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Large Britain Woods DEIS draws dozens of residents who raise traffic, stormwater and wildlife concerns; hearing continued to Sept. 5
Summary
The Planning Board opened a public hearing Aug. 1 on the draft EIS for Britain Woods, a 258‑unit, multi‑building residential proposal on ~48 acres. Residents pressed for more robust traffic analysis, questioned sight distance and winter/snow impacts, raised stormwater and wildlife concerns, and requested the record remain open; the board continued the hearing to Sept. 5.
The Planning Board on Aug. 1 held a lengthy public hearing on the draft environmental impact statement (DEIS) for Britain Woods (project 2022‑17), a proposal for 258 apartment units in 10 residential structures and a clubhouse on roughly 48 acres off Little Britain Road/NY‑207.
Applicant representatives Ross Winglovitz and engineer Zach Szabo presented the DEIS’ key elements — principal and emergency access points, stormwater management and a proposed sewer force main and pump station that would convey sanitary flow to an offsite unity point, a viewshed and aesthetics analysis, and proposed architecture described as a modern farmhouse palette.
A broad cross‑section of area residents raised safety and technical concerns. The dominant theme was traffic and sight distance on State Route 207: speakers questioned the traffic count day used in the applicant’s ATR, argued that the chosen day was an outlier due to lane restrictions, and asked the Board to require a more representative baseline and improved sight‑distance design (including a show of a 500‑foot design sight distance used for intersection design). Several residents asked the Board to require the applicant to install a left‑turn lane and other DOT improvements before or as a condition of approval; town consultants confirmed prior coordination with DOT on intersection options and said DOT’s review remains pending.
Residents also raised stormwater concerns (runoff into Harrison Pond), wildlife impacts (deer, turkeys, bald eagles observed nearby), and the risk of blasting and how blasting would be monitored and mitigated. Fire officials and the volunteer fire district asked about access for emergency apparatus and cited a history of crashes at nearby intersections. The applicant and the Board’s consultants agreed to add or continue technical reviews: traffic, stormwater, geotechnical (including any blasting plans) and wildlife studies.
Procedural outcome: A motion to close the public hearing and extend the written comment period failed; the Board voted to continue the public hearing on Sept. 5, 2024 to allow additional written comments and to let consultants complete technical reviews. Staff and consultants will compile written technical comments that the applicant must address in a final EIS.
What’s next: The Planning Board will collect written comments (extended by board direction), receive technical reviews from MH&E and Creighton Manning, and reconvene the public hearing Sept. 5. DOT and other outside agencies will be asked to provide comments on access and intersection improvements.
