CHERRY VALLEY - It looks like there will be fireworks in Cherry Valley this July after all.

During a charged, overflowing meeting last Thursday, the Cherry Valley town board voted unanimously to hold a special meeting and public hearing on a 12-month moratorium on major development Monday, July 31 at 6 p.m.

"We're going to start it at six and run it until midnight if we have to," said town supervisor Tom Garretson in anticipation of the large turnout.

At the July 13 meeting, approximately 150 people showed up, many apparently thinking that the board was planning to decide that night on the planning board's request for a moratorium. The office was crammed full of attendees by 6:40 p.m. and those who arrived too late for a seat stood in open doorways or peered in through windows to watch the proceedings.

The board's agenda however, made it clear that in the interest of maintaining order, public comment on the moratorium would have to wait until the hearing.

"It is the decision of the board to limit the public's role this evening to attendance only. We will not entertain any questions or comments. Thank you," read Garretson from a notice at the top of the agenda.

The board then conducted its regular business, after which they approved two motions to schedule the hearing and the special meeting. Garretson then read a prepared statement setting up the guidelines for the hearing, which will take place in the town garage bay instead of the meeting room.

• Every member of the public will be allowed a single two-minute period to go on record stating their position as for or against the proposed local law.

• The board will not be addressing or responding to any questions or comments from the public.

• Cherry Valley residents will speak first, followed by people speaking in the stead of residents, followed by non-residents.

• Any questions about the law should be addressed to Garretson prior to the meeting by calling 264-9045.

• Copies of the law (Local Law No. 1 2006-2007 Development Moratorium Law) are available for review by contacting town clerk Mary Beth Flint at 264-3986 (press * 2 when leaving messages).

According to an informational guide about the law sent out Monday, the moratorium would be on all projects requiring Type 1 State Environmental Quality Review Act (SEQR) approval. It would not halt local residential construction and "is not a proposal against the wind turbine project."

The guide said the planning board is asking for the moratorium for three reasons:

• To develop a Wind Energy Dvelopment Local Law so that major wind energy developers know the wind development laws of the town as well as the town's expectations;

• To allow the comprehensive planning committee sufficient time to complete the town comprehensive/master plan that is in progress;

• To allow the town planning board the sufficient time to revise current land use regulations on major subdivisions/developments and to create new land use regulations.

Garretson said Tuesday it was too early to tell if the town board would make a decision on the moratorium immediately after the public hearing.

At a planning board meeting Tuesday night, chairman Jeffrey Wait said Reunion's project would be halted if the moratorium was approved. Since a "significant investment" - defined simply by the state as shovel hitting dirt - had not been made before the moratorium's proposal, it would not be grandfathered in, Wait said.

At the meeting last Thursday, a large group of pro-wind supporters stood outside throughout the meeting displaying signs that argued against a moratorium and expressed support for Reunion's proposed 24-turbine wind farm on East Hill. Most of the pro-wind supporters also wore stickers on their shirts which said the town needed a wind law, not a moratorium.

Advocates for Cherry Valley member Andy Minnig said attendees in favor of a moratorium did not display signs or hold a demonstration at the town board meeting because Garretson had asked Minnig earlier in the month not to do so in the interests of decorum and order.

"In that spirit, we gladly complied," he said.