Woodbury planners review KJ’s plans for water treatment plant

The Woodbury Planning Board reviewed the Village of Kiryas Joel plans to construct a water treatment facility on Seven Springs Road in Highland Mills during its April 16 meeting.

Dan Durfee of engineering design firm CDM Smith, who was representing the applicant, explained how the Village of Kiryas Joel is in the midst of a pipeline project to bring water from the New York City Aqueduct in New Windsor down to the village. Durfee said the project is now in its second phase, which involves building the treatment plant so the water can be brought through the pipeline into Kiryas Joel.

Durfee said the plant is designed to last at least 20 years with the ability to extend its lifespan by another 14 years with the addition of some modules. He said the size of the initial plant would be small enough to allow them to expand within the property’s footprint.

Planning Board Chairman Christopher Gerver asked about any mitigating noise from the water treatment plant’s generator

Durfee replied by explaining that it will only run in an emergency. He added that while the generators are tested about once a week, they are not the primary source of power for the facility. He also said that there will be a separate containment area for chemicals brought in.

Durfee said it would take two years to building the treatment plant. He said his firm would look to put out bids next spring and have the project completed in the fall of 2027.

Propose hotel in Central Valley

The Woodbury Planning Board granted conditional site plan approval for the proposed hotel located on Estrada Road in Central Valley during its April 16 meeting.

George Lithgow, attorney for the applicant, Aeonn LLC, addressed such issues as location of water and sewer and storm water mitigation.

In addition, Dorothy Rile, he general manager for the hotel, confirmed that except for guests receiving Amazon deliveries, which they can’t control, the hotel expects deliveries to be nominal.

Gerver, the planning board chairman, said Village Highway Department Superintendent Robert Weyant has spoken with the applicant about putting the guardrail cap on one side and that he is working on the sidewalks and marked out the pavement for the crosswalk and signal.

In other business

During the meeting the board reviewed plans for the redemise of the Timberland store at Woodbury Common Premium Outlets. (Redemise is the act of conveying or transferring back the same property or interest.)

Peter Poruczynski, the architect from Simon Property Group, which owns Woodbury Common, said the redemise would break the store’s existing site into three smaller ones. He agreed to address design issues impacting ADA sidewalk accessibility.

The board agreed to waive the public hearing and directed attorney Kelly Naughton to draft a resolution for approval.

At the meeting, a public hearing was held to review the site plan and special permit to reopen the Dugout Ice Cream Stand located on Route 32 in Central Valley.

Applicant Sean Murphy said estimates about the property’s water usage were based on incorrect information from 2019 and that he doubted the stand would exceed the threshold requiring a special permit. He also said while the business was closed for a few years, it wasn’t a new building.

Murphy questioned the village’s parking code, wondering if 45 spots required were reasonable. Gerver clarified that the board could waive the requirement if they felt the amount of parking was sufficient.

The planning board reviewed the village’s proposed addendum to the 2025 Comprehensive Plan, focusing on open space and natural resource protection. Gerver said the maps should be updated to reflect Woodbury’s current landscape. He also shared his view that the village’s own review of the groundwater and water quality protocols were stricter than that of the state’s Department of Environmental Conservation.