Proposed zoning would amend uses for Garrison site
The Philipstown Town Board has scheduled a public hearing for Jan. 10 to hear feedback on a proposed local law to amend zoning for the Hudson Valley Shakespeare Festival’s property at the former Garrison Golf Course.
The law would amend a special 230-acre zone approved in 2005 by removing the now-closed golf course and a spa from the list of permitted uses and adding the open-air theater, concessions, artist and guest lodging and other amenities the theater company is planning to construct on the Route 9 property.
The proposed zone would also shrink from 230 acres to the 98 acres that philanthropist Chris Davis donated to the HVSF.
This proposed town law seems to be a layup and a gift from the Philipstown Town Board to the Hudson Valley Shakespeare Festival.
There is a lack of clarity regarding the amount of artist and guest “tiny home” lodging (up to 3 bedroom and 1000s feet), amounts of parking spaces and locations, and actual usages of the proposed new district (Garrison Cultural Conservation Planned Development District).
I wrote a few years back that this project could easily become a Caramoor in our Garrison backyards, and had a lot of pushback. Well, Garrison neighbors will be a “special permit” step away from having a potential anything happening to disrupt our lives.
I have said it before, both here and at the Planning Board meetings, that a new neighbor should have to adapt to the neighborhood and not the other way around.
On top of this, it’s going to cost Garrison neighbors money to support the “nonprofit” side of this development — mostly no money for the school and services which have to be made up somewhere (us). No shared sales tax. No local catering (in house).
How about the 15 years of permitted construction with an extra five years permitting?
I’d love to know who wrote this proposed law that will possibly/probably alter Garrison forever. I’m not writing that I’m against the HVSF being our new neighbor. What I’m writing is that this plan is completely over the top. I’m counting on the Town Board to bring this proposed district down to size and have some better protections for our community. We could end up with something that completely overwhelms us if the Town Board doesn’t have our backs.