The public hearing for the zoning text amendment that will pave the way for the reopening of Rockland Cider Works is back on schedule for today, Tuesday, January 23rd at 7:00 pm at the Orangetown Town Hall.  As many of you know, our hearing was originally scheduled for November of last year, but due to the use of delaying tactics by the attorney representing our neighbor, our November hearing was forced to be postponed.  While our neighbor has continued their efforts to have the hearing canceled indefinitely, a judge has ordered that the hold on the hearing be lifted.

We apologize for the late notice.  Since the postponement of the original hearing date in November, our attorneys have been in and out of court in order to allow the hearing to be rescheduled.  We just received the official go-ahead Monday evening.  And yet even as I write this, our neighbor’s attorney is continuing efforts to try to shut down the hearing.

We know many of you were planning on attending the meeting last fall, and several of you still did, and still more of you emailed the Orangetown town board members.  Thank you so much.  Now, we’re asking again and hope that everyone who is able to attend today’s meeting will come and share your positive words of support for Rockland Cider Works and the future of Van Houten Farms.  Please let the town board know how you treasure Van Houten Farms, appreciate the benefits that Rockland Cider Works brings to the community, and wish to see the farm, along with the cidery, continue to be a staple of lower Rockland County.

As we have stated countless times, the farm needs to evolve and diversify in order to survive and thrive.  The ability to do this is the only reason Van Houten Farms, and any other farm in New York state, exists today.  Rockland Cider Works is the perfect evolutionary step for Van Houten Farms.  The cidery gives us the means to produce and sell another New York state agricultural product, therefor diversifying and expanding our sales.  It also brings more customers into the farm during more times of the year, helping us spread out the ever-increasing costs of labor and overhead.  The cidery not only provides the community with more opportunities to interact with the farm in an outdoor, family-friendly environment, but also provides opportunities for customers to visit with family, friends, and neighbors.  Additionally, the cidery provides an additional tax revenue stream for the town and attracts more visitors to the local area who also visit nearby restaurants and other businesses.  The cidery provides all of these benefits, while also helping to preserve the very last bit of farmland in Orangetown, and one the last 3 remaining family-operated farms in Rockland County.  In short, Rockland Cider Works is a win-win-win-win!

As we have stated since the beginning, we completely understand and appreciate any issues that the cidery may bring to the neighborhood.  We have already successfully addressed and mitigated these issues voluntarily.  We live right here too, we’re our own neighbors.  We, as much as anyone, treasure the quiet, quaint character of the Nauraushaun neighborhood, of which the Van Houten’s farm and other businesses have been a pilar since 1812.  The proposed zoning text amendment officially provides legal parameters under which our farm cidery can operate in order to avoid any problems. 

There is no reasonable objection to this zoning amendment.  It satisfies all interests by allowing Van Houten Farms to continue to grow, providing the community with the benefits of Rockland Cider Works, and ensures any concerned neighbors that the impacts of our farm operation remain minimal.

Thanks so much for the endless words of support and encouragement.  Again, we understand this is very short notice, but please consider attending the Orangetown Town Board meeting to continue to share your support for Van Houten Farms and Rockland Cider Works.

For the background on Van Houten Farms and Rockland Cider Works and how we got to where we are today, follow this link:

Background on Van Houten Farms and Rockland Cider Works and how we got to where we are today. | Van Houten Farms NY

https://www.vanhoutenfarmsny.com/background/

Orangetown Town Board Meeting
Tuesday, January 23rd, 7:00 pm
Orangetown Town Hall
26 W Orangeburg Rd
Orangeburg, NY 10962

Thanks again,

-Darin

Darin Van Houten

Van Houten Farms

Rockland Cider Works

darin@vanhoutengardens.com

68 Sickletown Rd.

Orangeburg, NY 10962