The Town of Montgomery planning board, after holding numerous hearings and conducting several studies over the last few years, approved Real Deal Management’s 250,920-square-foot warehouse proposed for Bracken Road during its December meeting.

Justin Ferrazzano, senior project manager at Colliers Engineering & Design, had little to say other than that he and his team submitted everything to the board.
“You should all have the final documents that we hope to go through,” he said.

Joe Keenan, a member of the Coldenham Fire Department, was the only resident to speak during public comment and reiterated issues that others previously brought up. He suggested that the board adopt a positive declaration instead of a negative one, a resolution that would indicate the project’s impact on residents and the environment.

“I urge y’all to reconsider adopting a negative declaration. Instead, adopt a positive declaration, which would warrant a more detailed study of this project and answers to all the potential adverse impacts, which remain contingent and I feel aren’t fully answered,” he said.

Keenan concluded his comments by requesting the board members consider all the consequences of RDM’s warehouse and use its best judgment.

“Individually, I know there are members that share my concern. To them and all of you, I ask that you consider all the impacts of this project, especially on the people that live there,” he continued. “And everything the stormwater, etcetera, and take action according to your beliefs, knowledge and experiences as a member of this board.”

Following Keenan, the board motioned to close the public hearing. Fred Reichle, the planning board’s chairman, proceeded to read a 20-page negative declaration comprising two years’ worth of reviews, studies and feedback.

“This document has been put together over about two years of review and subsequent studies, studies that we have commissioned to confirm what we’ve been told,” Reichle said. “And especially what we have taken into account, how we have taken into account the public’s comments. We’ve listened to them and we’re addressing them in our document.”

Reichle, as stated in the declaration, asserted that the project would not cause harm to the environment, would have stormwater regulations and create minimal traffic delays.

“The action as described below will not have any significant impact on the environment and the planning board has adopted this negative declaration to this effect,” he said.

After Reichle concluded reading, the board motioned to adopt the negative declaration and approved the applicant’s site plan and special use permit.