Several months ago, associates with the Milk Factory project presented a noise study to the Town of Montgomery Planning Board after they had been advised to do so. When the results weren’t completely assuring to Shanti Mandir, a neighboring ashram, the developers had another one done. Shanti Mandir still isn’t convinced they won’t be disturbed.

The Milk Factory is a project aimed to rehabilitate the old Borden condensed milk factory on Route 208 into a boutique hotel and spa. Part of that project is an outdoor event tent, which aims to serve as an option for guests who don’t wish to have their event inside.

While the project is well supported by the local community, and even Shanti Mandir, who have stated their support for the project, the ashram fears loud noise coming from the event tent. Shanti Mandir is a quiet ashram located next to the project’s location that offers spiritual practices including meditation retreats, Hatha Yoga and more.

In May, Shanti Mandir’s attorney Larry Wolinsky sent a letter in response to the first noise study done. Then, at the May 8 planning board meeting, he stated “The noise study concluded that the noise level increases at the property line of Shanti Mandir.”

The project’s Associate Developer, Noah Bobrowsky, has been in front of the planning board multiple times, and at the June 12 planning board meeting, he alerted them that they performed a second study.

“In reading the reply from Shanti Mandir, we’ve put forth a really good faith effort. We’ve done two tests, two studies,” said Bobrowsky. “We truly have nothing to hide. We did one with a DJ, we did one with a live band, and we’ve expended a really good amount of company resources to conduct these tests–about one full day, almost each test was three to four hours.”

Wolinsky was also present at the June meeting, even bringing a representative from Shanti Mandir who was there for the noise studies. The representative stated that they could hear loud music from multiple locations, as well as feel the vibrations from the drumming. They also stated another visitor made a comment about the noise without knowing what was going on.

“We do appreciate that Noah and his team have undertaken a second study. We still have questions about it that we’ve raised, and I’m sure the board will approve or undertake whatever due diligence it needs to undertake to get to a resolution of that,” said Wolinksy.

However, Wolinksy noted one other thing that was mentioned in Shanti Mandir’s response to the second sound study: use of the tent.

“I went back and looked at the town code and the definition of ‘hotel’ in the town code, because it was my understanding that this is being permitted in the zoning district in which it is located under the ‘hotel use’ classification. If that’s the case, I’m having difficulty seeing how this particular tent venue, which we don’t really know a whole lot about in terms of its operational characteristics, at least at this point, is in fact a permitted use,” said Wolinsky.

Bobrowsky responded to this.

“Our main business is the hotel, and within that, as Larry said, we’re allowed to have accessory components that support the overall function of that hotel. Now, our primary event space and venue is well within the properties and the confines of the existing buildings. The outdoor tent, as we’ve said since the beginning, is merely an option. It’s an option to have an outdoor wedding. It’s an option to have an outdoor gathering if that’s desired by the client. It’s not the primary means of gathering for the property,” Bobrowsky stated.

He also responded to the noise concerns.

“If you look at our second study, we don’t exceed the three dB limit that the New York State DEC code referenced,” said Bobrowsky.

It was also recommended to Bobrowsky that he and others look into the Town of Montgomery’s newly instated noise ordinance local law to make sure they are following that.

The planning board will reconvene with developers from the Milk Factory Project on Monday, July 10.