BETHEL — A mid-level appeals court has upheld a $25,000 fine against the owners of Yasgur's Farm, part of the site of the 1969 Woodstock concert, for allowing camping and staging shows without proper town permits a year ago.

Roy Howard and Jeryl Abramson, owners of 100 acres of the former farm where they have held Woodstock-themed reunions, advertised a weekend of food, music and camping May 28-30, 2011, to coincide with Phish's three concerts at Bethel Woods Performing Arts Center just down the road from their property.

The parcel where the main stage area for the original Woodstock festival is located on a part of the farm where Bethel Woods now stands. It is not owned by Howard and Abramson.

Abramson advertised that their property could host up to 5,000 people and that they had secured food and merchandise vendors and hired more than 20 bands to play on their stage.

After the owners advertised the event, Town of Bethel officials filed a lawsuit asking them to adhere to a 2007 consent order they signed with the town promising that they would not hold mass gatherings, nor organize any large scale concerts or recreation amusements without the proper permits. They also promised not to advertise any such events. They agreed to pay a $25,000 fine if they violated the consent order.

In October 2011, a state Supreme Court justice in Sullivan County denied the owners' motion for, among other things, a declaration that they were not in violation of the prior order. The owners then appealed to the Appellate Division of State Supreme Court, which Thursday upheld the lower court's ruling.

"Because Howard and Abramson did not seek a special use permit, as required by the consent order, Supreme Court properly determined that they had violated the order and were required to pay a penalty to the town," the appellate court justices wrote.

bgardinier@timesunion.com • 518-454-5696 • @BobGardinier