The New Windsor Town Board voted and approved during their meeting on October 5 to amend a local law to change permitted usage in the town’s residential zone to allow the entity known as Blooming Hill Farms to proceed with their proposed farm to table business project.

Back in June, an informal public hearing was held at the town hall with over 100 residents in attendance to learn more about the farm to table project. The Blooming Hill Farm looks to grow and continue serving their farm grown food and continue to host private and special events for residents

Blooming Hill Farm, currently located in Blooming Grove, is owned and operated by Guy Jones and his three sons, Austin, Travis and Skyler. The farm has operated in Blooming Grove since it was first founded in 1982 and continues to grow and sell produce to the public and offer a farm to table restaurant along with entertainment venues.

The Jones family had been in conversation with Robert Minard, who was reported to have owned the 187 acre apple orchard property that the family looks to continue to operate on. The land had several offers made on it but Minard favored the Blooming Hill offer as their intent was to retain the land for agricultural usage. As a former apple orchard, several parts of the orchard had also been discussed in remaining in place.

Following the June meeting, Austin, Guy’s middle son, provided his contact information to residents should they have any questions or comments about the proposed project for the town. Previous reports had mentioned the current property had been considered for another development project of cluster homes, and the main issue from the public during that meeting was the traffic concerns.

From the informal hearing, most comments from the town residents that night expressed their support for the new business project in the town, along with the New Windsor and Orange County Planning Boards, who shared their comments of support with the town board members.

With no comments from the public for a follow up public hearing on Wednesday night, the local law change now allows this project to move forward and can now begin conversations and work with the planning board, according to Town Supervisor George Meyers.

Blooming Hill Farm is currently located at 1251 State Route 208 in Blooming Grove. The farm can be contacted at 845-782-7310 and more information can be found at www.bloominghill.farm.