Residents in the town of Ballston are concerned that their property may be in danger because of open space resource maps that the land conservancy commission is using to identify lands targeted for preservation.
The maps are available on the Internet and point out lands that are deemed scenic, historic, agricultural or environmental.
Recently, the town has experienced increasing pressure for development at the cost of open space.
At the town board meeting on July 6, Joyce Bracht of Devils Lane expressed her concern about the LCC trying to target property owned by residents as potential land for preservation. Bracht said she did not want the LCC coming in and taking her land away. She asked the board to get rid of the LCC.
Another resident, Linda Lambert of Eastline Road, said she did not like the maps, which showed her property, to be available online.
It’s an invasion of people’s right to privacy, she said.
Councilwoman Mary Beth Hynes said all property maps are public record, and anyone can view them.
The town board created the LCC in 1994 to deal with the issue of decreasing farmland and open space because of increasing residential development.
The LCC’s main goals are to evaluate potential open space parcels, consider the use of various preservation techniques and recommend policies for preserving agriculture and open space.
The LCC has been using the open space maps as a way of reaching its goals.
Town board candidate Patti Southworth said the panic that residents are feeling because of the LCC is another example of poor communication between town government and the people.
Southworth said when residents called town hall to ask questions about what the LCC was doing, no one could give an answer.
`There is no excuse for that,` she said. `Town government needs to be transparent.`
Southworth said the residents whose properties were targeted as a potential for land preser-vation should have been notified.
`They are our friends, they go to church with us. How could they not have been notified?` she said.
Southworth said she fully supports land preservation and pledged that if elected, her salary would be given to the cause.
Town board member Harold Townley explained that residents went into panic because of maps that were mailed to their homes with false information.
Townley said the reason that officials could not answer questions was because they had no idea maps were sent out. Townley said he doesn’t know who could have sent the maps to town residents.
`It is not the intent of the LCC to put out misinformation or change anyone’s status as far as what their homes are to be zoned for,` Townley said.
Townley said the LCC has been having open meetings for two years, and there has been plenty of time for people to talk and give their opinions.
`I feel bad that this has turned into a political nightmare,` Townley said. `Southworth wants to run for political office and is trying to find fault in things that are going on. We are trying to do the best we can for the town.“