ACCORD >> The town of Rochester Planning Board could decide next month whether to approve the application by Crested Hen Farms to conduct barn weddings and other gatherings on the 32-acre property.
The project is to be discussed during a meeting of the board at 7 p.m. Dec. 14 in the town community center on Tobacco Road.
In their application for a special-use permit to hold events at 607 county Route 6, Crested Hen owners Frank Macagone and Keith Eddleman state they would rent out their 2,600-square-foot barn about 12 times per year.
The Planing Board approved the proposal’s environmental review last month but delayed further action.
“All were waiting for now is the vote,” Macagone said.
Earlier this year, the Planning Board asked for site plan revisions that would improve the access road and required that the owners receive certification that fire codes have been met.
“We’re going to put in an access road based upon the engineers recommendation, and I think the town inspector is going to be involved in that,” Macagone said.
Events in the barn would be limited to 100 people and would not run past 11 p.m., Macagone said. He also said events would not be loud enough to be heard by neighbors.
Macagone and Eddleman purchased the property in 2001 and estimate they’ve spent about $150,000 to restore the barn, which dates to the early 1800s.
The proposal for events in the barn has drawn criticism from the group Save Alligerville, which includes people who live near the property. Macagone said efforts will be made to show the events will not impact the quality of life for neighbors.
“Hopefully when we start having some weddings here, they’re going to see that it’s going to have little to no impact on them,” he said. “In fact, I think it’s going to be good for the area given the way the economy is.”
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Related content
“Town of Rochester seeks revisions to Crested Hen Farms barn weddings proposal,” Sept. 15, 2015
“Town of Rochester barn wedding application drawing objections,” July 18, 2015
