Ava Town Planning Board votes against construction of proposed retreat center on Webster Hill Road

ONEIDA COUNTY- Members of the Town of Ava Planning Board have voted against the construction of a proposed retreat center off from the Webster Hill Road.

This development is according to the latest from the Boonville Herald.

The site was formerly utilized via the Rome Air Force Research Laboratory starting in the late 1950’s. Also referred to as the Ava Test Annex, the property was used in the past to test and develop long-distance radio transmitters and over the horizon missile detection systems.

The site was abandoned during the 1990’s.

The town purchased the site nearly two-decades ago for $20,000 and there has been a movement over the past couple of years from Black Women’s Blueprint to establish a campsite and retreat center.

The town was advised that the only kind of camping legally permitted on the property is seasonal.

Any construction of new or long-term infrastructure was officially prohibited, but a provision under Town Law 280-a allows the town to have an open development district, which is why Black Women’s Blueprint applied for their permit.

Another concern cited by the board involved a lack of roads on the property to support emergency vehicles.

In addition, the board cited the possibility of hazardous materials that still contaminate the soil and/or water.

The latest meeting concluded with officials stating that they do not recommend the town board grant an open development permit.