I would like to again thank the Farmingdale Village Board for sponsoring last week's visioning process. The Vision Long Island event helped to facilitate a vibrant discussion of residents' interests and concerns. The entire three-day event was a very engaging experience. We can now look forward to a revised village master plan that will include the specific input from at least 100 residents.

The question on many people's mind now is how and/or when will we discuss an implementation plan that can move some of the good ideas forward? Most people, I believe, clearly understand that; first the plan update must be written by Vision Long Island, then discussed and debated at a future public hearing and only then voted on by the Farmingdale Village Board.

It is therefore critical that this village board discuss the merits of a moratorium on future development now and then pass such a measure immediately. Let me be clear. I am not saying to stop village residents from improving their homes. I am saying to stop the overdevelopment. Some projects may look attractive on their own, yet when you add them all up you have overdevelopment. The only true method of controlling overdevelopment is to create/revise the zoning policies. Our village zoning codes are out of date and need to be brought in sync with our current and future vision.

I would ask you again to preserve the efforts of last week's visioning process by considering a 'time out'. Pass a moratorium on any pending and future development in the Village of Farmingdale until such time as we have a consensus on a revised master plan.

Chuck Gosline

Farmingdale Village Planning Board Member