454,000-Square-Foot Warehouse Project Advances in West Haverstraw
A proposed 454,000-square-foot warehouse development in West Haverstraw is moving through the environmental review process, with a public hearing scheduled as local officials consider the potential economic, environmental and traffic impacts of the large-scale commercial project.
The Grassy Point Bend Wholesale Storage and Warehousing Facility is proposed for approximately 34 acres near Beach Road, East Railroad Avenue and Ecology Lane. The property, located within the Village of West Haverstraw's Planned Light Industrial zoning district, was formerly used as a construction and demolition debris landfill.
The proposal calls for a single approximately 454,000-square-foot warehouse with accessory office space, truck loading docks, trailer storage, employee parking and related infrastructure. The development would have access points from Ecology Lane and Beach Road.
The Village of West Haverstraw Planning Board has accepted the project's Draft Environmental Impact Statement, moving the proposal into the next phase of the State Environmental Quality Review Act process. A public hearing on the environmental document is scheduled for Aug. 12, with written comments being accepted through Sept. 10.
A significant component of the proposal is the redevelopment of the former landfill. According to project documents, the site would be capped as part of construction, with measures proposed to address groundwater, landfill gas, stormwater and other environmental conditions.
The Draft Environmental Impact Statement also examines potential impacts involving traffic, noise, air quality, geology and soils, plants and wildlife, visual resources and public health. Proposed mitigation measures include stormwater management infrastructure, landfill gas and groundwater monitoring, a vapor intrusion barrier, sound mitigation and vegetative screening.
The project has generated concerns from some nearby residents, particularly regarding truck traffic, noise, flooding and the site's proximity to residential properties. Minisceongo Creek borders the property to the east, adding stormwater and flooding considerations to the environmental review.
According to the Draft Environmental Impact Statement, the project could generate up to 240 permanent jobs and approximately 180 construction jobs. The developer has not yet identified a tenant for the proposed warehouse.
The development requires site plan approval from the Village Planning Board as well as area variances and approvals from other local and state agencies.
If ultimately approved, the project would represent a significant redevelopment of a long-unused industrial property in Rockland County, while illustrating the land-use and environmental considerations communities face when seeking to return former landfill and brownfield properties to productive use.
Learn more: Town of Haverstraw - Grassy Point Bend Wholesale Storage and Warehousing Facility - NYSDEC
