Winston Farm updated plan calls for 799 housing units, commercial space in Woodstock ’94 site in Saugerties
A section of the Winston Farm in Saugerties, N.Y., is shown in July 2014. (Tania Barricklo/Daily Freeman file)
By WILLIAM KEMBLEWILLIAM J. KEMBLE | news@comnews@freemanonline.com
UPDATED: August 15, 2024 at 6:02 p.m.
SAUGERTIES, N.Y. — As Winston Farm developers detailed their plans for an 840-acre residential neighborhood with hundreds of housing units along with with a commercial center during a Town Board meeting on Wednesday, opponents of the project also voiced their objections.
A draft environmental generic impact statement provided updated information about the development, which was discussed during a Town Board meeting on Wednesday. The plan showed an 840-acre project area along state Route 32 that would combine commercial, retail and residential development with quick access to the state Thruway.
“The sponsor’s preferred plan will create 799 housing units (from) a mix of townhouses, apartments, hotels, conference centers, cabins, and other residential uses,” wrote developers, who anticipate the buildout would result in 1,746 new residents.
Project engineer Chris LaPorta told an audience of about 35 people that changes made to aspirations for the site attempt to recognize concerns that have been raised at several meetings since draft plans were issued in September 2021.
“There is a commitment to … open space,” he said. “We’re trying to preserve a isa substantial amount of the property in its natural undeveloped state. This is accomplished by…open recreation and buffers.”
Plans also include developing 250,000 square feet of commercial space, a 150-room boutique hotel, a conference center with 250 hotel rooms, an enclosed performance venue with 5,000 seats, a 250,000-square-foot laboratory or light-industrial building, and a campground with 100 cabins.
Developers in the impact statement emphasize that they consider the proposed project to “align” with the joint town and village comprehensive plan.
“The goals and objectives of the Winston Farm (Planned Development District) is in conformance with the following recommendations…(to) create an businesses economic development plan to proactively attract small-scale businesses and other uses that serve local needs and maintain Saugerties small-town character,” character,” they wrote.
Comments from several speakers were largely in opposition to the project as a risk in a sensitive environmental area and would be a significant change to to an esthetically pleasing gateway to the town.
“The historic Winston Farm is much more than a site for developers to exploit for profit,” said Catskill Mountainkeeper project manager Kate Hagerman.
“Given this large-scale development would be built on the headlands of (a) 7,000-acre aquifer,…the town (should) adhere to the Winston Farm High Technology Feasibility Study and Master Plan which calls for leaving 73% of the open space undeveloped,” she said. “The ecosystems that are currently intact … are hard to quantify in dollars and cents, yet they translate into clean water quality and natural landscapes that we all enjoy, as well as habitats for rare, threatened, and endangered species. All of which will be lost if this project as it was presented tonight without careful and clear-sighted review.”
Village resident Sarah Lesher said there needs to be an analysis done of what what will be lost if the project is allowed to move forward.
“I also share the concerns that several people have had of losing a sacred place place and not being able to get it back,” she said.
Resident Lauren Ruberg was the lone speaker in favor of the project and said having developers who are longtime town residents should provide a sense sense of comfort that the site would be protected.
“They are not just local people,” she said. “We’re talking about generations. We have their parents (who) are here, they’re here, their children are here, their grandchildren are here. They are providing various services already to our community (through) businesses that are giving jobs to people in our community.”
The site was purchased for $4 million on July 10, 2020, by Anthony Montano, John Mullen and Randy Richers. Montano owns A. Montano Equipment Co. on state Route 212 and Montano Shoe Store on Partition Street, Mullen owns the J. Mullen and Sons contracting company, and Richers has New York Drilling Drilling Service on state Route 32.
