New York homebuilders push back on state wetlands protections

By Marie J. French | 09/11/2024 12:41 PM EDT

With new wetlands protections set to go into effect starting next year, opponents are raising concerns it will make housing construction more difficult.

Vegetation is seen under the water.

New York's environmental agency is rolling out regulations to protect more wetlands. Homebuilders say the rules could push development to less dense areas. Chandan Khanna/AFP via Getty Images

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.”

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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.

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