The Related Co. continues to grade and make infrastructure improvements on the Tuxedo Farms property — the development’s first phase will build vacation and residential homes between Tuxedo and Sloatsburg, NY. The photo shows work on the Tuxedo Farms main entranceway on Route 17.

The view of the mountaintop can be seen from all around Sloatsburg. A large swath of brown amid trees along the southeastern face of mountain between the Village of Tuxedo Park and Village of Sloatsburg.

Tuxedo Farms has been sculpting the development base for its Phase 1 group of houses and buildings, including the main entrance that winds down to Route 17, wastewater treatment facility and sewer connections, infrastructure, and the shimmering water tower that flashes and reflects sunlight.

But what’s next?

NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN, that the Town Board of the Town of Tuxedo will hold, a public joint workshop on Monday, March 6, at 6 p.m., involving the Town Board, Planning Board and ARB with Related Co. to review the progress and to review proposed changes of the Tuxedo Farms project.

View of the Tuxedo Farms terraced land clearing on the mountainside between Tuxedo and Sloatsburg, NY.

Andrew Dance of the Related Companies, which owns Tuxedo Farms through subsidiary companies, last addressed progress on the development at a Town of Tuxedo Council meeting on January 9, where he reported that Tuxedo Farms was progressing (information via TPFYI.com). Also, click here for an exchange between Jim Hays and Tuxedo Supervisor Mike Rost at a November 16, 2016 council meeting on the topic of Tuxedo Farms.

According to a report on the council meeting by TPFYI.com, Dance said that Tuxedo Farms still had not attracted a builder … reiterating the oft-cited opinion that potential builders had reservations about “the condition of the high school.”

Dance voiced that, in his opinion, the Tuxedo high school “cannot continue to operate in its current condition and he hopes that the Town as a whole comes to a similar conclusion” (via TPFYI.com).

Dance also requested changes in the Tuxedo Farms design guidelines, advocating that the changes were requested by builders looking to build.

Tuxedo Farms design change requests include:
1. to able to use high-grade vinyl in siding and windows.
2. to reduce the required roof pitch.
3. assurance that if a house meets the design guidelines, it will be approved by the Board of Architectural Review.

Tuxedo itself has continued to struggle with the implications of the downsized Tuxedo Union Free School District, which lost 2/3 of its student body several years ago when the Greenwood Lake community voted to open high school options for its students. The move ended a nearly 30 year relationship with Tuxedo, and George Baker High School lost some 300 students.

GWL students now have a choice between Chester Academy High School and Warwick Valley High School.

The Town of Tuxedo will hold a joint Town Board, Planning Board and Architectural Review Board Public Workshop Regarding Tuxedo Farms, Monday, March 6, at 6 p.m. in the Community Room at Town Hall, One Temple Drive, Tuxedo, New York.

Note: Information contained on TPFYI.com contributed to this article.