concerning Clarkstown’s infrastructure and transportation system. Those include the Routes 303 and 304 Safety and Sustainability Study, a town-wide traffic signalization and safety study, portions of Clarkstown’s Comprehensive Plan and recent changes to New York’s State Environmental Quality Review Act.
According to the town, the temporary pause would give officials time to consider changes to land-use and zoning regulations before additional large projects move through the approval process. The review is expected to focus on balancing residential and commercial development with transportation capacity, public services, environmental concerns and open-space preservation.
If adopted, the moratorium would remain in effect for six months. The Town Board could extend it for up to an additional six months if board members determine that more time is necessary to complete the planning and regulatory process.
The proposal would not halt all construction or development in Clarkstown. Small-scale subdivisions, individual residential projects and commercial or industrial projects of less than 5,000 square feet would be exempt because town officials say those projects are less likely to create significant traffic impacts.
Projects within the Nanuet Hamlet Center would also be exempt. According to the town, that area has already undergone planning related to future transportation improvements and includes Clarkstown’s only commuter rail station.
Clarkstown Supervisor George Hoehmann said the proposed moratorium is intended to provide the town with time to review its zoning regulations following recent policy changes, including the Community Preservation Act and measures involving the purchase of development rights.
Hoehmann said the review would allow officials to consider potential zoning changes while evaluating how future development could affect open space, the environment, infrastructure and community services.
The proposal must still proceed through the local legislative process. Residents and other interested parties will have an opportunity to comment during the Sept. 15 public hearing before the Town Board considers whether to adopt the moratorium.
Clarkstown Town Hall is located at 10 Maple Ave. in New City.