Neighbors took opposing sides during an Ulster Town Board public hearing for a proposed outdoor events space dubbed Venue on the Hill last week. Some are concerned about noise and traffic, while others adopted more of a live-and-let-live perspective.
In a project description dated January 22, 2024, Joshua Ortman described the initial intent for the 90-acre property at 261 Sawkill Road in Kingston as the home of a new worship center for King’s Fire Church. Ortman is the lead pastor of King’s Fire Church at 865 Neighborhood Road in Lake Katrine, and he said the Sawkill Road property was designated the parsonage for him and his family shortly after the purchase. Though building a new worship center has been delayed by “unforeseen circumstances,” the church began holding outdoor services on a three-acre portion of the property just west of the parsonage.
“It was a great success as church members and friends were able to hike, play sports and picnic for the afternoon after enjoying a late morning worship service,” wrote Ortman.
In the spring of 2023, the parsonage added a paved basketball court, which was covered by a rented tent and used for Ortman’s daughter’s wedding, which he said “comfortably accommodate(d) 325 guests.”
“Following the success of the wedding we decided to extend our tent rental one week and we held a set of outdoor worship services the following Friday evening, Saturday evening and Sunday morning in the same location,” wrote Ortman. “There were several inquiries from members and attendees about the potential use of the site for subsequent meetings and weddings and that is what leads us to this point where we are applying for a special use permit which would allow us to conduct similar events in the future should the town permit. We recognize that this permission is being requested in a retrospective fashion since we have already used the site in the described manner.”
Ortman’s letter noted that while events hosted at the Venue on the Hill would be primarily for church members and immediate family, they would not seek to limit its uses to those specifically. Plans include eventually moving the venue to the north side of the property where it would be further separated from neighbors, but Ortman added that “it would be necessary for us to use the current site as already set up for a season or two on an interim basis in order to establish momentum.”
Ortman did not speak at the public hearing held on Thursday, July 18, but neighbors in the Cherry Hill section of town did, with some citing concerns like potential noise and traffic both on and around the parsonage property. Those with specific concerns all live on Denver Road.
“My house and a couple others are directly adjacent to that property,” said Rich Vergili. “In the past, that property had been used where the parking was just in the back of our house up on a hill.”
Neighbor Jessica Davis said she noted a marked difference in the neighborhood after the Ortman family moved to the parsonage property. She said the issues around prior church events could worsen as use of the Venue on the Hill increases.
“One of the concerns I have is 400 potential people transporting themselves in and out of 261 Sawkill Road on that turn on Sawkill Road, where people often tend to speed,” Davis said. “How are we going to be keeping that road safe? Are we going to be burdening our police department with the incoming and outgoing traffic?
Davis said that fireworks from the property have causes distress for her dog, which has Parkinson’s disease. And she said other church events have also been a nuisance.
“There was a tent there that hosted many parties,” Davis said. “It sounded like a DJ was there, very loud music, late hours of the night.”
Davis added that she felt it was not her responsibility to solve the issue.
“I have not gone to the neighbor’s property and asked them not to do these things because that’s their private property,” she said. “And I don’t feel I really need to. I would like my town’s support in this.”
Chris Gonyea lives in the house where he grew up and said the difference between then and now is pronounced.
“When this neighborhood was built as a suburban residential neighborhood, I don’t think a commercial parking lot in my backyard was in its design at all,” Gonyea said. “Since this group has been there, it’s been extremely noisy. Things have been curtailed quite a bit, but these…events or jamborees or religious revivals or whatever are extensive. They’re very, very, very loud. And because it’s a hill, this amplified music, and it’s not just a DJ, it’s full live bands, amplified music, 400 people: It carries.It carries for miles. Literally, you can hear it on the other side of the neighborhood.”
Elaine Cruz spoke in favor of the property’s owners, and their plans.
“I don’t have the same concerns as the people who have spoken already,” she said. “I know a lot of the complaints are the partying and the noise. The biggest complaint that they had happened to be a wedding and they’re condemning people for celebrating their daughter’s wedding.
Cruz suggested that, despite the reticence of neighbors like Davis, the Ortman family might be more amenable to hearing directly from the community.
“If they would just go up and talk to them, they would make it friendly for everybody,” Cruz said. “They’re very open, very welcoming to anybody going up and talking to them…I vote for them to be able to do whatever they like up there. It’s their property.”
Benjamin Raposa agreed.
“Since they moved into our neighborhood, they have been nothing but kind,” he said. “They are a great family. They will help anybody if you ask. All you have to do is go talk to them.
I don’t understand why everyone keeps complaining about it, but I vote for them to be able to do what they wish.”
The town will continue accepting written comments submitted to the town clerk’s office for 30 days following the meeting. Those will be discussed at the next time the Venue on the Hill is reviewed by the town board.
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