The Town Board kept open a public hearing on an overlay zoning proposal intended to ease construction of duplexes, triplexes and fourplexes in hamlets, with supporters citing workforce needs and opponents pressing water, traffic and transparency concerns. The board scheduled further discussion for Oct. 6.

Members discussed a proposed overlay district that would allow denser housing types (cottages, courts, multi-unit houses) in parts of High Falls and Stone Ridge; concerns centered on compatibility with historic character, infrastructure impacts and whether the code's preamble and design standards reflect local needs.

The Marbletown Town Board voted to set a public hearing for Sept. 15 on a proposed Hamlet Overlay zoning law that would permit two‑family, four‑family units and cottage courts in designated hamlets; board members and residents urged more data on water, traffic and affordability before adoption.

During public comment, residents pressed the board to address groundwater and historic-district impacts before approving a zoning overlay to encourage missing-middle housing; the board said the overlay helps secure grant funding for water infrastructure and design guidelines remain in place for smaller projects.

Marbletown planners presented a draft overlay ordinance to create Stone Ridge and High Falls overlay districts allowing forms such as triplexes and cottage courts, with parking standards and design guidelines; a town-board public hearing is set for Aug. 4.