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Neighbors press for screening, noise and idling limits as Planning Board closes Unity Place hearing
Summary
Developers of a revised 240,000‑square‑foot Unity Place warehouse told the Planning Board they strengthened landscaping and stormwater designs; residents pressed for evergreen buffers, dark‑sky lighting, limits on truck idling and post‑construction monitoring; the board closed the public hearing and left final site/ARB action pending submitted revisions.
The Planning Board held a lengthy public hearing on March 5 for the Unity Place Warehouse (project 25‑34), a revised proposal to build a 240,000‑square‑foot distribution facility on roughly 17.5 acres at Old Little Britain Road and Unity Place.
The applicant team — represented by John Capello, Dennis Rocks (engineer) and Jason Anderson (architect) — described a revision that increased building size while shifting the footprint away from nearby residences after acquiring two intermediary lots. The developers said this allowed elimination of a retaining wall and enabled a more robust planting plan. Stormwater measures include bioretention basins and subsurface infiltration galleries; sanitary and water connections will tie into Town infrastructure and the project requires Orange County Health approval for the water‑main extension.
Traffic consultant Joe Muccin said a revised traffic analysis showed only modest change in delay or level of service at study intersections and pointed to completed DOT improvements. The team committed to post‑construction traffic monitoring and to implement mitigations if monitoring shows unanticipated impacts.
Public comment was extensive. Several residents across Washington Lake and Old Little Britain Road sought denser year‑round evergreen screening to block headlights and views of loading operations, requested confirmation that rooftop mechanicals and photovoltaic racks would be screened, and asked for dark‑sky‑compliant lighting and noise monitoring. One resident asked whether deed restrictions on recently acquired lots would prevent ‘‘noxious or offensive’’ uses; the applicant said title issues would be reviewed and enforcement of covenants is a private matter but committed to discuss the restriction with counsel.
Neighbors also raised concerns about truck idling and refrigerated trailers. The applicant noted New York State idling rules, said block heaters and dock design limit the need for long idling, and the team said post‑construction noise monitoring will be performed and compared with pre‑construction predictions.
After applicant responses and staff comments from Town engineer Pat Hines (who listed outstanding stormwater comments, DOH and five‑acre waiver requirements, easement clarifications and securities), the Planning Board voted unanimously to close the public hearing. Board members emphasized that while the hearing is closed, final site‑plan and architectural review (ARB) approvals will be bundled in a later resolution after the applicant submits revised plans addressing outstanding technical comments.
What’s next: Applicant will resubmit revised plan sets and engineering responses for staff review; the Board will consider final site‑plan and ARB action once outstanding technical issues have been satisfactorily addressed.
