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Neighbors resist brewery plan
Daniel Zuckerman is reporting for Columbia-Greene Media a proposal to build a brewing facility in Lexington has been met with resistance from town residents. Many of those concerns, about the potential for increased traffic and disruption to the quality of life, were brought to the Lexington Planning Board Tue., Jul. 11. Greenport Beer & Ale Co. founder Ed Raven wants to build a 9,000-square-foot single story barn and brewing facility with an area for dining and an outdoor biergarden on property he owns at 106 Spruceton Road in West Kill. The proposal is still preliminary. “There’s a lot of issues we have to address before we break ground,” Raven said Tuesday. “The emphasis of this location is not to be a big retail outlet.” “He could present us with something half as big or twice as big,” planning board member Jennifer Caewin said. “He’s got freedom and rights to do anything that he wants.” Planning Board Chairman Robert Hermance has asked that all comments on the proposal be submitted to the board in writing. He said the response so far is "getting a little out of hand." Lori Decker-McKusick, who lives across the street from the proposed brewery, said she felt the board made it "very clear" it did not want to hear residents' concerns. Hermance said the planning board will take all written comments into consideration. “I think people were reacting from their heart and their guts and I do the same,” planning board member Beverly Dezan said. “Change has to be really scary for everyone.” Read the full story at HudsonValley360 [dot] com.