Public Hearing Tonight in Stuyvesant

Gossips is pretty singularly devoted to what's happening in Hudson, but from time to time something outside our fair city merits attention. This is one of those times.

At 7:00 p.m. tonight, Wednesday, August 31, there is a public hearing on a project being proposed for a family farm on Sharptown Road in Stuyvesant. The proposal involves constructing, on 58 acres of what is now farmland and open space, twenty "agro-tourism cabins," a guest house, a distillery and a store, and nearly ninety parking spaces for visitors and guests. 

Those proposing the project maintain that this is an example of agritourism, an increasingly popular industry meant to attract visitors to agricultural operations for recreation, entertainment, and educational experiences, while generating income to support the high cost of farming. Farmers, the applicants argue, cannot profit from agriculture alone and are encouraged by NYS Department of Agriculture & Markets to seek ancillary businesses to support agriculture. Opponents of the project argue that what is being proposed is primarily a commercial lodging development, which is prohibited by the town's zoning code, and agriculture is only a minor component of the plan. They maintain that the project will completely reshape and alter the existing agricultural and open space character of the 58 acres. 

There are some familiar names associated with this project. Pat Prendergast, best known to Hudsonians as the engineer for A. Colarusso & Sons, is the engineer for this project, and Walter Chatham, who is the architect for several Galvan projects here in Hudson, is the architect.

Tonight's public hearing, which is before the Zoning Board of Appeals, takes place at Stuyvesant Town Hall, 5 Sunset Drive in Stuyvesant. You can access the meeting remotely by clicking here.

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