JMC Planning Engineering Landscape Architecture & Land Surveying, PLLC presented to the Town Newburgh Planning Board a proposed 290,000 square foot single warehouse building located on the east side of Route 300 known as Farrell Industrial Park.

“Under existing conditions the site is 35 acres,” a representative from JMC said. The layout includes two separate parcels of land. “As part of the project we are proposing to merge the lots into a single parcel,” the representative said. Originally, there were two buildings proposed for the project but the plan needed redesigning. The site falls under the Zone: IB, which means industrial interchange business.

On site, in terms of parking, there will be 250 parking spaces, 32 loading spaces facing the east side of the property and 34 truck trailer spaces on the south side of the site. Directly to the north of the property is a residential district in the town. There is one main access road that connects from Route 300 to the site. Landscaping amenities include planting several hundred types of trees and shrubs with various lawn space on the property. The water main for the proposed site will connect to the Town of Newburgh’s water main. The sewage for the site will be treated on-site with their own septic system.

Phil Clark of Claris Construction in Newtown, Connecticut, presented to the board the design for the site. The site would include a two story glass entrance way with a gray color palette for the building. The entrance area would contain most of the site’s offices. The site would be built out of concrete. Clark said the site does support solar power/panels with current wiring in the building.

A public comment asked the question of who would be occupying the site and what the site would be used for. Clark responded to the question saying the site would be an electrical distribution facility. The occupant was not mentioned.

This new site is looking to break ground as soon as possible with the Planning Board’s approval. No immediate costs were discussed at the meeting.

Another site being developed for warehouse space is the 90-acre site across from the Newburgh Mall that was originally indended to be another shopping mall.

"Approximately 15 years ago, the project planned for this location was named The Marketplace, a proposed large retail and mall site,said Town Supervisor Gil Piaquadio. " The developer faced one lawsuit after another which slowed down final approval."

The property was sold to another developer.  These owners had problems obtaining retail leases and sold to a developer who named the retail and village type development “The Loop.”  This developer was also unable to obtain retail leases, so the property was sold again to a developer who planned a retail and entertainment site named the Ridge they too were unable to obtain enough leases to support the project so it was sold to the Matrix.  The Matrix currently has one warehouse in the Town of Newburgh and, according to Piaquadio, have been good neighbors.

"I am not excited about having warehouses at this location as I would prefer retail.," Piaquadio said. "Yet the property is zoned for both retail and/or warehousing leaving the town no real choice. I made it clear to the warehouse owners that the Town will not support any IDA Pilots (any reduction in taxes beyond what is allowed by law) for the building or any tenants they may obtain.  In light of the decline in purchases at brick and mortar retail stores and rise in internet purchasing, the need for such warehouses has increased."