Wallkill Valley Times, Wednesday, January 16, 2019
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Sailfish hearing draws concerned residents
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be no hazardous materials or industrial
processing.
The project will include 80 acres of
disturbance and 50 acres of impervious
surfaces, Chase said.
Several town residents brought up
concerns about an increase in stormwater
run-off into the Tin Brook, a small stream
that snakes through the project site and
the Village of Walden, and increased
flooding downstream.
Residents on nearby Brown Road
were also concerned about the nature of
the property, which already experiences
occasional flooding, and increased
flooding on nearby properties as a result
of the project.
“That site is a swamp with open water
now. . . The hydraulics of that site cannot
be overcome. Water has to go somewhere,”
Newburgh resident Sandra Kissam said
at a public hearing on Jan. 14.
The proposed maximum projected
average wastewater generation for the
project is a maximum of 20,000 gallons per
day. However according to the DEIS, the
stormwater management practices would
detain, treat and release stormwater
runoff in a controlled manner at a rate
equal to or less than what existed prior to
construction of the property.
The site contains approximately 88
acres of wetlands and wetland adjacent
areas. The largest wetland, with 47.8 acres,
is driven by seasonal high groundwater,
occasional flooding from the Tin Brook
and overland run-off, according to the
existing conditions report of the DEIS.
Proposed stormwater management
plans include bioretention basins—the
practice that uses plants, microbes and
soils for removal of pollutants from
stormwater runoff—and stormwater
management ponds.
The drainage system would consist of
high-density polyethylene and concrete
pipes, concrete catch basins and
drainage manholes. Catch basins would
be generally located in driveway and
parking areas, be provided at all changes
of direction and be spaced 300 feet apart
or less.
Residents were also concerned about
an increase in traffic and its impact on
the intersection of 17K and Browns Road,
which they described as dangerous.
“It’s a very dangerous thing doing
a left-hand turn across traffic on 17K,”
Montgomery resident Richard Bystrak
said. “You are taking your life in your
hands.”
Montgomery resident Dennis Pennega
requested that a traffic study of the
Map showing the location of proposed Town of Montgomery warehouse.
intersection of 17K and Browns Road be
conducted.
Residents were also concerned about
the validity of the traffic studies in the
DEIS, which they said were not up to date.
The DEIS estimates the site will
generate between 617 and 641 car and
truck trips for morning and evening
peak hours for all months of the year
except December. During the peak season
of December, the project will generate
between 975 and 1,032 trips during peak
hours.
Access to the site will primarily be from
Route 747, which intersects I-84 at exit 5A
and a secondary access on Route 17K. A
proposed traffic light will be installed on
NYS Route 747 to provide a northbound
left-turn lane and south-bound right-turn
lane into the project site. Route 747 will
also be widened.
Several residents said there are several
animal species present on the project
site that are not mentioned in the DEIS,
including the endangered Indiana bat, the
state endangered bog turtle, bird species
and even bears.
The DEIS states there were no
endangered or threatened plant or animal
species on site during field investigations
conducted by the assessment, but it also
states the New York Natural Heritage
Program identified the Indiana bat within
1.5 miles of the project site. However, 2008
and 2014 studies for previous proposed
projects did not indicate the presence of
the endangered bat.
The document also identifies the bog
turtle as possibly present.
Not all comments on the project were
negative. Several residents and business
representatives praised the project as a
job creator and tax ratable.
“I think it’s the right project in the
right place at the right time,” Goshen
resident and Vice President of Atlas
Security Services Scott Perry said.
The location of the project will take
advantage of its easy access to I-84 and
provide a connection to International
Boulevard and Stewart International
Airport.
“The Town of Montgomery is
historically recognized as a front-
runner for successfully attracting
quality projects,” President and CEO
of the Orange County Partnership
Maureen Hallahan said. “We’re asking
for a predictable and timely review of
this project so new jobs will be created,
taxes will be generated and the whole
community wins.”
The
project
will
generate
approximately 800 full-time jobs with
annual starting salaries of $31,000
plus benefits, including vacation time,
medical insurance, 401K benefits, tuition
reimbursements and more.
The site has been eyed by large
developers before for its convenient
location.
In 2009, Hudson International Business
Center proposed the development of a
business park focusing on warehousing
and distribution, with five buildings
and a total floor area of approximately
1.5 million square feet. The project
progressed past the FEIS stage but was
never built.
In 2015, Resorts World Hudson Valley
proposed a 1.7-million-square-foot casino.
The project did not move forward as the
New York State Gaming Facility Location
Board did not choose any potential
gaming sites in Orange County, including
the Town of Montgomery site.
The full DEIS and other documents
are available on Montgomery’s website
at townofmontgomery.com, or project
documents may be found at town hall.
The planning board closed the public
hearing for the DEIS. However, the board
extended written comment to Jan. 28.
Comments may be addressed to Suzanne
Hadden, Town of Montgomery Planning
Board, Town Hall—110 Bracken Road,
Montgomery or emailed to shadden@
townofmontgomery.com.
A continuation of the public hearing
for the site plan and special use permit
will be at town hall on Feb. 11 at 8 p.m.