Mayfield weighs land annexation

By KAYLEIGH KARUTIS, The Leader-Herald
MAYFIELD — The town and village will conduct a public hearing Thursday to discuss the possible development of a hotel on Route 30.

Two property owners with land in the town are asking their land be annexed into the village. Annexing the land would allow the village to provide water and sewer service to the property.

The Hayner family, town Supervisor Herb McLain said, owns about 50 acres of land near Route 30, with a portion of it in the town. The Hayners are asking the village to annex the land, which they will then sell to Dimark Development. Dimark President Mark Murphy said in March he was considering building a hotel on the property.

“The Hayners are asking the land be annexed so they can then sell it to Dimark,” McLain said. “Dimark won’t buy it unless it’s fully in the village so they can get water and sewer services.”

Dimark Development, which built the building housing the Subway, Mobil and Dunkin’ Donuts on Route 30, is also asking the land next to that site be annexed into the village, McLain said.

“In the future, they’re looking to expand,” McLain said. “[They’re looking into] possibly building an office building, and it would be a lot easier for [Murphy] if the land is in the village.”

The annexation process, McLain said, is lengthy. It includes multiple public hearings, action from the village and town boards and a stack of paperwork that must be filed by attorneys.

In March, McLain and Murphy revealed the possibility of a hotel being built on Route 30. According to McLain, it would be in an Adirondack style and accommodate 60 to 80 people.

Murphy tentatively confirmed the plans, saying nothing is definite.

“We’re looking at traffic issues, and the economy is a consideration right now too,” he said in March. “It’s a process; it doesn’t happen overnight. First, we have to get the village and town on board. We’re feeling them out first.”

McLain said the town is excited about the prospect of a hotel.

“I think it’s going to draw a lot more people to our area,” McLain said in March. “I know people who can’t get a room anywhere but Saratoga, and the prices there are very high.”

The public hearing will begin at 7 p.m. at the town hall at 28 N. School St.



Liquor license issue

McLain said another issue is scheduled to be addressed at the meeting.

Representatives from Dominick’s Sand Bar, Grille and Marina, an establishment at 306 Woods Hollow Road, are scheduled to speak about issues over a liquor license.

McLain said the bar is closed because it does not have a liquor license. When the bar’s owner did not apply for a renewal of the bar’s license, he approached the Town Board asking for a waiver so the bar could remain open.

The town refused to issue a waiver.

McLain said taxpayers’ concerns contributed to the town’s decision to not issue a waiver.

“Last year, we had some complaints about Dominick’s,” McLain said. “Several people came to a meeting in the summer with a signed a petition with 90 names, citing problems with noise and drinking in the parking lot.”

A number of people representing Dominick’s Sand Bar are scheduled to appear at the meeting to address the liquor license issue. McLain said since the town did not issue a waiver, the decision to issue a liquor license lies with the state Liquor Authority.

McLain said two men have approached the owner of the bar with a request to buy it and turn it into a restaurant, a development he said he hopes goes through.

“They want to buy it and change it to a lakeside restaurant and bar,” he said. “It would serve a different clientele. They also indicated they will try and meet with neighbors to let them know their plans.”

McLain said he did not want to release the names of the men who may buy the establishment because the deal has not been finalized yet.

Calls to Dominick’s Sand Bar were not returned.















Kayleigh Karutis covers rural Fulton County. She can be reached at ruralnews@leaderherald.com