The Town of Newburgh Planning Board approved a referral letter to be written by its attorney and sent to the Zoning Board of Appeals for requested variances for the proposed Newburgh QuickChek project. The proposed project, a new 6,730 square- foot QuickChek storefront with a gas station on Lakeside Road, reappeared before the town planning board on Thursday, April 4.

The project site sits adjacent to Route 17K and the Interstate 84 intersection in the town with entrances proposed along Lakeside Road. Along with the storefront, a 5,734 square foot fueling canopy is also proposed with eight fueling stations, a total of 16 fueling positions for vehicles.

The firm Stonefield Engineering and Design, LLC returned before the town with an amended project. Engineer Zach Chaplin said the project has seen a reduction in its footprint since the last appearance to the board. Reviews of curb cuts and site buffering have also been reviewed since the last appearance.

“First thing we did was remove the truck fueling completely from the development,” said Chaplin. “More importantly, there’s really no intention to have tractor trailers on the site. While it’s not called out on the plan we’ll provide signage that says no tractor trailers for the property.”

Stonefield Traffic Engineer Amanda LaRosa also returned Thursday night, discussing the prepared traffic study. The study focused on several intersections along 17K, such as Lakeside Road, the Interstate 84 east and west ramps, Governor Drive and Rock Cut Road. The traffic study also reviews traffic impacts based on projects in the area such as the Matrix Distribution Center, Sunbelt Rentals and the Positive Developers Warehouse on Racquet Road.

LaRosa reported that minor signal modifications would be appropriate for the intersection at Lakeside Road and 17K and these adjustments were being reviewed by the New York State Department of Transportation and the town’s traffic consultant. The study also found that the queuing of vehicles at the intersection’s light would not impact the site’s main driveway.

Planning board members requested the applicant to consider installing Level 3 electric vehicle charging stations, meaning a faster charging time. Discussing the traffic study, the study should include the International Boulevard intersection and warehouse project next to the Kia Newburgh property. Other items called out were the enforcement of larger vehicles while at the business and the applicant should include the cars that are going in and out of the site going to the gas pumps.

Comments prepared by MHE Engineering note the removal of the truck fueling area. Three tractor-trailer-sized parking spaces on the eastern side of the property are now included in the plans. Chaplin earlier explained that those three spots would be for larger vehicles such as RVs or buses.

Variances are being requested by the applicant for two free-standing signs and comments from the highway superintendent should be reviewed as there are three proposed site access points. The project will also need to review site buffering and landscaping and would require other variances. A total of 12 comments will need to be reviewed by the applicant.