PINE BUSH – With his engineer giving the presentation, Douglas von Bushberger returned to the Pine Bush planning board for a public hearing on his application for a site plan and special use permit for a bed & breakfast business. The property in question is well known as "the Rose Cottage" and sits on Union Schoolhouse Road in the extreme southern part of the Town of Crawford.

Indeed, the issue that took up most of the board's time before the public hearing began was a response from the neighboring town of Wallkill concerning a driveway from the property which exits in Wallkill, not Crawford. So far, Wallkill has indicated that they have no problems with the proposed B&B; however, they have not provided a letter with sufficient clarity, in legal terms, to allow the Crawford planning board to approve the application without a lingering concern that Wallkill might change their mind at some point. As attorney Ben Gailey said, "We will need something definitive... the letter should indicate that the Town of Wallkill doesn't have jurisdiction over this."

Von Bushberger's engineer, Larry Marshall, explained that two emails had been sent to Wallkill requesting such a statement.

In other discussion, von Bushberger explained that the project map showed where extra parking could be situated, for occasional special events. Such parking happens now, he added, for large private parties; he then listed yoga retreats and writers' workshops as the kinds of events he was thinking of.

In support of the application, neighbors and others came out to lavish praise on the idea and the nature of this beautiful property. Susan Havermale, director of Orange County Tourism, made a strong speech in support, noting that she had worked for fifteen years to promote the Town of Crawford as a "tourist product."

"It's a wonderful little town that could be more of a tourist destination," Havermale said, adding that Rose Cottage was a "plus for the town" and that a B&B there will also provide more business for local restaurants and add to the county's assets in this area as well. "Upscale Bed & Breakfast accommodation is in huge demand now, but we don't have many in Orange County."

Havermale went on to note that Orange County receives four million visitors a year and that "well heeled New Yorkers" are seeking new and attractive places to visit.

Among other supporters of the project was Carolyn Otis, who works with Equine Rescue & Resource, a group that saves horses and tries to find new homes for them. She explained that the current owners were happy to allow horses to use an eight acre field on the property. Von Bushberger added that he might be able to increase the area available to the horses, which were seen as an attractive addition to the property.

Because of the Jewish holiday one neighbor was unable to attend the public hearing, which was held open to next month to allow that neighbor to come and learn more about the project. The public hearing will probably be closed after October 14, before which time efforts would be renewed to get the required letter from Wallkill concerning that pesky driveway entrance.