A proposed mixed-use building project seeks to be built along Broadway on the Hurricane Grill & Wings site with an additional residential structure planned to be torn down. The proposal would feature first-floor commercial usage with additional floors of residential space for 58 proposed units.

The restaurant located at 829 Broadway in the City of Newburgh is owned and maintained by Angelo Balbo of Angelo Balbo LLC. The adjacent property, 825 Broadway, has a house and is also owned by Angelo Balbo LLC. The combined parcels make up 2.39 acres.

The project appeared before the city’s Zoning Board of Appeals on January 23 but no determination was made on the project that night.

In documents obtained by the Mid Hudson Times, KARC Planning Consultants, Inc of Poughkeepsie presented their request for a use variance for the project. Use variances are requested when a proposed project seeks a usage that is not permitted within the current zone. The request is for “a Use Variance for an Apartment House in the Low Density Residential Zone with a Neighborhood Commercial Overlay.”

For a neighborhood commercial overlay district, a retail store, a restaurant, personal services, a professional office, mixed use, etc are permitted under code but would require a site plan approval from the city. A district of this type allows multiple uses in order to promote market-driven uses and overall redevelopment.

The Hurricane Grill property is located in the city’s commercial zone with waterfront protection overlay (WPO) district. The WPO in the city code is meant to protect the city’s water bodies, its creeks and its stream corridors. The current restaurant borders the Quassaick Creek.

The property at 825 Broadway currently has a house that is in the low density residential zone. This zone within city code applies to mainly single family residential dwellings with allowance up to two or three family dwellings. This zone can feature other types of housing, facilities or community services that meet the needs of the surrounding community.

The firm Liscum McCormack VanVoorhis Architects from Poughkeepsie prepared renderings for the zoning application. The renderings showed a brick building with one floor proposed for commercial usage while the remaining floors feature residential spaces. New landscaping and lighting included on the site appeared to be in front of the building facing Broadway. Most of the building would be built going back into the property creating an L-shape structure. An additional plan showed that the majority of the parking for the site would be in the back of the property for both residential and commercial usage.

In addition to the creek, the Stony Brook Condominiums and Suites are located near the proposed project. Across the street is the Valero Gas Station and the former Dennis’s Service Center that is being cleaned up. The McDowell Place neighborhood is adjacent to the project along with other residential streets and commercial businesses along the Broadway corridor.

Resident Frances Garcia of 19 McDowell Place opposes the project. Her concerns surrounding this proposal include the visual impact to the neighborhood, the impact of the traffic that travels along 17K/Broadway and having additional parking on McDowell Place.

“I’ve been a resident of the City of Newburgh for over 25 years. I’m against the project,” Garcia said. “Anybody can reach out to me, they are more than welcome to come to my house and stand on my deck and look over because the visual will make it more clear what my neighbors and I will have to deal with on our side of the street if this project goes through.”

The next scheduled zoning board meeting will be on Tuesday, February 27 at 7 p.m. at the City Activity Center located at 401 Washington St.