Increasingly, environmental issues are becoming part of elections at all levels.

Penfield's a good example. The town is grappling with some major issues: loss of open space and habitat are big ones, so is construction in or near environmentally sensitive areas. So a citizens' group is trying to elevate those issues, and some others, in a local Town Board race.

Last night, Penfield Green Initiative held a forum for the two Town Board candidates, Republican Andy Moore and Democrat Lynne Crawford. The environment was the sole focus.

"We think it ought to be at the forefront of people's minds," says Georgena Terry, a founding member of Penfield Green Initiative.

One of the biggest controversies in Penfield over the last year has been the Linden Hills proposal, which originally included a multilevel parking garage and office building right next to Corbett's Glen. Residents from Penfield and Brighton vigorously opposed the project because of the dangers it proposed to the Glen. Recently, the developer withdrew the proposal, but the consensus is that a new project will be submitted.

The two candidates were asked about their thoughts on rezoning the land. Both said that the town should work proactively with the developer to shape any future project. Crawford said that she'd like to look into rezoning to protect the Glen. Moore said that change would be tricky.

"You can't just spot rezone," he said.

Penfield has a number of wetlands tucked away throughout the town, but unless they are larger than 12 acres, they don't meet the state and federal threshold for protection. The issue of wetlands preservation stumped the two candidates, both of whom said that there's a need to balance the environment with property owners' rights.

"I don't know what I'd do because I don't know enough about the issue," Crawford said.

On open-space preservation, particularly in East Penfield, both candidates favor the use of zoning and easement incentives.

The forum served as a good way to get residents and elected officials to start thinking about environmental issues as political policy, Terry said. While town residents and officials are still addressing the matters on a superficial level, she said, it is a start.