Planning Board adopts negative declaration and grants conditional approval to Spark Car Wash

The Town of Newburgh Planning Board on Aug. 7 adopted a SEQRA negative declaration and granted conditional final approval for the Spark Car Wash site plan, with conditions requiring outside agency approvals and securities.

Jennifer Porter, representing the applicant, said no additional written public comments were received and that the applicant submitted a revised City of Newburgh flow acceptance letter. Planning consultant Pat Hines reviewed the revised long‑form EAF and recommended Part 2 be reviewed by the board; he flagged an 11,552 gallons per day increase in hydraulic loading identified by the applicant and described required stormwater securities, inspection fees and demolition permits prior to site work. Hines also summarized environmental review bulleted items and recommended a negative declaration provided there were no moderate or large impacts.

Dominic Cordisco, the board attorney, said that with the Part 2 review completed and no potential for significant environmental impacts identified, the board could adopt a negative declaration. The board voted unanimously to adopt the negative declaration and then moved, seconded and approved conditional final approval with the conditions Cordisco listed: address outstanding plan comments, obtain DEC general permit coverage for stormwater discharges, secure conceptual DOT approval for access improvements prior to site plan signing, post performance securities (stormwater, landscape), and provide post‑construction traffic monitoring within a year of certificate of occupancy.

Pat Hines said the board will require post‑development traffic monitoring and may require mitigation if impacts are identified. The applicant acknowledged the conditions and the board recorded the unanimous roll call vote.