Community Concerns

A Thoughtful Approach to Growth in Woodstock

In a town known for its rich artistic heritage and breathtaking natural beauty, the balance between growth and preservation is a delicate dance.

We understand the concerns of many in Woodstock regarding commercial development and the effect it may have on housing costs. That’s why we’re presenting a proposal that aligns with the values and needs of our town, and we hope you’ll take a moment to consider it.

Our plan is for a modestly scaled, seven-unit boutique motel in Woodstock’s HC Commercial District. Far from a sprawling commercial complex, the design encompasses only 7,000 ft.² across five buildings on a 1.5-acre plot. The project aims to be in harmony with nature, featuring 80% of the property for pollinator plants, fruit trees, and edible gardens. A pedestrian suspension bridge will provide time-restricted access to the southern part of the property, linking to the well-loved Comeau Preserve.

Why consider this at all?

It’s a question of balance. With only 62 non-STR guest accommodations in central Woodstock, our town is unable to fully embrace the visitors who seek to explore our beautiful area. And despite what one might think, the Ulster County Tourism Office points out that overnight visitors create less traffic than day-trippers. More accommodations could actually lead to a decrease in vehicle traffic.

Yes, the need for affordable workforce and senior housing is pressing, and it’s a goal we firmly support. Suitable land should be found to attract non-profit housing developers. But alongside this, there’s a need for legitimate guest accommodations. The current 62 rooms are inadequate for Woodstock’s annual tourism traffic. Tourism, done responsibly, can thrive alongside preservation, supporting local businesses, artists, and the community as a whole.

Our proposal isn’t about unchecked growth. It’s about finding a balanced and holistic approach that benefits everyone.

With careful planning, we can build guest accommodations that fit the scale and character of Woodstock. We can encourage more affordable housing units and even expand STR permits, as guided by local authorities.

Let’s work together to keep Woodstock welcoming, vibrant, and true to its roots. The possibility for a balanced growth exists, one that serves residents, business owners, artists, and visitors alike. Our town’s future doesn’t have to be a choice between growth and preservation. With thoughtful planning and community input, it can be a harmonious blend of both.

Questions and Concerns

Overnight accommodations in Woodstock are extremely limited. In this report, it shows that there are 62 private accommodations in the entire town (see page 2 if you add up the existing 5 hotels total private accommodations). Most high season periods have no availability and this limits access, which some people in town are happy about, but our position is that a modest increase of 7 units that Woodstock Gardens would create is a very small increase to what is already a very low number of options for such a popular town in America.

The Arnstein Family, which is not a big company at all, in fact this would be the first experience in any commercial business in building and operating a boutique hotel/inn. The passion for woodstock was developed over a 30 year love affair with the town by the Arnstein family who have been yearly visitors to the town. Summer swimming in the streams, fall hiking in the mountains, winter escapes for cozy campfires. The town created the spark that created The Woodstock Fruit Festival which the Arnstein family administered for 10 years, this event was held further upstate in New York as a community gathering for people who aspired to a plant based diet. Woodstock remains a fixture in the Arnstein family as a second home away from home. Creating Woodstock Gardens is a hope to create more opportunities for visitors to enjoy the uniqueness of this famous town and for the Arnstein’s to also spend more time where they love to be so much, Woodstock.

There will be seven cottages for rent on the property.
The location of the rentals can be seen in the site master plan and also on the property map.
This has been carefully documented on the “Gardens” page in Lisa Taranto’s Garden Design Plan, which you can download here.
The project will benefit the local community in several important ways. By developing this site that has been blighted since a major home fire, it will remove an eyesore and create an attractive new property. This development is estimated to generate increased annual revenue from real estate and visitor taxes for the town government. It will also support the creation of local jobs related to the construction and ongoing operation of the new site. Additionally, it is projected to bring high-income visitors to the area who will patronize local businesses, putting money back into the local economy. Overall, the project represents an opportunity to renew an unused property in our town, create new employment opportunities for residents, support existing businesses through tourism spending, and contribute much-needed tax revenue to support essential community services.
We understand the concerns about potential increases in noise and traffic that this project may cause. However, we anticipate the traffic impact to be comparable or even less than if private homes were built on this property. Most visitors will park their cars on arrival and then walk to attractions in town, rather than driving around and searching for limited parking. In contrast, long-term rentals would likely generate more daily vehicle trips from residents. We will also design the buildings and outdoor facilities with noise mitigation measures in mind, following all applicable regulations. Landscaping and buffers will be used where feasible to reduce noise heard from neighboring properties. By encouraging walking over driving for visitors in town and instituting traffic management policies onsite, we aim to minimize any disruption from increased volume, while boosting the vitality of local businesses. We will work closely with the community throughout the process to ensure concerns are heard and addressed responsibly.
If approvals are finalized in 2024, the building will take approximately 2 years to complete and therefore we anticipate a Spring 2026 opening.
Every rule of law and proper procedure will be followed and implemented for this project if approved.
Local community support is something we hope to earn through dialog and trust with various entities. From local immediate neighbors to utility and security concerns in city government, we are open to work with all participants to create a harmonious relationship. We believe the people who want to visit Woodstock are of high moral character, more considerate of others and genuinely interested in creating a good experience for themselves and whom they interact with. We want to create a space and experience in these goals.
Locals can communicate with us via email, in community board meetings, through in person dialog, and by old fashioned letter writing.

We plan to hire and contract local services and residents to handle ongoing property management and maintenance. This will provide employment opportunities while ensuring the grounds and facilities are maintained to high standards.

Specifically, we will engage locals for services like landscaping, supplying guest amenities, performing building repairs, and decorating interiors with unique art and creative elements. At least one year-round caretaker will reside on-site or very nearby to oversee operations and assist guests as needed.

By sourcing upkeep services from within the community, we hope to keep the property well-managed while supporting jobs and skill development for area residents. Our goal is to showcase local talent in designing an aesthetically appealing, functionally excellent hospitality environment that wows visitors. Careful yet locally resourced maintenance practices will be crucial to making that vision a reality.

We will have a network of camera systems, an on-site manager and we will use decorative rock walls, lighting and signage to keep would-be troublemakers away.