250-Unit Housing Proposal Near Galleria Advances Through Wallkill Review
A proposal to build 250 apartments near the Galleria at Crystal Run is moving through the Town of Wallkill review process, with local officials weighing the potential for new housing and transit-oriented development against concerns about infrastructure and site design.
Sterling Properties Group LLC is seeking a zoning map amendment and Planned Residential Development overlay for approximately 5.4 acres at 1 Galleria Drive. The property is located near the Galleria and the Metro-North station.
Supporters of the proposal have pointed to the potential economic benefits of bringing more residents to the area, including increased activity for the mall and surrounding businesses. Orange County planning officials have also identified transit-oriented development in the area as a longstanding goal.
The Wallkill Planning Board, however, has raised several issues that it wants addressed before the proposal moves forward. Among them are the amount of green space included in the plan, traffic mitigation, parking, school bus access and the need for expanded sidewalks connecting the development to the Metro-North station.
The board has asked the project's engineers to revise the proposal to address those concerns before further action is taken.
If approved, the project would add a significant number of multifamily homes to the Town of Wallkill while advancing efforts to concentrate new housing near transportation, shopping and other existing amenities.
