FLEMING -- The Fleming Town Council placed a six-month stop on mult-unit development in the lakeshore district after listening to various opinions on the moratorium Monday night.

About two dozen residents showed up for a public hearing on the law supporters say will help the town better protect weed-laden Owasco Lake. The board passed the measure 4-1 with Town Supervisor James Young casting the lone no vote.

He reiterated his belief that the state Environmental Quality Review process and zoning requirements already protect the lake. Councilman John Sroka, who proposed the moratorium, countered that the overseeing state Department of Environmental Conservation does not always act in the lake's best interest.

"That's the same agency that said Groton can dump phosphorous into the lake," he said. "So, so much for the SEQR process.

"As a town we need to be vigilant," Sroka said.

The moratorium was introduced on the heels of two lakeside developments proposed by Thomas and Christine Izzo. The board denied preliminary approval for Mallards Crossing, a 23-unit townhouse development, last month while the 28-home Lakewood Landing subdivision is still under town planning board consideration.

For more, read Tuesday's Citizen