We, the undersigned residents and taxpayers of the Town of Cochecton, do hereby petition the Cochecton Town Board as follows:

We hold dear the present quality of life in Cochecton, including its natural and rural character, its clean, safe neighborhoods, and its overall appealing atmosphere, and seek the continued preservation of the agricultural land, the open spaces and forested areas in the town for the benefit of our families and neighbors, all as set forth in the Cochecton Comprehensive Plan.

At present, all industry within the Town is sited in two small areas comprising approximately 0.1% of the total land area. We are concerned that all districts of our Town are now at risk of being suddenly and chaotically industrialized by natural gas exploration and that our quality of life will be lost. The recent amendments to our Zoning Law that the Board has settled upon do nothing to protect us and our quality of life, nor will the Road Protection Plan that the Board is prepared to adopt in the coming months.

Zoning is recognized in law as the correct tool to enforce the goals and objectives of a town's comprehensive plan. Many towns in Sullivan County and elsewhere in New York State are working with pro bono zoning attorneys to protect their neighborhoods, their land, air and water, by either excluding or narrowly restricting gas drilling within their districts. We should be doing the same.

We therefore respectfully demand that Cochecton's Town Board and Planning Board return to the drafting process and further amend the Zoning Law so that it advances the goals and objectives of its Comprehensive Plan, by firmly limiting or excluding high-impact industrial operations such as natural gas drilling as permitted uses within our Town.