An organization of concerned citizens from Plattekill, Gardiner, and neighboring Hudson Valley communities has formed to oppose the construction of a 75-bay trucking warehouse proposed on State Route 44/55 between Routes 32 and 208 in the hamlet of Modena.
The group, calling itself “Stop the Modena Mega Warehouse,” held its first meeting on May 22nd at the Gardiner Town Hall. The warehouse project came to light to the community last December and quickly drew vocal opposition from citizens, including yard signs and social media sites.
The project has been proposed by Modena Developers, LLC, a company based in Orange County. Currently before the Plattekill Planning Board, the proposal calls for the building of a 451,000 square-foot building (the size of 7.8 football fields) on 50 acres of land in Modena directly on the Gardiner border.
The proposed location is on a narrow stretch of state road with no shoulders. Since the developer has not identified the tenant(s) or contents of the building, it is not yet possible to project the number of tractor trailers that will be entering and leaving the property daily, but with 75 loading docks that number could be in the 100s, traveling the 2-lane country roads to the nearest interstate highways, seven miles away (in New Paltz) and 13 miles away (in Newburgh). The projected work force of 116 employees alone, could add as many as 232 additional vehicles on that section of Route 44-55 during shift changes.
The Gardiner Town Board submitted a lengthy set of comments to the Plattekill Planning Board on January 23, opposing the project on multiple grounds, including traffic safety and congestion issues, zoning compliance issues, multiple adverse environmental impacts, and debasement of the adjacent Cole-Hasbrouck Historic Farm District.
“This proposed trucking terminal and warehouse complex constitutes a serious threat to the safety and quality of life of residents of the area, and all those who travel the roads, including school buses and emergency vehicles,” said Michael Hartner, a member of the Gardiner Town Board. “Smart growth would dictate that facilities of this nature be located much closer to highway intersections.”
The group will hold its second public organizational meeting on Thursday evening, May 30 at 6 p.m. in the Gardiner Town Hall. All who oppose the project are invited, especially those who are willing to support Stop the Mega Warehouse, either financially or through volunteer efforts.