A proposed zoning change from a residential district to a business district raised concerns from Town of Newburgh residents about future property usage and traffic safety.

On Monday, March 14, The Town of Newburgh Board hosted a public hearing for the proposed rezoning.
According to Town Attorney Mark Taylor, the proposed rezoning is for a 0.68 acre parcel of land located at the intersection of Union Avenue and Union Avenue Extension also known as New York State Route 300.

On the parcel, according to Taylor, a property currently stands that was formerly used as a chiropractic office. An apartment extension is also on the current property.

The applicant for the proposed rezoning, Dr. Joseph Accettura, a licensed optometrist, plans to use the current building as a professional office for practice with the apartment extension remaining.

“Before I bought the property, I consulted with the town attorney,” Accettura said.

Due to the current zoning code which only permits one employee to work on-site, Accettura stated before those gathered that the reason for the zoning change is because he requires more employees on-site.

According to the town website, the parcel in question does allow various uses in the R-3 (residential) or B (Business) zone. Several uses listed on the town website included membership clubs, eating and drinking places, nursery school for preschool children, restaurants and other uses.

However these various uses are subject to Town of Newburgh Planning Board review.

Several residents of the town appeared before the board to deliver comments on the rezoning.

Kathleen Liviccori shared concerns before the Town of Newburgh board about the traffic that passes through the immediate area.

“That’s a very heavily traveled area, there’s a lot of traffic there already,” Liviccori said. “It’s dangerous as it is.”

Judith Lobig shared concerns about the various usages of the property and shared the concern about the traffic.

“All of the properties that surround this corner lot, with the exception of what’s across the street, are all R3, they are all homes,” Lobig said.

The board addressed all other remaining comments and thanked those present for speaking. No immediate decision was made.