Planning Board to revisit Walmart’s 6,158‑sq‑ft OPD expansion after intermunicipal coordination

The Town of Newburgh Planning Board agreed on June 18 to continue review of an amended site plan for a 6,158‑square‑foot expansion to Walmart’s online pickup and delivery (OPD) facility at 1201 Route 300, after the Board directed counsel to consult informally with the adjacent Town of New Windsor about intermunicipal jurisdiction.

Justin Dates of Colliers Engineering & Design, speaking for Walmart Real Estate Business Trust, said the OPD addition would be located in the southeast corner of the Supercenter and provide expanded employee work area and refrigerated storage so employees can stage customer orders for curbside pickup. “Walmart is looking to make an expansion specifically for the OPD and have a dedicated area, a larger area, for that and the workers,” Dates said. He said customers would park and use the app to notify staff; the expansion is not customer‑facing interior retail.

Dates said the addition would increase the center’s total square footage to about 214,869 sq ft. Under current Town parking requirements that size would require 1,074 spaces; the applicant proposes 877 spaces after modification and would seek a variance or a Zoning Board of Appeals referral to address a projected shortfall. Dates said the OPD currently has 29 dedicated spaces and the plan increases that to 45.

Town staff and the Board identified technical and regulatory steps before the Board can act. Quinn Mullarkey, the Board’s consulting engineer, said the work requires Water Department review because an existing water line will be rerouted around the new addition, Health Department approval where needed, and DEC coordination because the EAF lists protected species (the Indiana bat and upland sandpiper). She also asked for information confirming whether there is any increase in impervious surface and whether additional runoff will be addressed. James Campbell (Code Compliance) flagged construction‑hours language in the EAF for correction.

The parcel straddles the Newburgh/New Windsor town line, which raised jurisdictional questions. Planning Board attorney Dominic Cordisco said previous expansions were handled with lead‑agency approaches between towns and suggested an informal discussion with New Windsor first; the Board asked him to raise the matter at New Windsor’s next Planning Board meeting and report back. Cordisco also cautioned that circulating for lead agency before addressing likely zoning variances could complicate coordinated review with the Zoning Board of Appeals.

The Board voted by roll call to place the item on the July 16 agenda for further review, including the possibility of a ZBA referral or coordinated review after New Windsor provides guidance. The applicant was asked to provide revised architectural materials, parking and striping details, and documentation addressing water main rerouting and stormwater management. The Board also noted that a City of Newburgh flow‑acceptance letter would be required if sanitary flow increases.

Next steps: Counsel will informally consult with New Windsor; the applicant will supply requested technical materials; and the Board will consider the item again on July 16 with potential referrals to County Planning and the ZBA.