Food for thought

This opinion appeared in the Townsman, May 29 2008 edition

I was speaking with a woman who I like and for whom I have a lot of respect who is involved with the "Farm Festival." She is somewhat taken aback by what she perceives to be undue resistance and objection on the part of some to the festival. After a superficial chat we left off with the oft-heard and oft-said observation that getting anything to happen in Woodstock is a battle. As I walked home I did have more thoughts about it, which I share with you.

The scheme was originally proposed as a "farmers market." Who could object to a few vans showing up to sell tomatoes for four hours and then packing up and going back to their little green patches? Not me, and I’m sure not you. We were all gulled into silence and acquiescence by the prospect of nice farmer selling us nice people nice fresh vegetables. There was something very sweet and nice about it.

But then as the proposal advanced it turned into a "Farm Festival," sponsored by the Woodstock Chamber of Commerce and Arts, (COCA). The Farm Festival will not only have approximately fifteen produce venders in the Houst parking lot, it will also host three outdoor restaurants, children’s entertainments, "amplified" acoustic music and other attractions on Mower’s Field from the hours of 4:00 to 8:00 PM on each Wednesday from May 28 to September 24. Maple Lane, a very quiet street, which nestles several residences, will be closed from 2:00 to 10:00 pm so that the trucks and barriers can settle in and then shuttle off when the day is done. There is no assurance the venders in Houst’s parking lot will only sell produce.

The ZBA, under enormous pressure from people who should know better, is giving Ned Houst a variance from the zoning law, which will make Festival Inc. possible.

For reasons that baffle some Town officials concerned with planning, Festival Inc has never been submitted for site plan approval.

Tax money will support Festival Inc by paying for an extra police officer to monitor the intersection of Maple Lane and Mill Hill Road for eight hours per event. Tax money will be used to pick up the garbage. The Town will loan to Festival Inc highway department barriers to close Maple Lane and the Houst parking lot. All this in spite of the fact that Festival Inc is funded by a $46,000 grant and has paid personnel.

Now that the precedent has been set, what is to prevent taxpayer supported “festivals” from popping up by you? This whole event seems to have landed on the residents of Maple Lane like a meteor.

So am I against it? No. I like fresh vegetables, and I like some of the sincere people who are involved with Festival Inc. I agree with Festival Inc representatives when they say it is extremely unlikely that death and mayhem will ensue from closing Maple Lane and blocking off the Maple Lane egress from the Tannery Brook parking lot. I think it is likely that lots of people will have a very nice time lolling about Mower’s Field, no longer just a weekend flea market, sampling condiments and taking in “amplified” acoustic music. Perhaps I will be among them. We may enjoy it so much that Festival Inc will happen more often. Twice a week. Three times.

No planning. No review.

I’m not resisting or objecting. I’m wondering – maybe you are too – what is the magic word that makes the Town suspend its usual regulation, open its coffers and close roads for a commercial entity?