Why Taghkanic Residents Should Support the Mining Moratorium

On February 18,2010, the Town of Taghkanic published the following legal notice:

NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that the Taghkanic Town Board will hold a public hearing on Monday, March 1, 2010 at 6:30 p.m. at the Taghkanic Fire House, Old Route 82, Taghkanic, New York for the purpose of considering the adoption of Local Law No. 1 of the year 2010 as proposed. This local law will provide a moratorium for a period of either six (6) or nine (9) months on the acceptance, processing or approval of applications for activities related to the mining of sand, gravel, rock or other mineral resources in zoning districts designated R-3 and R-2 within the Town of Taghkanic.

All persons interested in commenting on the proposed local law shall be heard at such time.

A copy of the text of the alternate versions of this local law which provide for a six (6) and (9) month moratorium respectively, are available for public inspection at the office of the Taghkanic Town Clerk during normal business hours.

The subject of the moratorium became a Town Board issue when it was brought to their attention that there is an inconsistency in the town Zoning Ordinance which must be resolved before any mining should be allowed in the Town of Taghkanic.

The inconsistency involves an "X" in the Taghkanic Zoning Ordinance page ZA 3 Section III Use Regulations, leading the reader to believe that mining is allowed, in R2 and R3 zones with a special use permit. (Figure 1) Further reading of the Supplementary Regulations (page ZO-43) states that mining in Taghkanic is only allowed by special use permit in A & I1 districts. A became R7 in another update to the zoning regulations. (Figure 2)

The residents of the Town of Taghkanic believe that this inconsistency should be resolved before any mining is allowed any where in the Town of Taghkanic. Unless this inconsistency is resolved, the Zoning Ordinance of the Town of Taghkanic contradict them self and a mining application could be entertained anywhere in the town of Taghkanic.

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