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'New' Copake ZBA approves ski resort plan
Nov 26, 2014 5:00 am
[caption id="" align="alignleft" width="287"]
The proposed Berkshire Mountain Club.
(Courtesy berkshiremtnclub.com)[/caption]
John Mason is reporting in the Register Star the newly constituted Copake Zoning Board of Appeals Thurs., Nov. 20, approved the 150-unit Berkshire Mountain Club resort hotel proposal. The vote was 3 to 2. Newly appointed ZBA member, Jeffrey Judd of Copake Lake, cast the deciding vote. The ZBA was the final approval the project needed. Developer Harry Freeman said work is set to begin. However, Andy Gilchrist, attorney for the owners of Swiss Hutte, a hotel adjacent to Catamount, called the ZBA’s action illegal. He called the decision an action that “can only expose the town of Copake to litigation risk and expenses which were totally unnecessary.” Freeman said the first phase of the project will cost close to $30 million. That phase includes the construction of 66 residential hotel units, a lounge, restaurant facilities, a spa fitness club, a meeting space and an indoor-outdoor pool. Freeman said the resort will quickly become the biggest taxpayer in town, estimating $500,000 in taxes will be collected during the first phase. When all three phases are completed, Freeman said the total would go up to $1 million. Read the full story in the Register Star.
The proposed Berkshire Mountain Club.(Courtesy berkshiremtnclub.com)[/caption]
John Mason is reporting in the Register Star the newly constituted Copake Zoning Board of Appeals Thurs., Nov. 20, approved the 150-unit Berkshire Mountain Club resort hotel proposal. The vote was 3 to 2. Newly appointed ZBA member, Jeffrey Judd of Copake Lake, cast the deciding vote. The ZBA was the final approval the project needed. Developer Harry Freeman said work is set to begin. However, Andy Gilchrist, attorney for the owners of Swiss Hutte, a hotel adjacent to Catamount, called the ZBA’s action illegal. He called the decision an action that “can only expose the town of Copake to litigation risk and expenses which were totally unnecessary.” Freeman said the first phase of the project will cost close to $30 million. That phase includes the construction of 66 residential hotel units, a lounge, restaurant facilities, a spa fitness club, a meeting space and an indoor-outdoor pool. Freeman said the resort will quickly become the biggest taxpayer in town, estimating $500,000 in taxes will be collected during the first phase. When all three phases are completed, Freeman said the total would go up to $1 million. Read the full story in the Register Star.