Residents unwavering in opposition to revised Wake Robin expansion as lawsuit hangs overhead

A bird’s eye view rendering of the redeveloped Inn, created by Marcello Pozzi Architects.
Provided
A bird’s eye view rendering of the redeveloped Inn, created by Marcello Pozzi Architects.
LAKEVILLE — The public hearing for the revised and resubmitted application to expand the Wake Robin Inn on Wells Hill Road kicked off on Tuesday, Aug. 5, in familiarly contentious style.
The applicant, Aradev LLC, faces more than just neighborly outcries during this cycle.
A pending lawsuit against the Planning and Zoning Commission, filed by Wells Hill Road residents Angela and William Cruger, seeks to inhibit the Commission’s ability to review applications pertaining to a May 2024 zoning regulation change that allows for hotel development in the Rural Residential 1 zone. The Wake Robin Inn is positioned within this zone, meaning the fate of the proposed redevelopment hangs in the balance as the court reviews the litigation.
P&Z Chair Michael Klemens reported that Superior Court’s schedule for the case, which is available for public viewing along with the other application-related materials on the P&Z webpage, anticipates a possible decision by the end of the year, though there is no guarantee.
Klemens opened the evening’s proceedings with a lengthy speech explaining the precarious state of affairs that surrounds Aradev’s resubmitted proposal. He stressed that the Aradev “proceeds at their own risk; that if the Crugers are successful in their appeal, any approval rendered by the Planning and Zoning Commission will be vacated.”
Klemens directly asked Aradev’s attorney, Josh Mackey, whether the applicant understood the risk. “There’s a disagreement, I think, on that proposition,” he said, but didn’t elaborate further.
Legal uncertainties aside, Aradev adopted a decidedly open approach in presenting its revised application. Steven Cohen, half of Aradev alongside partner Jonathan Marrale, introduced the presentation with “About the Applicant” and “Development Team” slides introducing the LLC and its project partners, and explained the firm’s interest in the Inn stems from and appreciation of Lakeville’s rural character.
The application details were outlined largely by landscape architect Mark Arigoni of SLR Consulting who similarly steered most of Aradev’s hearing appearances in 2024.
The plans call for a reduction in auxiliary cabins from 12 to four, though the new cabins have been scaled up to 2,000 square feet each.
The previously proposed “event barn,” which was the subject of many complaints from residents and P&Z alike, has been moved to be contiguous with the main Inn building as opposed to its previous position as a free-standing structure. A sit-down restaurant and fast-casual counter are still included in the plans, set to be housed in the central Inn structure.
These amenities, as well as a library and lounge space, are planned to be open to the public, while a gym and seasonal pool are not. The spa will be publicly open on a reservation basis but will be limited capacity and guests will get priority.
Arigoni said that a new architectural firm had been sought to help the redevelopment blend in with both the natural environment and the “white siding, metal roofs” aesthetic of the area.
Cohen said that the changes were made to reduce the “scale and impact” of development, responding to complaints from the Commission and residents during the 2024 hearing process. He also recalled the Inn’s historic status as a community hub and said that a primary motivation of the project is to “bring it back to what it used to be.”
Residents expressed opposition during public comment.
Greg Wilmore countered that he saw “no material change in the application’s intensity.”
Elyse Harney, Salisbury resident since 1963, argued that the development would be “too large for the infrastructure of the town of Salisbury.”
Laurie Fendrich felt that the neighborhood’s wellbeing should be the main consideration: “We are not just Salisbury, we are Lakeville. And we are tiny.”
Just one member of the public spoke in favor of the project. Ryan Diamond said that he hoped the project might bring new life into town, complaining that restaurants empty by 8 p.m. and that the town currently offers little for younger residents. He urged the other residents in attendance to think “about the future of the town.”
The hearing was continued to Tuesday, Aug. 12, at 6:30 p.m. where a third-party sound pollution review commissioned by P&Z was set to feature centrally in the discussion.
On Saturday, Sept. 6, from 12 to 5 p.m., Rock Steady Farm in Millerton opens its fields once again for the third annual Farm Fall Block Party, a vibrant, heart-forward gathering of queer and BIPOC farmers, neighbors, families, artists, and allies from across the Hudson Valley and beyond.
Co-hosted with Catalyst Collaborative Farm, The Watershed Center, WILDSEED Community Farm & Healing Village, and Seasoned Delicious Foods, this year’s party promises its biggest celebration yet. Part harvest festival, part community reunion, the gathering is a reflection of the region’s rich agricultural and cultural ecosystem.
Rooted in justice and joy, the event will feature over 25 local vendors and organizations, live performances, healing workshops, family-friendly activities (yes, there’s a bouncy castle), and abundant local food. And while the festivities are certainly reason enough to show up, organizers remind us the purpose runs deeper.
“This isn’t just a party. It’s a place to build the kind of relationships that keep our food system alive,” said Maggie Cheney, Rock Steady’s co-founder and worker-owner. “We’re creating space where farmers, growers, families, and community organizers can connect, celebrate, and support one another.”
Proceeds from the event support Rock Steady’s POLLINATE program for queer and trans BIPOC beginning farmers, as well as Catalyst Collaborative Farm’s food justice initiatives. With sliding-scale tickets from $5 to $250, the organizers aim to make the event accessible to all, including free entry for children under 12 and volunteer options for those who want to pitch in.
For those who’ve attended before, it’s a welcome return. For newcomers, it may just feel like coming home.
More info and tickets: rocksteadyfarm.com/farm-block-party
Waterlily (8”x12”) made by Marilyn Hock
It takes a lot of courage to share your art for the first time and Marilyn Hock is taking that leap with her debut exhibition at Sharon Town Hall on Sept. 12. A realist painter with a deep love for wildlife, florals, and landscapes, Hock has spent the past few years immersed in watercolor, teaching herself, failing forward, and returning again and again to the page. This 18-piece collection is a testament to courage, practice and a genuine love for the craft.
“I always start with the eyes,” said Hock of her animal portraits. “That’s where the soul lives.” This attentiveness runs through her work, each piece rendered with care, clarity, and a respect for the subtle variations of color and light in the natural world.
After painting in oils earlier in life, Hock returned to art when she retired from working as a paralegal with a goal: to learn watercolor. It wasn’t easy.
“Oils and watercolor are opposites,” she explained. “With oils, you build your darks first. In watercolor, if you do that, you’re in trouble.” She studied online, finding instructors whose approach clicked, and adapted to the delicacy of the medium.
“When I’m working, everything else falls away,” she said. “It doesn’t matter what’s going on in life. While I’m painting, time disappears.”
Her studio, formerly a home office, is now her sanctuary and the pieces in this exhibition are the result of three years of that devoted studio work. While this is her first full public show, Hock previously tested the waters at a small fundraiser at Noble Horizons, where one of her pieces sold. That experience — and the consistent encouragement from her family, especially her husband — pushed her to pursue a full exhibition. With gentle encouragement from her husband and family, Hock reached out to the Town Hall’s curator, Zelina Blagden. “My husband kept saying, ‘You’re as good as all those other people out there, why not show your work?’” And so, here it is.
All paintings in the show are for sale, though Hock admits a few are priced high — not because of their size or complexity — but because she’s not quite ready to let them go. “There are a couple I’ve priced high because I’m not sure I want to part with them. But we’ll see,” she laughed. “It would be nice to support the habit a little bit.”
As for aspiring artists or anyone hesitating to begin something creative, Hock’s advice is simple: “Go for it. If it fails, toss it in the basket and start over.”
The exhibit will be on view at Sharon Town Hall through Oct. 31 with an opening reception on Sept. 12 from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. Light refreshments will be served.
Carissa Unite, general manager of Oblong Books in Millerton.
Carissa Unite of Millerton, began working at Oblong Books 16 years ago as a high schooler. She recently celebrated her eight-year anniversary as the general manager.
Unite’s journey at Oblong began even before she applied for her first position.An avid reader from a young age, she was a frequent customer at the store. During those years, Unite bonded with a former employee who encouraged her to apply for a position after connecting over their shared love of reading.
As a teenager, Unite enjoyed reading Ellen Hopkins, John Green and Ann Brashares. With the busyness of adulthood, she now favors the convenience of audio books. In the past year, however, she has made it a point to read more physical books.
With a preference for contemporary fiction, she raved about “Atmosphere” by Taylor Jenkins Reid. The story, set in the 1980s, follows two women who become astronauts at a time when women were not widely accepted in the field. A beautiful love story emerges between the two characters. Unite described the writing as sensational and commended Reid’s ability to tackle complex themes without them being muddied.
Unite has developed a deep appreciated for classic literature. Her two favorites are “Giovanni’s Room” by James Baldwin and “The Picture of Dorian Gray” by Oscar Wilde. She was amazed by the philosophical nature of both words and the way their dialogue challenged her perspective.
In an effort to read beyond her preferred genre, she recommends the following:
“Some Desperate Glory,” by Emily Tesh, “Midnight Rooms,” by Donyae Coles and “Clear” by Carys Davies.
For Unite, the beauty of reading lies in its power to develop perspective, empathy, and compassion. Through books, readers learn that everyone is fighting different battles and no two stories are the same. She encourages people to choose kindness because you never know what someone else is facing.
Above all, reading brings Unite peace. If offers transcendence to another world, a pause from outside noise, and for Unite, it is where she feels most at home.
For anyone hesitant to being reading, Unite suggests: just do it! Read 10 pages a day and find the book that speaks to you. Any Oblong staff member would be happy to offer recommendations.
Oblong is located at 26 Main St., in Millerton and 6422 Montgomery St. in Rhinebeck.