Thank you contributing to our community efforts to stop Mostly Modern Projects' plans to develop rural residential and protected lands in the Town of Saratoga, NY. We have done everything we can to stop them, and still, they will not stop their crusade for development. We now turn to our community to stand together to stop this development, and the overall push for development of rural residential and agricultural lands that define our incredible community. Donations will go toward the continued legal fees to stop Mostly Modern Projects. No donation is too small. Please share.

Mostly Modern Projects’ Planned Unit Development (P.U.D.) on Burke Road in the Town of Saratoga is proposing a total of 7 short-term rentals (up to 5,000 square feet per home), a 10,000-square-foot Music Performance Venue (with food and beverage), an outdoor amphitheater, and 100 parking spaces on 18 acres that directly abut dozens of homes on Burke Road, County Route 68, and County Route 32. The noise and implications will carry throughout the area and will be felt throughout the town. Even more troubling, there are covenants and restrictions on this property that prevent development other than one- or two-family residences, yet the Patersons and their lawyer are working diligently to work around these restrictions.

On September 8th, nearly 150 residents of the Town of Saratoga stood together at the Town Board Public Meeting to protest and learn more about this project. Over 40 residents spoke in protest, citing concerns ranging from zoning law violations to well-water contamination from a project of this size.

Following the September 8th Town Board Meeting, Robert and Victoria Paterson, the owners of Mostly Modern Projects, requested their proposal be adjourned from subsequent meetings while they consider reworking it. However, any version of this proposal violates our Comprehensive Land Use Plan, our Zoning Laws, and the Deed Restrictions on this land and 11 other parcels on Burke Road and County Route 68. Since then, dozens of residents have continued to show up to each Town Board Meeting, only to be met with refusal of privilege of the floor and rejection by the Town Supervisor of any request to return the proposal back to the agenda and vote it down.

Our community’s fight to implore the Town of Saratoga to reject this proposal—based on its many unlawful violations—and our clear message to the Patersons and their lawyer, Stephanie Ferradino, continue to be ignored. The Patersons continue to spread misinformation and downplay the magnitude and effects of the project. If a Planned Unit Development is approved, it effectively writes into law that this land can be commercially developed. The approval of Mostly Modern Projects’ proposal on Burke Road sets a dangerous precedent for further development in rural residential and agricultural lands meant to be preserved. Burke Road today—but maybe your street or neighborhood next. Approval of commercial projects have already unlawfully occurred on Cedar Bluff Road, Route 29, and Route 4 in the Town of Saratoga.

Since July, our community has come together to fight this project in every way possible. Retired lawyers have donated their time, and a myriad of incredible people have offered their skills and expertise to stop this development, but the Patersons will not stop. To date, 382 people have signed a petition to stop the project; 211 people have joined the private Facebook group where the opposition shares information and resources; the press has been notified, and articles have been written; and hundreds of letters have been sent to the Town Board, businesses, and people of influence.

All of these efforts have yet to spur significant change. So today, we are hopeful we can come together again as a community and help one another with the legal fees it will take to bring this down once and for all. We cannot do this alone, but the contributions of the hundreds who already oppose this project will ensure we do not have to stop fighting to uphold the laws and rules meant to protect us.

Thank you for your contribution to this fight. We are an incredible community of strong and caring neighbors. We cannot allow people with influence and money to roll into our town and change the very character that defines us.