ROCK HILL — The Avon Commercial Park project in Rock Hill returned to the Thompson Planning Board on July 13, seeking a site plan and special permit approval to begin construction of the warehouse complex.

For over a year, Avon has been before the planning board seeking approval to build two warehouse buildings totaling 560,000 square feet.

On July 13, the planning board approved the site plan and special use permit under conditions.

Many residents have been vocally against the project, speaking during the public hearings and submitting letters to the Thompson Planning Board citing environmental and traffic concerns.

More recently, some residents and local businesses were asking the Sullivan County Supreme Court to review the project by submitting an Article 78 proceeding.

An Article 78 proceeding is used to appeal a recent decision made by a local agency, and the suit is naming the Thompson Planning Board and Glen Wild Land Co. LLC as defendants.

The Thompson Planning Board, in June 2022, declared the project would not have a negative impact on the environment under New York’s State Environmental Quality Review Act (SEQR), a negative declaration, or “Neg Dec.”

The Article 78 proceeding is seeking to vacate and annul the negative declaration because of the adverse environmental impact of the clearing of trees and impacts on the soil and water and a potential bald eagle nesting site.

Furthermore, the lawsuit states that no in-depth analysis was done of the site to warrant a Neg Dec, such as air quality testing, wetlands, and many others were left unaddressed.

Additionally, the lawsuit states the Traffic Impact Studies were not fully realized as they failed to address the discrepancy between the traffic generation estimate and developed parking.

According to the site plan, the warehouse plans to build 449 employee parking spaces and 111 tractor-trailer parking spaces.

The Lake Communities Alliance (LCA) released a statement soon after the lawsuit was filed stating, “The Planning Board gave a provisional green-light to a project which will uniquely, profoundly and negatively impact the lives of the petitioners.”

Michael Miller, an LCA member, and past president, told the Democrat, “It was very disappointing that the planning board completely disregarded the concerns of the community.”

The LCA is holding a fundraiser on July 31 in Rock Hill to help pay the legal fees.

Conditions

When the Thompson Planning Board voted and approved the site plan and special permit, it did it with several conditions.

Some are to review any outstanding technical comments from the Thompson Town Engineer, Building Department, Rock Hill Fire Department, and Thompson’s Planner that need to be addressed.

Furthermore, all approvals must be secured from the Thompson Highway Department and County of Sullivan Department of Public Works, and other government agencies.

As cited in the site plan, no soil disturbance should be permitted beyond the authorized disturbance site.

Final design plans will be needed to show the proposed improvements to the traffic flow in Rock Hill.

Due to the increase in traffic from employees and trucks coming and going to the warehouse site, the developers are planning to install two traffic stoplights, one on Katrina Falls and another on Glen Wild Road.

Before the town issues a certificate of occupation, the improvements to the “inclusion of the project in the Rock Hill Sewer District” will need to be completed.

The project will need to be used for warehousing as defined by the Thompson Zoning Code.

All trucks are “prohibited from parking, staging, or queueing off-site along public roadways.”

Avon Approval

The Thompson Planning Board approved the site plan for the Avon Commercial Park, clearing the way to build two warehouses in Rock Hill.