The Wallkill Town Board, on Thursday, succumbed to lobbying efforts by a developer/major taxpayer and potentially opened up the town to massive high-density housing.

Without an actual project before it, the board by a 4-1 vote (third ward councilman Neil Meyer thankfully dissenting), allowed the town’s future to be compromised based on the mistaken notion that, according to Supervisor DenDanto, “The Town of Wallkill is in play.”

Thursday’s action was taken in an empty room (due to virus restrictions). The agenda, which only listed the zoning action for discussion, was amended during the meeting to permit a pre written resolution to be added for a vote.

This action came after two public hearings at which not one single speaker endorsed the changes to the town’s overlay zoning district and despite pleas to study high density housing in town center and other zoning districts by a master plan committee.

In effect, the board’s misguided majority succumbed to lobbying pressure from a developer and subsequently put the town’s future in jeopardy.

Wallkill is indeed “in play.”

The question is who dictates the rules of the game?