That was one of the provisions drawn up by the citizens and officials who compiled Fallsburg’s new comprehensive plan. Approved by the Fallsburg Town Board, the plan doesn’t go into effect until Jan. 1, and the board still has to revise the zoning laws.

Meanwhile, proposals have poured in from developers eager to beat the bungalow deadline: 46 new bungalows on Murphy Road in Fallsburg; 73 more bungalows on Heiden Road in South Fallsburg; 93 bungalows for the old Lakehouse Hotel near Woodridge. At the old Rosemond Campground near Woodridge, 29 bungalows are under construction, and the developers have asked to build a total of 177.

“The people are seeing that the end of the road is coming,” said Ron Hiatt, lawyer for the Fallsburg Planning Board. “So we’re seeing this rush to get them (proposals) in while they still can.”

The Planning Board’s not thrilled, but the members still have to follow the existing laws, said assistant chairman Ira Steingart. “Basically, until they change it, there’s nothing we can do,” he said.

Jacob Billig, a lawyer who represents developers in several of the new bungalow proposals, said the town may be shooting itself in the foot with a ban that targets seasonal residents.

“That population provides a cash-positive benefit to the town,” he said. “They’re only in the area for two months out of the year. They’re paying taxes “¦ . They don’t really put any burden on police, on fire. They pay for their sewer. They don’t put their kids in the school system.”

Bungalows, however, are no longer out of use for three seasons. They have to be built for year-round use. Fallsburg defines them as one-story, at least 600 square feet, meant for seasonal rental use and built in groups of three or more on a property.

The comprehensive plan committee recommended banning new bungalows in part because of the potential to be converted for year-round homes.

Kim Sutton, a Planning Board member who was chairwoman of the Comprehensive Plan Committee, said that the plan now is for the committee and the various boards to get together and hash out the zoning issues and the legalities. They’ll meet on Monday.

ROL