The Town of Montgomery Historic Preservation Commission will hold a public hearing for the demolition of the Milliken Farmhouse, located at 18 Coleman Road.                                                                                                                                                             

The demolition request was placed by Church Communities of New York, Inc., also known as the Bruderhof community. The community wants to make the land into open space.                                                                                                                             

The Bruderhof community applied for a permit to raze a portion of the house in 2006, just before it was added to the local historic register because of the notable families that lived there. The demolition permit was denied because the house is on the historical register.                                                                                       

If the Bruderhof are denied their request, they may appeal the commission’s decision to the town board.                                                                                                             

Commission member Mary Ellen Matise said this is the first demolition request the commission has received since its creation, and the commission’s decision will set a precedent for future cases.                                                                         

“This decision will define the law,” Matise said.                                                                     

The commission will also discuss the potential impacts on historic sites for Medline, Project Sailfish, Matrix Solar and Campbell Freightliner.

The meeting is on March 28 at 7 p.m., at town hall, 110 Bracken Road.