Farm plan still alive in Mahopac 

The dream of bringing a working farm, food hub and market to Mahopac is still alive.

Despite a series of setbacks, a plan to establish the operation on the site of the former Mahopac Farm property west of Route 6 near the Mahopac/Somers border remains active.

TJ Deacon, owner of Fable Farms, which was originally located in Ossining, has proposed bringing the farm to the 33-acre parcel that used to be Mahopac Farm. The property is currently owned by Atlanta-based Diamond Point Development, which recently constructed a 105,400-square-foot, 800-unit self-storage facility there. Deacon hopes to purchase 20 acres for his farm.

However, negotiations between Deacon and Diamond Point and its majority partner, Rosewood Property Company, have dragged on, casting doubt on whether the project will ever come to fruition.

At one point last summer, Deacon thought he was close to a deal. He provided Diamond Point with proof of financing as well as site plans for the farm, as requested, but nothing came of it. Though Deacon said he hasn’t spoken with representatives from Diamond Point since last fall, he remains optimistic that a deal will get done.

He has spent much of the past six months in discussions with town officials, including the supervisor’s office and members of the Planning Board, and engaging with the community to garner feedback and support. In December, he held an information session at the Mahopac Public Library to raise awareness and build support.

Deacon recently created a Facebook group, Mahopac Farm Revival, where residents can learn how to get involved, receive updates and make suggestions.

“This is our first step in bringing the community together,” Deacon wrote on the page. “We will be signing up volunteers, drafting our petition, organizing outreach, spreading the word and building the momentum we need to protect this land for future generations. Together, we can ensure [this property] remains a vibrant, thriving part of our community.”

Since the project first came to light last spring, town officials and area residents have expressed strong support for the farm. Deacon said Diamond Point needs to know that.

“We want the developers to realize that they would be writing their name into the story of this community,” he said. “They would be the ones to save this farm. If they are indeed the ones to preserve it, then they are writing their names into our history.

“Our goal is to get support. I spoke with Mike Carnazza from the Building Department and Craig Paeprer (chair of the Planning Board). One thing they all recommended was getting the county’s Economic Development Corporation involved.”

As a result, Deacon said he will meet this week with Kathleen Ables, president of the Putnam County Economic Development Corp.

“Our goal is to incentivize Diamond Point to cross the finish line,” he said. “Show them that they would be doing an enormous amount of goodwill.”

Deacon said working with the EDC could help uncover potential tax breaks and other incentives.

“We are turning over every rock,” he said. “We want to prove to Diamond Point that this is not just a good deal for them, but that it would also create tremendous goodwill. We are talking about dozens of new jobs, educational opportunities and fresh food. It is in everyone’s interest.”

Deacon said Fable Farms would need all 20 acres because of buffer zones and wetlands, noting that Diamond Point’s approved site plan includes two storage facilities, although the approval for the second building is nearing expiration.

“If that second building were to go up, there would be no room for us,” Deacon said. “Farms take up space; we need a lot of space.

“They were contemplating not building the second [self-storage facility], and we want to incentivize them not to do it — not store junk but grow food instead,” he added.

Deacon said he and his wife, Kristin, who co-founded Fable Farms, have lived in Mahopac since 2017 with their children, and he is invested in the community, where he volunteers as a soccer coach.

When Deacon is not farming, he works as a producer for HBO and has been part of several of the cable network’s shows, including “Succession,” “The Last of Us,” “Task” and an upcoming series titled “Rooster” starring Steve Carell.

He said maintaining both jobs, including the commute into the city, has been draining.

“I should be investing in coffee bean companies,” he said with a laugh.

Meanwhile, he said he will not give up on his dream of bringing a farm to Mahopac. He plans to meet soon with County Executive Kevin Byrne to discuss the proposal.

“It has been a bit of a roller coaster, but I am optimistic and still determined,” he said. “I want to do everything nice and fair. Our community wants to see this happen, but [Diamond Point] holds all the cards.”