The Wright Planning Board issued a conditional negative declaration for the proposed Dollar General there Tuesday, paving the way for a final approval.
Written and emailed comments will be accepted on the decision for the next 30 days, a clock that started ticking yesterday, October 23rd.
Then, the Planning Board will decide whether to issue a final negative declaration for the Route 443, Gallupville store.
The Planning Board could also rescind the conditional ruling, issue a positive ruling, or add conditions to the “neg dec,” chair Evan Motschmann said.
A conditional “neg dec” means the project won’t have any adverse environmental impacts if the conditions in the 38-page Final Environmental Assessment Form are followed, explained consultant Nan Stolzenburg.
Those conditions address about a dozen items, including building design, signage, landscaping, lighting, and stormwater and wastewater disposal.
“The reason this is so long, this is the board’s story,” Ms. Stolzenburg explained. “All the steps you’ve taken, all the issues raised and how you’ve addressed them. The changes to the project as well as the process.”
By accepting the conditional “neg dec” for the 10,700 square-foot store—which the Planning Board did in a unanimous vote--she said they would agree the project won’t have an adverse impact on the environment—again, as long as the conditions in the FEAF are followed.
In a straw vote in September, Planning Board members agreed to support the “neg dec” once some minor issues were addressed.
One of those issues was an offer Primax, developers for Dollar General, made in September to restrict the use of a neighboring property held by the same owner.
Prohibited uses there would include “Highway Commercial uses” defined as uses that depend on vehicle access and that front on a public highway; industrial uses, junkyards, mini-malls and mall or shopping centers.
Comments on the “neg dec”—not the project itself, can be emailed to Mr. Motschmann at WrightPlanningBoard@gmail.com.
Copies of the document are available at the Town Clerk’s office and online at the Planning Board’s page on the Town of Wright website.
The next step in the process is continuing the review of Bohler Engineering’s site plan.
Work on that will resume at the Wright Town Office on Tuesday, November 19 at 7:30pm.