Mayfield hears plans for new hotel

By KAYLEIGH KARUTIS, The Leader-Herald
MAYFIELD — Several people addressed the town and village boards Thursday regarding a plan to build a hotel in the village.

Some expressed concerns about the cost of water and sewer services at the public hearing.

The project would involve the annexation of town land into the village for the development of the hotel.

Property owned by the Hayner family, said Town Supervisor Herb McLain, is partially in the town and partially in the village. The Hayners hope the village will annex the land so they can sell the property to DiMark Development, an Amsterdam construction company that wants to build a hotel on the property.

DiMark needs the land to be in the village so the site could get water and sewer services.

Mark Murphy, founder and president of DiMark, addressed those gathered for the public hearing.

Murphy said he has never built a hotel before, but has constructed other large projects, including the state police barracks and the Mobil, Dunkin’ Donuts and Subway building in Mayfield. He said building a hotel is the primary goal, but obstacles in the future could change those plans.

Before anything can be built on the property, it must be annexed into the village.

“I live here, I work here, and I see potential here,” he said. “If you think a hotel is a bad idea, that’s OK with me.”

Murphy said he has received encouragement from local residents about his plan. While it would be the largest project he has ever embarked on, it seems like the next logical step in the progression of his business, Murphy said.

“I’ve been in construction 12 years,” he said. “I’ve worked my way up from small projects.”

Paul Kolodziej, counsel for DiMark, stressed the benefits of a hotel.

“There really are no losers here,” he said. “There will be revenue in property taxes for the town, the village, the county, the school … and that’s not even mentioning the other businesses a hotel would draw into the area. It’s a snowball effect.”

Mayfield Central School District Superintendent Ralph Acquaro raised concerns about the cost of supplying a hotel with water and sewer service.

Aaron Howland echoed Acquaro’s concerns, asking if the town and village would be able to project the cost of providing sewer and water to such an establishment.

McLain said the hotel would also bring in substantial revenue from property taxes, which could offset the cost of water and sewer.

Water and sewer lines are close to the property already, said Village Mayor Harvey Hart. The village, he said, could handle the increased demand on services.

“All the village has to do is put in a lateral line,” he said. “A hotel … would require 8,000 gallons of water a day and [the village] can more than take the capacity for that.”

Town attorney Carmel Greco informed the two boards that members have 90 days to decide on the annexation.