A former dry cleaner at the entrance to Colden Park could soon be serving up Jamaican cuisine.

The Town of Newburgh Planning Board did not come to a determination to hold a public hearing for the project known as 273 Route 17K on Thursday, September 21. For now the planning board will wait to hear back from the New York State Department of Transportation on their determinations of the project.

The project last appeared before the planning board in April and proposed the conversion of the former dry cleaners facility into a sit-down restaurant for Jamaican food. The project also proposed new parking spots and handicap parking for customers. The site currently sits at the intersection of Arbor Drive and Route 17K. Arbor Drive leads into the Colden Park neighborhood.

Two requested variances for setback and landscape buffering the proposed project had been previously approved by the Zoning Board of Appeals prior to the appearance at the planning board. The project site plan Thursday night noted new additional screening for the adjacent residential property. The screening was part of conversations between the two parties that was agreed upon.

The project was previously noted as located in the business zoning district and would also require input from the NYSDOT as it is in close proximity to Route 17K. Comments again prepared by MHE Engineering noted that the Orange County Planning Department will need to provide a referral. Dumpster enclosure details and parking lot remediation with striping were noted as well.

Planning Board Attorney Dominic Cordisco noted that this planning item would now be exempt as it proposed a change in use in an existing structure that would be characterized as having minimal impact by the county. The change in determination was adopted the same day as per the signing of an intermunicipal agreement by the town supervisor.

Though no determination was made about a public hearing, the town and MHE will work with the applicant to send out notices to notify existing neighbors and businesses to make them aware of the project and the intended plan.