Stissing Storage operator proposes farm stand and self-storage business expansion

PINE PLAINS — A new farm stand could be coming to Pine Plains soon.

Steve Hobson, of Milan, met with the Planning Board on Wednesday, Jan. 14, to lay out preliminary plans for a retail farm stand at 2812 and 2814 Church St., two residential lots across from Stissing Mountain High School.

Hobson is proposing demolishing the residence on 2814 Church St. and constructing several structures. The plans include an expansion of Hobson’s self-storage facility on the neighboring 2818 Church St. lot.

Hobson said the house on the property was in too poor condition to be renovated or sold. “It needs a ton of work,” he said. “It’s going to be difficult to implement any further on the site without removal of that house that’s there.”

The proposed farm stand would be available to farmers on a seasonal basis, Hobson said.

Planning Board members met the proposal with optimism, although they made a few suggestions pertaining to the aesthetics of the storage facilites.

“I think it’s doable,” Planning Board Chair Michael Stabile said.

Planning Board members suggested Hobson should plan screening to reduce the visibility of the planned storage units. They also asked if Hobson had identified any potential tenants for the farm stand, to which he said no.

“It’s certainly going to be a roll of the dice on my part,” Hobson said.

Planning Board Chair Michael Stabile recommended Hobson start the search.

“I think part of the application you try to get somebody interested in it,” Stabile said.

The board wrapped up the meeting after about half an hour of deliberation by giving Hobson the greenlight for an official application.