The Town of Newburgh Planning Board declared itself lead agency and would be circulating the plans to the Orange County Planning Department for the project known as Matrix I-84 Distribution Center. The motion was carried on Thursday, July 20. No public hearing will be scheduled until a SEQR (State Environmental Quality Review Act) determination has been made and the county has provided a response to the project.

The proposed 595,900 square foot warehouse features 117 loading docks, 224 parking spaces for employees and 144 trailer spaces. The project was before the planning board back in December 2022 and is a permitted use within the Interchangeable Business [IB] zone.

Similar to other projects in the town, the applicant has not yet identified a tenant for the warehouse, but if approved, the warehouse would be designed and hopefully built to meet those tenant(s)’ needs.

Chuck Utschig of Langan Engineering & Environmental Services Inc said the project is set back 900 feet from Route 17K, near the intersection of Interstate 84, and is screened on both sides by natural barriers. Based on conducted studies, the project would not have a noise impact on adjacent properties.

MHE Engineering has noted a tree preservation plan has been submitted for town review, a City of Newburgh Flow Acceptance Letter and a five acre waiver will be required and Federal Aviation Administration signoff will be needed for the project as it neighbors Stewart Airport. “We also have been in touch with the FAA. We’ve had some very detailed interaction with them. And we have an updated application in with FAA,” said Utschig.

Other requirements would need to come from the Health Department; for water mains with hydrants, the applicant would need to review fire protection systems, a wetland survey would need to be submitted and addressing traffic along 17K, a traffic study was previously approved by the town board to review the 17K/I84 intersection while the applicant would need to further review the emergency access route for the site.