The town has received preliminary applications for the long-anticipated development of an approximately 140-acre tract in Hawleyville, where a developer is proposing the construction of a 250,000-square-foot warehouse and up to 275,000 square feet of medical office buildings, representing more than 12 acres of enclosed space.

Applicant Hawleyville Properties LLC, represented by Matthew D'Amico of 153 South Main Street is proposing the commercial/industrial project for the undeveloped land owned by M. Newtown Associates LP, of New York City. The site is comprised of 90 Mt Pleasant Road, 10 Hawleyville Road, and 1 Sedor Lane.

The Planning and Zoning Commission (Pandamp;Z) has scheduled a public hearing for Thursday, June 7 on applicant Claris Construction's proposal to change the zoning regulations to allow both warehouses and medical office buildings as permitted land uses in the M-2A (Industrial) zone. All proposed development at the site would occur in an existing M-2A zone, according to BL Companies, an engineering firm representing the applicant. Other proposed regulations for the M-2A zone cover wholesale businesses, distribution centers, and self-storage facilities. The proposed new rules also cover building setback distances.

On May 23, the Inland Wetlands Commission (IWC) formally accepted for review a massive application from Hawleyville Properties for a wetlands/watercourses protection permit for the project. Considering the scope of the proposed development and due to the potential for a significant impact on wetlands and watercourses, IWC members agreed that they will hold a public hearing on that application on Wednesday, June 13.

The applicant has submitted a massive stormwater control plan for the site for IWC review. The site has multiple drainage basins. The rugged, hilly terrain holds many wetlands. The site contains a perched water table. Such isolated water tables are positioned above the regional water table due to subterranean conditions.

According to the developer's wetlands application, more than 53 acres of the site would be physically altered. Nearly 5,000 square feet of wetlands would be physically changed. Approximately 2,300 cubic yards of earthen material would be removed or deposited in wetlands. The total amount of earthen material to be removed or deposited at the site is about 368,000 cubic yards, representing a major earthmoving project there to create physical conditions suitable for commercial/industrial development.

In documents submitted to the IWC, the applicant states that the proposed buildings and related grading are "to be completed approximately by 2019."

The sprawling site is bordered on the north by eastbound Interstate 84 and its Exit 9 on-ramp, on the northeast by agricultural open space land, on the southeast by residences of Whippoorwill Hill Road, on the south by Mt Pleasant Road, and on the west by Hawleyville Road.

Town officials have anticipated the development of the Hawleyville site for many years when considering its proximity to the Exit 9 interchange of I-84. The Exit 9 area has long been viewed as a site for local economic development.

In 2016, the town extended the Hawleyville sanitary sewer system to the Exit 9 area, largely as a mechanism to spur economic development in that area, such as is being proposed. That extension project, which contains low-pressure sewers powered by grinder pumps, will serve a 180-unit rental apartment complex now under construction off Covered Bridge Road, near Hawleyville Road. The original Hawleyville sewer system, which is powered by gravity sewers and a force main, started operation in 2001.

It is expected that the 140-acre development site will have vehicular access from both Hawleyville Road and from Mt Pleasant Road. That Hawleyville Road access point likely would lie directly across Hawleyville Road from Covered Bridge Road, forming a four-way intersection which likely would be controlled by a traffic signal.

If the development proposal gains Pandamp;Z approvals for the M-2A zoning regulation changes and also receives IWC approval for a wetlands/watercourses protection permit, the Pandamp;Z would then review the developmental specifics of the project for a special zoning permit, as required by M-2A zoning.