Goshen town planners review four projects

Four projects made headway at the March 20 meeting of the Goshen Town Planning Board:

The Golden Stay Inn

The Golden Stay Inn project progressed, as the board heard an update on its water testing for its 8.6 acre site along Route 17M. The applicants reported that they were able to pump the necessary water without negative side-effects or affecting neighboring wells. They met the Health Department requirement for stabilization.

The board accepted the report but took no action on the project at this time.

The Student Bus Company, Inc.

The Student Bus Company, Inc. project was granted a public hearing for April 17, assuming the completion of a traffic study by the April 3 meeting.

The project occupies 3.4 acres on two adjacent sites along Industrial Drive.

It will be a school bus terminal that houses a number of busses and includes a warehouse and office space with room for maintenance of two busses at a time. Most busses will go out in morning and afternoon shifts.

The warehouse project at Edward J. Lempka Drive

The Edward J. Lempka Drive warehouse is a small warehouse project being reviewed by both the town and village of Goshen.

The village has declared itself lead agency but the applicants had some issues they brought before the town, as well.

The focus of their meeting was on improving traffic flow patterns, and for this point the applicant has created islands and moved the parking area away from the through lane.

The town planners waived the need for a public hearing on this project and said they were ready to move forward once the applicant completes the SEQRA process with the village.

Mulch Mart Express Inc.

The owner of Mulch Mart Express Inc. along Route 17M and Fischer Lane said he came to the board to find out if he needs a variance for his company that has already been operating 14 years.

Over the course of that time, the property has been subject to building department violations and failed to plant trees it originally promised.

The owner said the state said the trees would be a traffic hazard and so he could not fulfill this promise.

Planning Board attorney Kelly Naughton said he should have come back to the planning board in that event.

The applicant also questioned how close he could store mulch to the street, which is the issue he had received fines for.

Naughton confirmed he needed to get a variance from the zoning board to operate in his current manner or he could amend his site plans.

The planning board declared itself lead agency on the project.