The grassroots group, New Scotlanders for Sound Economic Development (NS4SED), has convinced the town board in New Scotland, NY, to pass a moratorium on commercial projects, preventing, for now, a 750,000-square-foot retail development that would be the 4th largest mall in the region.
Amidst a packed crowd of 850 people at a town board meeting, the group delivered 2,200 letters supporting a building moratorium on big-box development over 30,000 square feet.. The letters represented nearly one third of New Scotland’s 6,000+ residents. The town board responded by unanimously passing a six-month moratorium on commercial development.
NS4SED went door to door, wrote letters, and put up signs and posters to educate the community on the potential detriment this project, and future large retail projects, would have on the community’s resources, character, and uniqueness. The group is now focused on helping the community and local officials develop zoning regulations that protect New Scotland’s local businesses and rural charm.
