Planning board closes hearing on 17M warehouse after DOT asks for left‑turn design; residents press for fuller review

The Town of Goshen Planning Board closed a continuance public hearing June 5 on an application for a warehouse and office site plan covering about 8.9 acres at 17M and Cannon Hill Drive after the applicant and state transportation officials flagged a left‑turn lane issue.

The applicant’s representative, Joe Pfau of Pfau (representing the owner), said New York State Department of Transportation staff reviewed the project and asked for a traffic impact study and a conceptual design for a westbound left‑turn lane onto 17M. Pfau said the project’s consultant found the new development would raise trips on Cannon Hill Drive by about 7% in the morning peak and about 13% in the evening peak. “We hired Creighton Manning to do that study,” Pfau told the board, and the study concluded a westbound left‑turn lane is warranted.

Why it matters: DOT’s request affects whether the board can finalize technical review and whether off‑site roadwork or permit conditions will be required. Residents said the intersection’s existing safety problems could make the site’s additional traffic hazardous without clearer commitments on design and funding.

Residents and farm operators voiced safety concerns at the hearing. Chris Healy, who identified himself as a Goshen resident of Howard Court, said the intersection at 17M and Cannon Hill Drive is “treacherous” and asked whether eastbound movements and existing heavy vehicles had been addressed. Marie Ortman, a Gate Schoolhouse Road resident, said accidents are common there and urged the board to “relook at that and make sure that that is addressed.” Wendy Murrell asked when the traffic counts were done; the applicant replied the counts were done roughly two months earlier.

DOT’s position, as read into the record, requested a conceptual left‑turn design, a five‑foot asphalt bike path detail, and noted prior accidents at the location. Pfau said the applicant agreed to have Creighton Manning prepare a conceptual design to confirm whether a right‑of‑way taking would be needed but does not intend to seek a DOT construction permit now; the DOT will require a permit if the left‑turn lane is built within DOT right‑of‑way.

Board discussion and decision: Planning board members debated whether to keep the hearing open while DOT and consultant materials are finalized. One board member noted that other projects on 17M will re‑raise the issue. After public remarks and the applicant’s confirmation it would provide the requested studies and conceptual design, the board voted to close the public hearing. The board chair noted staff must make a decision on the application within the time required by local code after closing the hearing; that deadline was called out during the meeting.

Next steps: The applicant said it will submit the traffic impact study, the DOT correspondence, and the conceptual left‑turn design so the planning department and consultants can complete technical review. The board did not adopt final site plan conditions at the June 5 meeting; the record shows the left‑turn design, possible DOT permit, and how mitigation costs would be allocated remain outstanding.

Ending: With the hearing closed, the board and applicant will exchange the DOT study and the Creighton Manning conceptual design and the board’s technical reviewer will complete outstanding comments before the board reaches a decision under town code.