County Planning Board Recommends Approval Of New Wedding Venue

SCHOHARIE COUNTY — A new wedding venue for Schoharie County is a step closer to reality after the county Planning Commission recommended approval at its Monday, June 2 meeting.

The site for weddings and private parties is at the 31.6-acre Red Fox Stable property on Terrance Mountain Road in the Town of Schoharie. Already operating at the site have been an AirBNB that hosts yoga classes and other events and also horse stables. The new use will involve erecting tents for the weddings/wedding receptions and other events and bringing in caterers to provide food and drink.

Attorney Joanne Darcy Crum said the Town of Schoharie Planning Board has held a public hearing on the matter but does not plan to make a decision until next month's meeting. She is representing Sergio Agme, a member of the Board of Directors of the company that owns the property.

Monday's action by the county Planning Commission came after it had judged the application incomplete at last month's meeting because of uneasiness and uncertainty about whether operations already going on at the site complied with all applicable rules and regulations. It was reported by a Planning Commission member at Monday's meeting that he had talked with Agme and checked into things and that current operations comply with health regulations. The septic system at the site does need to be upgraded, the PC member added.

In another action from the Monday meeting, the Planning Commission also recommended approval of a new business on Clauverwie Road in the Town of Middleburgh that will sell mulch, stone, sand and other landscaping supplies.

The business called Scenic View Supply will be owned by William Adams and Fred and Vicki Echtner, who all attended Monday's meeting and made their case for the new venture. 

"We wanted to provide a place a little more local to get these kinds of supplies rather than having to go into Cobleskill or Albany," Adams said.

Most of the discussion leading up to the vote was about the location of parts of the property within the 100-year flood plain and some concerns about that. The Little Schoharie Creek runs through a portion of the parcel.

"My recommendation would be to store materials in a part of the property out of the flood plain, or store them in something that is easily movable in case a flood is coming," said County Planner Zachary Thompson.

Members of the Planning Commission seemed satisfied when the owners assured them that materials could be easily moved with a loader or other means in the event of flooding. The owners added that the new business will not involve construction of new structures and all materials will be stored outside. The matter also needs approval from the Town of Middleburgh Planning Board in order to move forward.