LIBERTY — A two-and-a-half-hour session Thursday capped off weeks of work by the Town of Liberty Planning Board, which voted 4-1 to give a special use permit and conditional site plan approval to an Orthodox Jewish group aiming to buy the former Stevensville Hotel in Swan Lake.

Congregation Iched Anash plans to open a religious boys' camp inside the sprawling resort and its 36 surrounding acres in the days ahead and needed approval from the planning board to proceed.

After expedited review, the board agreed to do so, with a variety of conditions - including that unoccupied areas (like the fourth floor) be restricted in access, that there be daily trash pickup and refuse receptacles around the property, that a performance bond be posted, that the exterior be painted, that the elevator be operable (but inaccessible to the children) and that an unused breezeway be demolished before next summer.

Members Lynn Dowe, John Van Etten, Judy Siegel and Denise Birmingham gave their assent, while member Vincent McPhillips voted against.

McPhillips did not give a reason when he made his vote and refused to explain when queried afterward.

“I'm not going to answer that,” he told the Democrat. “I have my own reasons.”

Nevertheless, the majority of board members - and all the speakers during a public hearing on the matter that evening - expressed support and enthusiasm for the project, which has already pumped thousands of dollars into the renovation of the long-shuttered resort.

“I think we are all pleased that the hotel is being restored, rather than watching it fall down,” remarked resident Nancy Levine, one of Swan Lake's principal volunteers and advocates.

“It's wonderful to drive by and see activity!” she acknowledged. “The lawns are mowed, beautiful landscaping has been done, and the inside of the hotel is on its way to being transformed back to its original splendor.”

Indeed, the man spearheading the effort, Swan Lake resident David Weiss, and his attorney John Furst displayed photos of the interior of the hotel, showing the freshly renovated lobby, bedrooms and classrooms. (No new structures are being built.)

One of the speakers, a contractor on the job, also indicated 50,000 square feet of roofing had been replaced.

“This is a great opportunity for the town and residents to have some improvements done on the site,” remarked Furst.

“All those things have been done in the last 6-8 weeks,” added Weiss, gesturing to the images.

Weiss was lauded by other speakers for the effort he had put previously into renovating the former Kutsher's Sports Academy near Monticello, now a religious camp as well.

Concerns over mold and moisture had been addressed in Swan Lake, Weiss and colleague Joel Kohn assured, and the former staff pool will be drained and covered.

Both Weiss and the planning board disagreed with the county Planning Division's desire to have the parking lot moved from its lakeside location across County Route 142 (Briscoe Road) onto the front lawn of the hotel.

The county deemed it an eyesore, but it provides parking for both staff and the nearby basketball courts, and Kohn said no camp children will be crossing the street. Weiss added he had already spent $20,000 to rehab the lot, and planning board members ultimately voted to ignore the county's suggestion.

“I never remember it being an eyesore,” said Board Chairman Lynn Dowe, recalling the parking lot's busier days when the resort was hosting up to 600 guests.

Approximately 400 children are expected to attend the camp this summer. Though capacity exceeds 800, Weiss and Kohn said they do not currently envision going past 500.

Meanwhile, Weiss and company are negotiating the purchase of the hotel and those 36 acres from the Gallo family, which plans to retain ownership (and operations) of the nearby golf course and several hundred more acres.

Liberty Town Supervisor Charlie Barbuti anticipates the 36 acres and hotel itself might come off the tax rolls once the sale is complete.

That was not an issue of concern Thursday, however. All the planning board required beyond the stated conditions is that the camp come back up for review (and a new permit) in the spring of next year.

Locals hope the work on the hotel continues, noting the beneficial economic effect it's had on local contractors, tradesmen and the adjacent Swan Lake Country Store (whose owners attended the hearing in support).

“He [Weiss] has done a tremendous job making the place look better already,” noted Swan Lake Fire Chief Tim Eronimous, “and I think we ought to give him a chance. ... It's got to be better than letting it sit and nothing happening.”