Webster Town Board
December 18, 2025
A workshop meeting of the Webster Town Board was called to order by Supervisor Flaherty at
7:00 p.m. at the Webster Town Board Meeting Room, 1002 Ridge Road, Webster, New York,
with the following officials present:
Supervisor ................................................................................ Thomas J. Flaherty
Councilwoman ........................................................................... Patricia T. Cataldi
Councilman....................................................................................... John J. Cahill
Councilwoman ............................................................................ Ginny L. Nguyen
Councilwoman...........................................................................Jennifer S. Wright
Attorney for the Town .........................................................................Kyle Taylor
Town Clerk .................................................................................. Danene M. Marr
Department Heads Present:
Community Development Director ................................................. Joshua Artuso
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Joshua Artuso, Community Development Director, appeared before the Town Board to discuss
open space preservation in the Town of Webster-past, present and future.
The Town had historically implemented several strategies to preserve open space and enhance
community amenities, particularly as development increased. One major approach involved
clustered building designs, which allowed developers to place homes and buildings closer
together. This design strategy not only maintained the Town’s overall housing density but also
created shared open spaces that protected natural features such as woodlands, streams and
wetlands. These open spaces often became community assets, offering trails, recreational courts
and small parks for local residents. Excess land from these developments was either dedicated to
the Town or maintained by homeowners’ associations, ensuring ongoing care for the preserved
areas while supporting community engagement and stewardship.
Park Districts had been a central tool in the Town’s strategy for managing neighborhood open
spaces. These Districts were formed through petitions by local residents or Resolutions passed
by the Town Board and were financed through property assessments on the benefited parcels.
Unlike traditional public parks, Park Districts served only the residents within their specific
neighborhoods, providing recreational opportunities and maintaining natural buffers from
surrounding development. As the Town grew, the number of park districts expanded, eventually
totaling 35 districts that encompassed 85 parcels and approximately 380 acres of land. These
Districts helped maintain the character of neighborhoods, offering amenities while protecting the
Town’s natural environment.
In addition to Park Districts, the Town had implemented the Open Space Preservation Program,
established in 1992. This program allowed the Town to acquire interests or rights in private
property specifically for conservation purposes. Over time, the program preserved 47 parcels
totaling 951 acres, maintaining critical green spaces and ecological habitats. However, by 2010,
the tax incentives that had encouraged new properties to join the program were no longer
available, limiting its expansion. The Town also explored funding mechanisms for land
acquisition through public Referendums. In 2002, a $22.5 million Bond Referendum failed in a
Townwide vote, as residents considered it too costly. A revised $5.9 million Bond Referendum
in 2004 succeeded, enabling the Town to purchase 915 acres at an average cost of just under
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$7,500 per acre. This acquisition, combined with additional grant funding, significantly
increased the Town’s open space portfolio, with bond repayments scheduled to conclude in
2025.
Between 2020 and 2025 (present strategy), the Town, in collaboration with the Open Space
Committee and community groups such as Friends of Webster Trails, identified undeveloped
parcels with high conservation value. During this period, 85 parcels totaling approximately
2,400 acres were mapped and evaluated for potential acquisition. Town officials, including
Supervisor Flaherty, personally engaged with property owners to discuss possible sales. While
most owners were initially reluctant due to mismatched expectations on property value, the
initiative created a strategic inventory of parcels that could enhance existing park and trail
systems or preserve significant natural features in the future. Concurrently, the Town
successfully pursued grant opportunities, such as the New York State DEC Forestry Grant,
which supported the acquisition of the Gary Woods Forest. In addition, private landowners
voluntarily donated property, resulting in the preservation of roughly 100 additional acres over
the six-year period.
The Town maintained comprehensive maps to track Park Districts, Town-owned parks, County
parks and other open space parcels, regularly updating them as new acquisitions occurred. These
maps highlighted the distribution of open space throughout the Town and illustrated the various
categories, including Park Districts, Town-managed lands, and remaining properties eligible for
tax incentive programs.
The Town, in implementing future strategies, focuses on reducing liability associated with Park
Districts, as they often cause confusion about public access and responsibility for maintenance.
Strategies include rebranding Districts, clarifying use restrictions, and exploring tree preservation
programs under Tree City USA, which involve regulatory reviews for tree removal, replanting
initiatives, and official recognition.
The Town also continues to examine regulatory tools to preserve green space. Efforts include
updating Environmental Protection Overlay Districts (EPODs) to reflect current land conditions,
correct anomalies in outdated maps, and strengthen tree and habitat preservation standards.
Additionally, planning processes are analyzed to incorporate green space requirements into new
subdivisions without necessarily transferring ownership to the Town. This includes restricting
certain areas of private lots to preserve trees and natural features while allowing homeowners to
maintain functional backyard space. The Town also reviews outdated codes regarding lot
coverage and off-street parking, which currently only account for building footprints and often
require excessive parking for developments. Modernizing these standards is seen as an essential
tool for increasing green space protection and ensuring that development projects align with
sustainable land use practices.
Finally, the Town considers revisiting Townwide referendums as a means to fund future open
space acquisitions at taxpayers’ expense. These strategies, combined with ongoing grants,
donations, regulatory updates and careful planning, reflect a comprehensive and evolving
approach to land conservation. The Town’s efforts emphasize balancing development with
environmental protection, community amenities and long-term sustainability. By strategically
acquiring land, updating regulations and supporting neighborhood-based park systems, the Town
maintains its commitment to preserving open spaces and enhancing the quality of life for
residents.
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Josh Artuso discussed the status of the Town’s EPOD maps, noting that they were still in draft
form and required additional quality checks before being presented to the Board. He explained
that public feedback would be sought through a Public Hearing or community meeting before
any formal decisions were made. Board members expressed support for moving forward with the
updates.
Concerns arose regarding recent instances of unauthorized clear-cutting. Board members asked
whether automatic penalties could be incorporated into the code. Josh acknowledged that current
regulations lack enforcement mechanisms but said the Town was researching options to address
such violations in the future. Board members emphasized that without enforcement, such
incidents were likely to recur, highlighting the need for stronger, proactive Code provisions.
Councilwoman Wright suggested that, rather than spending funds on potentially obsolete
projects, future budgets could prioritize purchasing and preserving open space for the next
generation. Councilwoman Wright reflected on the complexities of Park Districts, noting that
many residents are unaware they live in one. Clear communication, proper codes, and
enforcement would be essential if land rights were ever returned to property owners to prevent
misuse, such as unauthorized tree removal or expansion.
The Board also discussed the history and function of Park Districts. Josh highlighted that some
neighborhoods actively manage and improve Park District land, while many residents remain
unaware of its existence. Board members noted the importance of rebranding Park Districts to
clarify that they are for the exclusive use of neighborhood residents who pay for maintenance
through special taxes, rather than public parks.
Finally, the conversation turned to strategies for preserving green space while minimizing
liability for the Town and taxpayers. Board members stressed that accepting developer-donated
land as part of clustering projects can create long-term liabilities. Josh and others emphasized
exploring conservation easements and other creative solutions to protect open space without
placing financial or legal burdens on the Town. The discussion concluded with the Board
reflecting on past challenges, such as ash tree removal costs, and emphasizing the importance of
thoughtful planning and communication for future open space preservation.
***
There being no further business to come before the Board, the meeting was adjourned at
7:31 p.m.
____________________________________
Danene M. Marr, Town Clerk
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