Planning board wants a noise study done for Milk Factory project

By Nadine Cafaro
Posted 4/19/23

It seems like every local has heard of the old Borden condensed milk factory rehabilitation on Route 208 into a boutique hotel and spa, but they might not know that it’s right next door to a …

This item is available in full to subscribers.

Please log in to continue

Log in

Planning board wants a noise study done for Milk Factory project

Posted

It seems like every local has heard of the old Borden condensed milk factory rehabilitation on Route 208 into a boutique hotel and spa, but they might not know that it’s right next door to a local ashram that relies on quiet.

Back in February, Attorney John Cappello of J&G Law spoke on behalf of Shanti Mandir, an ashram in Walden that provides spiritual practices including family retreats, Hatha Yoga classes, monthly meditation retreats, music concerts and Meditation Intensives. They declared support for the Milk Factory project at a hearing, but stated concerns about noise that could occur in a proposed outdoor event tent.

There have been numerous public hearings since for the proposed project, and the noise concerns have come up at almost all of them.

At a Town of Montgomery Planning Board meeting on March 27, Engineer Larry Marshall represented the Milk Factory project, stating that they moved the event tent to accommodate Shanti Mandir. “Previously that was located considerably further back about 120 feet further to the East than where we show it currently on this plan. The main reason why was because of the concerns that were expressed from Shanti Mandir. So, we moved it forward and sunk it down into the ground a little bit more,” said Marshall.

Planning Board Chairman Fred Reichle read a letter from Shanti Mandir’s Attorney, Larry Wolinsky, at the same meeting. This letter reiterated that the planning board should consider the noise to be an environmental concern for the religious practices of Shanti Mandir and that a noise assessment must be done to mitigate this.

“If it is the Milk Factory’s current position that there will be no adverse noise impact on Shanti Mandir then it must demonstrate that by the conduct of a noise assessment/impact study prepared by a professional acoustic engineer,” wrote Wolinsky.

Attorney Charlie Bazydlo represented the Milk Factory along with the project’s associate developer, Noah Bobrowsky, at a meeting last week.

When the planning board reiterated they’d like a noise assessment to be done which other venues in the area have completed, Bazydlo asked them to consider the expenses of the study.

“They’re not cheap. They are several thousands of dollars to accomplish and it takes time to do. I understand the board’s concern about other venue locations that might have been near residential developments and I don’t think this is really the same situation and we’ve built in mitigation already,” said Bazydlo.

Bobrowsky added to this, saying that both properties need to communicate.

“There has to be some respect to both what their interests are and what our interests are on using the space, [and] how we intend to use it as a private property and venue. I think we expressed very clearly it’s really about communication between the two groups,” said Bobrowsky.

Reichle responded. “Well, unfortunately you’re proposing an outside wedding venue where there isn’t one now.”

It was the board’s final advice to conduct a noise assessment and perhaps maintain a sound meter on site.

When reaching out to Bobrowsky for further comment on their next steps, he simply stated, “We are currently working towards final approvals with the planning board and hope to wrap this process up as soon as possible.”

A representative of Shanti Mandir did not respond for comment.

The next hearing for the Milk Factory will be on May 8.