Residents Respond To Hoshino Proposal

By Alexis Pencar

SHARON SPRINGS — The Sharon Springs Joint Planning Board held a packed meeting on Wednesday, October 15th, 2025 at 6:30 pm in the Sharon Library Community Room. This meeting was a hot topic and drew quite the crowd with the Hoshino Resorts New York LLC project on the agenda.

Running this meeting was the Chairman of the Sharon Springs Joint Planning Board, Ray Parsons with other board members present including Ron Ketelsen as Secretary. Starting off with the rules, of brief comments of 3 minutes or less and that this was a way to “gather information from the public to aid the board on a decision on this project” and this was “not a debate” according to Parsons.

This proposed Japanese hot spring inn or ‘onsen ryokan’ is by world-renowned and internationally established Hoshino Resorts, who just celebrated their 111th anniversary, making this their first North American project, stated on their website. The project is a large undertaking and intends to be ”open to resort guests and staff only, includes a shop, library, lounge, bar, multi-function space, all-day dining area, fine-dining restaurant, a spa including meditation baths and room for individual spa treatments, and 30 guest room units, each with its own outdoor onsen (heated mineral water) bath” according to Mary Beth Bianconi, a Partner with Delaware Engineering, the agency working with SSJPB.

At this meeting, Hoshino Team presented information with the foreword that they are “far from breaking ground” and that this “planning board process has been going on for over a year”. During the presentation there was a detailed survey of the property showing 57 acres in the Village of Sharon Springs and 7 acres that are in the Town of Sharon. The survey plan and map separates areas dependent upon use, stipulating maintaining “75% as open area” with the remaining 25% as the facility.

Last week’s article covered the full presentation by Hoshino. After this presentation, the floor was opened up for this planned public hearing for residents to ask questions. This article is to specifically address the concerns and positives residents brought up.

The first concern was from a resident on Beechwood Road that is close to the project and what those impacts might be on the now quiet road. The larger concern was over the construction portion. The SSJPB addressed this and mentioned the road restrictions by the Village and Town and that those laws would need to be in compliance and that if the road was damaged, it would need to be repaired.

Another resident had a concern for other residents, specifically those bordering the project property. They also addressed the waste water concerns and said they hope they will properly correct the issues that have been brought forward.

A concern from Sharon Springs Inc (SSI), the original spa project on Main Street, came forward by means of Joanne Darcy Crum, one of the attorneys representing the SSI project. It was stated that “Sharon Springs Inc. sent a letter on June 21, 2024 regarding their concerns about wells drilled on your (Hoshino) property and how it is changing their water”. SSI have done tests on the hydrogen sulfide levels for the last 20 years that have, since the drilling, dropped drastically from 18 milliliters per liter to now less than 1 milliliters per liter of hydrogen sulfide. It is suggested that the drilling has exposed these springs to oxygen and is already negatively affecting them in unseen ways, and in turn the SSI Project. There is a separate need to upgrade the “underground tunnel” or culvert near the Village park that is at risk of collapse.

This wasn’t directly addressed by Hoshino in their response. The Planning Board requested that the well water results from SSI be forwarded on to them.

Two gentlemen from SSI stood up to speak in the meeting with a general concern regarding the mineral wells’ significantly lower content and the issues that have already come up, compounding down the road, particularly once water is being actively pumped from these wells. There is a “worry” and question of viability of the SSI spa project with the now lower content. It was encouraged to work together to remedy these issues. It was again encouraged for SSI to please send their “entire spectrum of results” to see if there is “a nexus” for association on this matter so the lead engineering firm, Delaware Engineering could look into this further.

Another resident came forward and was concerned about accessibility issues for people and for equipment and vehicles for those that are less abled. The resident wanted the planning board to make a recommendation and they said they couldn’t

Another resident brought forward questions on who this resort would hire and if it would be local people.

From another perspective, local Realtor Michelle Curran stepped up to make a statement that the “cache this resort will bring to Sharon Springs” is valuable, making comparisons to the impacts of the Beekman Boys, and that overall, this would raise property values for the area.

Another resident who had visited a facility like Hoshino in Japan said it was a wonderful and relaxing experience and that she hoped there could be some compromise in allowing local people to have access to enjoy the resort as well, suggesting once or twice a year.

Another resident that is close in proximity to the project feels like he is being surrounded and that there will be a parking lot near his lot. He feels this is a commercial operation, in what should still be a residential lot, even though its designation has been adjusted. He spoke of the line of the Village and that he thinks they (Hoshino) used the tax map and is incorrect.

Multiple residents made hugely positive statements for Hoshino. One gentleman said this will put Sharon Springs on an internationally recognized level and another that they would like to see this growth.

After the public hearing was closed, there was a statement that the Board and organizations will “follow the letter of the law” allowing for "preliminary site plan approval but not final site plan approval”.

Sharon Springs Joint Planning Board Meetings are on the 3rd Wednesday of Every Month at 6:30 pm in the Library Community Room located at 129 Main Street, Sharon Springs, NY 13459. Look out for more updates on this evolving story. For more information or questions, please contact SSJPB at (518) 284-2682.