Initially posted August 28, 2024, with subsequent updates as indicated in the blue box comments.

 Project Background

Saugerties Farm, LLC is proposing to rezone the Winston Farm site, consisting of eleven parcels totaling 840+/- acres to facilitate the development of “a premier regional mixed-use destination venue for the Hudson Valley” permitting a range of potential uses including, but not limited to consumer service; office space; high-tech and research; makerspace and artisanal creative spaces; agri-manufacturing and research; hospitality; and indoor and outdoor entertainment and recreational opportunities as well as a mix of related uses.

On July 13, 2022, the Town Board, as Lead Agency under the State Environmental Quality Review Act, adopted a positive declaration, requiring that a Generic Environmental Impact Statement (GEIS) be prepared.  On August 17, 2022, the Town Board, as Lead Agency, accepted a Draft Scope for the GEIS and set a public hearing for September 21, 2022. Public and Agency comment was incorporated into the Final Scope. The Draft GEIS will address the topics outlined in the Final Scope.  The Draft GEIS has been deemed complete and the public comment period will be open until July 28th.

The timeline below illustrates where we are in the SEQR process using a bold circle outline.  Related documents can be found in the "Documents" section at the bottom of this page.

A detailed description of the SEQR process can be found here. 

Public Comment

The Draft Generic Environmental Impact Statement has been deemed complete by the Lead Agency.  Public hearings on the DGEIS will be held at the Frank D. Greco Memorial Senior Center, 207 Market Street, Saugerties, NY, 12477 at 6:00 PM on June 18 and July 16, 2025, during which public comments will be accepted.  Written comments on the DGEIS will be accepted until July 28, 2025 at 3:00 p.m.

To submit comments, you can email to mail them to winstonfarmcomments@saugertiesny.gov.
 
Or you can send them via U.S. mail: Saugerties Town Hall
                                                               c/o [Supervisor or Town Clerk]
                                                               4 High Street
                                                               Saugerties, NY  12477

Hard copies of the DGEIS are available for review at:

    Town of Saugerties Clerks Office - 4 High Street, Saugerties, NY 12477
    Saugerties Public Library – 91 Washington Ave, Saugerties, NY 12477

The DGEIS can also be downloaded below.  See the heading "DGEIS Public Review Documents".  The appendixes and completeness documents are available as well.  (Added May 21, 2025)

Glossary of Terms

• Lead Agency - The agency responsible for undertaking, funding, or approving an action, and is therefore responsible for coordinating the SEQR process.
• Positive Declaration - The written determination by the lead agency indicating that implementation of the action as proposed may have a significant adverse impact on the environment and that an environmental impact statement will be required.
• Generic Environmental Impact Statement (GEIS) - A generic EIS is broader and more general than a site-specific EIS and explores various alternatives to the proposed action. A GEIS should explore the environmental setting of the project site, constraints on development, and analyze hypothetical scenarios or alternatives for development under the proposed zoning.
• Scope -The scoping process identifies the potentially significant adverse impacts related to the proposed action that are to be addressed in the draft EIS including the content and level of detail of the analysis, the range of alternatives, the mitigation measures needed and the identification of irrelevant issues. A scope provides the project sponsor with a written outline of topics that must be considered in the EIS.
• Substantive Comment - Substantive comments relate to the impacts, alternatives or mitigations contained in the DGEIS, or raise important issues not previously addressed. General statements of objection or support are noted in the FGEIS summary but do not warrant a response.
• Findings Statement - A written statement prepared by the Lead Agency after the final GEIS has been filed, that considers the relevant environmental impacts presented in an EIS, weighs and balances them with social, economic and other essential considerations, provides a rationale for the agency's decision and certifies that the SEQR requirements have been met.
• State Environmental Quality Review (SEQR) Act.  The NY State SEQR Act requires all local, regional, and state government agencies to equally examine the environmental impacts along with the social and economic considerations for a certain project, or action, during their discretionary review.  Agencies must follow the multi-step SEQR Decision Process, which requires them to assess the environmental significance of all actions they have the power to approve, fund, or directly assume.  For more information, please visit the NY State SEQR webpage.

DGEIS Public Review Documents (posted 5/22/2025)

• Draft GEIS Document
   
• Draft GEIS Appendixes:
  Note: For Appendixes L and Q, the appendix is available both as the full appendix document, and as the individual files that make up each appendix (smaller files ... quicker download). 
   
  • Appendix A - Maps - Winston Farms Alternative 1 thru 4 - 2024-12-17
  • Appendix B - 2024-12-23 Winston Farms TIR
  • Appendix C1 - Winston Farm Completeness Responses Dec 18 2024
  • Appendix C2 - Winston Farm Well Pump Test Report FINAL Sept 2023
  • Appendix D1 - 0. Report FINAL - Economic and Fiscal Impact - Saugerties Farm
  • Appendix D2 - Economy Overview Ulster County NY - 11-09-2023 from NYS DOL
  • Appendix E - Winston Farm - Geotechnical Report
  • Appendix F1 - Soil Investigation 08-07-23
  • Appendix F2 - USDA Soil Report
  • Appendix G - Winston Farm Stormwater Management Report Compiled 2025-01-15
  • Appendix H1 - Winston Farm Wetland Delineation Report
  • Appendix H2 - Winston Farm Wetland Maps - Signed by NYSDEC
  • Appendix I - Winston Farm Biological Assessment
  • Appendix J - Winston Farm - Climate Change Analysis Report
  • Appendix K - Water-Sewer Engineers Report
  • Appendix L - Cultural Historic Documents
    • Appendix L1 - 1. Structural Inventory 01-07-23 SHPO 22PR08664
    • Appendix L2 - 1.1 Diamond to SHPO 03-14-2023
    • Appendix L3 - 2.1 SHPO - Phase 1A-1B Required 11-30-22
    • Appendix L4 - 2.2 Phase 1A Arch 05-30-23 SHPO 22PR08664
    • Appendix L5 - (JPG of Winston Farm Dam - See image at the bottom of this page)
    • Appendix L6 - 3. NY SHPO Historic-Cultural Resources - Additional Info Required - 4.11.2023
    • Appendix L7 - 4. Letter to NY SHPO to Defer Phase 1B 06-16-2
    • Appendix L8 - 5. NY SHPO Confirm Deferred Phase 1B 07-12-23
    • Appendix L9 - NY SHPO Initial Consultation Submission GYA8VKIIWVGK Accepted for Project 22PR08664
  • Appendix M - Winston - Visual Study Presentation V1.3 - 2024-07-12
  • Appendix N - Winston Farm - Site Sound Emissions Report
  • Appendix O - Winston Farm - Energy Report 2024-03-20
  • Appendix P - Winston Farm PDD Draft Regs March 2025
  • Appendix Q - SEQR Documents
    • Appendix Q1 - 2021 10-06 NOI Lead Agency
    • Appendix Q2 - 2022 01-05 Lead Agency Determination
    • Appendix Q3 - 2022 05-04 Amended Petition
    • Appendix Q4 - 2022 06-08 Amended Petition
    • Appendix Q5 - 06-07-22 Winston Farm FEAF Revised
    • Appendix Q6 - 2022 07-13 Positive Declaration
    • Appendix Q7 - 2022 07-27 ENB Region 3 Notices - Positive Declaration
    • Appendix Q8 - 2022 08-31 ENB Region 3 Notices - Scoping
    • Appendix Q9 - 2022 09-21 Notice Draft Scope Public Hearing
    • Appendix Q10 - 2023 01-04 Final Scope Accepted
    • Appendix Q11 - 2023 01-18 ENB Notice Final Scope
  • Appendix R - Winston Farm - Visual Impact Assessment
     
• Completeness Documents

  • 250515 Resolution Accepting GEIS Winston Farm zl

  • Winston_Farm_DGEIS_Notice_of_Completion

Previously Posted Documents

• Sept. 12, 2024 "Winston Farm Forum" Presentation by Town Planner Adriana Beltrani (Orpheum Theater)
• "Winston Farm Planned Development District - Zoning and NYS Environmental Quality Review Act" - presented by Adriana Beltrani at the 9/4/2024 Town Board meeting
• Winston Farm SEQR Process and Timeline Memo
• FINAL SCOPE for the preparation of a DRAFT GENERIC ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT STATEMENT (DGEIS) (issued January 4, 2023)
• "SEQR Timeline - Winston Farm" PDF (9/3/2024)

Links

• Consultant Comments to Date (11/7) and Town Board October 16, 2024 Resolution
• Link to an archive copy of a previous version of this page
• Link to the preliminary Draft Generic Environmental Impact Statement (DGEIS) document, and related Appendix documents (August 15, 2024)
  This preliminary Draft GEIS has not been accepted as complete by the Town Board (Lead Agency) pursuant to 6 NYCRR 617.9(a)(2).  It is not within the typical regulatory process for a draft at this stage to be available for public review.  The Town makes no representation as to the accuracy or reliability of the information or analyses contained in this document.  The public review period will commence at such time that the Lead Agency accepts a complete Draft GEIS, pursuant to SEQR law.

Appendix L5.  Winston Farm Dam