ACCORD – Westwind Orchard's Fabio Chizzola and Lowell Deutschlander appeared once more for an ongoing public hearing on their application for a 4,500 square foot barn-like structure in which they intend to ferment hard cider and offer tastings and sales of same. The board's discussions centered on potential traffic issues of Lower Whitfield Road, which is quite narrow in the stretch where the orchard sits, as board chair Michael Baden made it clear that a crosswalk would not be an option. Instead road signs warning motorists that people may be crossing the road by the cidery and orchard complex may be suggested to the town.

Chizzola said that two signs "wouldn't hurt." The issues arise because the orchard, which is a "U-pick" destination for apple lovers, is on one side of the road and the farm shop and cidery are on the other. At busy times on weekends, people will be going back and forth. Chizzola has already said he plans to put up signs on his own property warning those crossing the road about the traffic.

However, as others have pointed out, the traffic is not heavy — yet — on Lower Whitfield Road.

When the public hearing was opened, a member of the public and a neighbor of the orchard spoke at some length about tax issues. Baden explained that the planning board only considers zoning and access to property issues and has no power concerning taxation. He then suggested that the neighbor discuss his issues with the town assessor.

Responding to a complaint about increased traffic, Chizzola noted that his U-Pick business already brought in a number of cars every weekend.

A question about water use brought the explanation that the cidery will only use water to wash equipment and the floors, and all the water for the cidery will come from a well on the property.

One neighbor, whose house is set behind the cidery property, asked if the structure could be built elsewhere since it was going to ruin his view towards the Catskills. Chizzola's plan is to have the cidery close to the existing orchard shop.

Another neighbor rose to say the road is too narrow and should be widened. He was directed to the town board with that suggestion, but warned that such a project would be very expensive.

To balance these neighbors' complaints, Baden read a letter from Blake Arrowood, who operates a farm brewery a little distance up Lower Whitfield Road. Arrowood said he was very much in favor of the Westwind Orchard cidery.

Baden concluded by noting that the property lies in a state-delineated Agricultural District and that a cidery naturally follows on from what an orchard produces. He made the point that such projects are privileged by the state Ag & Markets department, as well as executive mandates, and accompanying laws. If there was no public access to the cidery building, he added, the planning board wouldn't even be reviewing the proposal.

The public hearing will continue to the November 14th meeting.