LIBERTY –– The proposed warehouse on Old Route 17 in Ferndale was once again a topic of discussion at Tuesday’s Town of Liberty Planning Board meeting, at which time the board declared themselves Lead Agency of the project.

As previously reported in the Democrat, applicant Samuel Eisenberg of BSD, LLC seeks a special use permit to construct a warehouse of up to one million-square-feet at 468 Harris Road.

A public hearing was held last month on the proposed project.

Planning Board Chairman Lynn Dowe again recused himself during discussion of the project as he is part owner of a neighboring property, and Planning Board Member John Van Etten assumed the role of chairman.

Jim Bates of Ecological Analysis and Joe Berger of Berger Engineering & Surveying were present on behalf of the applicant.

Bates and Berger showed views of the warehouse from neighboring properties/areas and answered questions from the board regarding those displays as well as the 239 Review of the project by the County’s Planning Department.

Following the discussion, Bates asked the planning board if they could pair a negative Environmental Quality Review Act (SEQR) declaration and site plan approval (conditioned on Town Engineer Glenn Smith’s final comments) for consideration at their August 2 meeting, which the board agreed to.