Public Hearing Scheduled on Windham Draft Zoning

WINDHAM — Thanks to a State planning grant, the Town of Windham is considering adopting  zoning regulations for the first time in its history. A Zoning Commission appointed by the Town Board in  2023 has been working for over two years on the draft regulations, and a public hearing will be held on Tuesday, August 19, 2025 at 7PM to hear initial feedback and comments from residents and property  owners. The public hearing will be held at the Windham Centre Church Property located at 5379 NYS  Route 23 in Windham.
“Zoning governs the way land in a municipality is used and developed,” explained Senior Planner Helen  Budrock of Delaware Engineering. “It works by dividing the Town into separate districts, or zones.  Within each zone, all properties are subject to a uniform set of regulations that govern the use and  intensity of development permitted on that parcel.”
Since New York is a home rule state, every municipality has the choice of whether or not to adopt  zoning, but most towns in the state regulate development in this way. The Zoning Commission is  required by law to hold one or more public hearings on the draft zoning regulations before referring  them to the Town Board. After that, the Town Board is required to hold their own public hearing prior  to adoption.  
“This has been a long process, and the Town Board recently had an opportunity to provide some  preliminary feedback on the draft regulations,” explained Town Supervisor Tom Hoyt. “The Zoning  Commission has worked very hard on this, and this first hearing will give Town residents an opportunity  to ask questions and let us know what they think.”  
An interactive on-line Zoning Map and a copy of the draft zoning regulations can be found at  https://wearewindham2040.com/ or at the Town’s web site at https://townofwindhamny.com/. A  printed copy is also available for viewing at the Town Hall in Hensonville.