IDA project at Tech Meadows delayed by environmental review; DEC site visit scheduled

An Industrial Development Agency project for a Food Coffee development near Tech Meadows is on hold pending environmental review by the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation, IDA staff said at the Sept. 16 meeting.

Tara, an environmental consultant on the matter, told the board that DEC will tour the site on Wednesday the 24th at 10 a.m. to review historical and recent reports and to determine whether additional precautions or testing will be required before construction disturbs soil. "DEC is coming I think next week out to the site, and we've been invited if someone would like to attend," Tara said.

IDA staff reported that financing for the Food Coffee project is in place but that the contractor wants clarity about any required remediation steps before beginning work. Tara said the DEC visit is intended to review existing phase‑I/phase‑II reports and testing wells and to identify any necessary protective measures. Meeting notes indicated the DEC will not perform invasive testing during the walk‑through.

Board members and staff discussed a nearby South Street site where previous work had found areas of contaminated soil that had been covered; IDA staff referenced that earlier remediation when explaining the contractor’s caution. Rob Holbrook of V and H Construction was named as a contractor who will accompany DEC on the site tour.

No formal IDA vote or incentive decision was taken at the Sept. 16 meeting related to this project; board members said they were awaiting DEC’s determination and any required remediation procedures before proceeding.