Two businesses presented their proposals to the Town of Newburgh’s planning board at last Thursday’s planning board meeting. The potential businesses are a gas station owned by the Newburgh Park Associates [NPA] and a Ready Coffee.

Neither site plan was officially approved at last Thursday’s meeting.

The NPA Gas Station was the third proposal submitted of 2017, while the Ready Coffee was the 26th proposal submitted of 2019. The Ready Coffee proposal included a view of the initial appearance of the business in an amended site plan.

The NPA Gas Station proposal was presented first by the NPA’s hired architectural firm, Zen Design Consultant, Inc.

The NPA hasn’t established which gas company will be operating the gas station. The proposal is focused on first creating a gas station. The NPA plans to have the gas station located on a section of Route 747. Because of concern over code compliance, potential traffic, and more, the site plan wasn’t immediately approved by the planning board.

One concern was over the truck entrance. “When we looked at the plans, the truck entrance looked a little small,” said Ken Wersted, Town of Newburgh traffic consultant. “I just want to make sure that if a truck is pulling out, people can get in.”
Ready Coffee presented last on the agenda. Jed Bonnem, Ready Coffee Co. partner, gave background on Ready Coffee, and Michael Berta, Lothrop Associates LLP. architect, led the business’s design presentation.

“We’re probably a new concept for most people here,” said Bonnem. Ready Coffee is a local craft coffee company based out of the Hudson Valley. Currently, Ready Coffee has one store in Wappinger Falls. “We serve the on the go market locally.”
According to Bonnem, Ready Coffee “has become a huge hit with the [Wappinger Falls] community.” The proposed store will be operated out of the Big Lots Mall shopping lot on North Plank Road. The store will be around 550 square feet in total.

There will be no seating inside the store but there will be outdoor standing space, and an outdoor seating wall without tables. There will be a drive through lane and a walk-up window for customers to purchase coffee from. The focus of the operation is for one to grab their coffee and go.

“We think it’s a very innovative way of serving the public,” said Bonnem.

Due to issues like parking, the location of the drive through, and the length of a proposed sidewalk near the establishment, the proposal was not approved.

“We’re not in the position to continue reviewing this project,” said Town of Newburgh Planning Board Chairman John P. Ewasutyn. “We’re going to have to refer you to the ZBA [Zoning Board of Appeals].

In addition, the board voted to have a consultants meeting with lead agencies for the NPA gas station on January 28 at 1 p.m.