Proposed Port Jervis Warehouse Rankles Neighbors

City officials say the warehouse suits the annexed property.

Resistance is astir against a proposed 702,000  square feet building, with a still mysterious purpose, planned for the Ryan St. area of Port Jervis, recently annexed from Deerpark. Challenges are expected at the planning board meeting on Tuesday, where a revised plan will be presented (https://www.portjervisny.gov/notices-jobs).

Ava Lamb, who lives within a mile of the site, listed her concerns:

1. Increase in truck traffic, making conditions more unsafe for pedestrians, including students walking to and from the nearby Anna S. Kuhl Elementary school 

2. Increased noise from truck traffic

3. More traffic in general 

4. Pollution of Gold’s Creek 

5. Air pollution from truck traffic

6.  Port Jervis is re-imagining itself as an outdoor destination. I don’t see how this warehouse fits the vision. 

7. I see no mention of what the warehouse is housing. 

8. Truck traffic of this volume could damage homes and roads with vibrations from the trucks. 

9. Companies such as Tree Top, with industrial roots, tend to target low income communities, increasing the environmental pollution burden on their bodies and taking advantage of lack of advocacy for the natural environment. 

10. In the proposal I am also not seeing where the trucks will be coming from. Are trucks allowed on 209? Are they coming from I-84 and having to weave through town?

However, Mayor Kelly Decker called the building proposed “a suitable and expected business” for the annexed property, although he said he didn’t know whether the intent is for a warehouse or light manufacturing. Both are allowed by zoning there.

Whatever the proposed use, “bordering neighbors should be notified and any concerns should come to the planning board. All ten concerns need to be addressed at the planning board just like any other project,” Decker said, referring to Lamb’s list.

Lamb’s concern that warehouses are built in low-income areas, disproportionately burdening people with low incomes, dovetails with an idea recently discussed by the Orange County Planning Board. According to Michael Sweeton, Town of Warwick supervisor, that board recently discussed using property around warehouses for affordable housing with a warehouse design adjusted for that purpose. County Planning Commissioner Alan Sorensen did not respond to requests for more information.

“I'm concerned with the proliferation of warehouses in Orange County in general,” Lamb added. “People in favor seem to be optimistic about the number of jobs available at these facilities, but there are plenty of warehouses in the nearby area, in Middletown and now Slate hill being built.” She also noted a warehouse plan in motion for Cornwall, near where she works.

But Port Jervis Councilman-at-Large Stan Siegel says the Port Jervis warehouse is inevitable, eased by using Route 209.

“One reason for the annexation was to have more jobs,” he said.  “This project will bring 100 jobs. I’m sure it will happen.”

The Port Jervis planning board meeting will be in the Council chambers in City Hall on Tuesday, April 18, at 7 p.m.

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