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Resolution reopening the SEQR review on vireo health of New York

project’s amended project, to classify the amended project as a type i action under state environmental quality review (SEQR), to propose that the IDA serve as the lead agency to conduct a coordinated SEQR review and to seek the consent of involved agencies to the IDA serving as lead agency

IDA Board Member Tim Munn introduced the following Resolution and moved its adoption:

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RESOLUTION REOPENING THE SEQR REVIEW ON VIREO HEALTH OF NEW YORK PROJECT’S AMENDED PROJECT, TO CLASSIFY THE AMENDED PROJECT AS A TYPE I ACTION UNDER STATE ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY REVIEW (SEQR), TO PROPOSE THAT THE IDA SERVE AS THE LEAD AGENCY TO CONDUCT A COORDINATED SEQR REVIEW AND TO SEEK THE CONSENT OF INVOLVED AGENCIES TO THE IDA SERVING AS LEAD AGENCY

WHEREAS, in 2015, Empire State Health Solutions (ESHS) proposed to construct and operate a pharmaceutical manufacturing facility in the Tryon Technology Park, and

 

WHEREAS, ESHS’s original Environmental Assessment Form (EAF) that was filed with the Fulton County Industrial Development Agency (IDA) described the project as a proposed pharmaceutical manufacturing facility that would involve:

 

  • Construction of approximately 200,000+/- sf of buildings in three (3) phases.
  • Site grading and tree clearing.
  • Construction of access road and parking areas.
  • Construction of stormwater facilities as part of a Stormwater Management Plan.
  • Connecting into existing onsite water, sewer, gas, electric and communications lines.
  • Construction of security system.
  • Growing medical cannabis and manufacturing medicines.

 

WHEREAS, Section 617.4(b)(1) of NYS SEQR Regulations states that a project involving the construction of a facility more than 100,000 sf in a Town having a population of less than 150,000 shall be considered a Type 1 Action under SEQR, and

 

WHEREAS, the IDA designated the proposed project as a Type I Action, and

 

WHEREAS, ESHS submitted to the IDA Board a Part 1 EAF, and

 

WHEREAS, the EAF identified the Involved Agencies for this proposed action to be:

 

  • Fulton County Industrial Development Agency
  • Town of Perth Planning Board
  • NYS Department of Environmental Conservation
  • NYS Department of Health

 

WHEREAS, the following were considered Interested Agencies:

 

  • Gloversville Water Board
  • Gloversville Johnstown Joint Wastewater Treatment Plant (GJJWWTP)

 

WHEREAS, after conducting a Coordinated SEQR Review, the IDA Board issued a negative declaration and filed said negative declaration per SEQR requirements, and

 

WHEREAS, Empire State Health Solutions is now known as Vireo Health of New York, and

 

 

 

WHEREAS, Vireo Health has submitted an amended EAF and Site Plan to the IDA advising that the multi-phased project will now involve the construction 270,000+/- sf of new buildings, an increase from the 200,000 SF originally anticipated, and

 

WHEREAS, the IDA Board desires to reopen SEQR and conduct a new Coordinated SEQR review based upon the amended EAF and Site Plan, and

 

WHEREAS, the IDA Board desires to propose itself as the Lead Agency for the purposes of conducting a new Coordinated SEQR review of the amended project,

 

NOW, THEREFORE BE IT

 

RESOLVED, that the IDA Board hereby classifies Vireo Health of New York’s amended pharmaceutical manufacturing project as a Type 1 Action, and be it further

 

RESOLVED, that the IDA Board hereby proposes that it serve as the Lead Agency for the purposes of conducting a Coordinated SEQR Review on the amended project, and be it further

 

RESOLVED, that the Executive Director be and is hereby authorized and directed to send copies of the amended Part I EAF and Site Plan to all Involved Agencies informing them of the IDA Board’s desire to serve as the Lead Agency for a Coordinated SEQR Review, to ask Involved Agencies to submit comments back to the IDA by 5:00 p.m. on Friday, November 4, 2019 on whether they consent to the IDA Board serving as Lead Agency and whether the Involved Agencies have any comments on whether the amended project may create any significant impacts on the environment, and be it further

 

RESOLVED, that certified copies of this Resolution be distributed to all Involved Agencies.

 

 

 

IDA Board Member Joe Semione seconded the motion.

 

The Resolution was approved by the following vote:

 

4    Ayes

0    Nays

0    Abstentions

2    Absent

I, James E. Mraz, Executive Director of the Fulton County Industrial Development Agency, hereby certify that I have compared the foregoing resolution with the original resolution, adopted by the Fulton County Industrial Development Agency, at a duly called and held meeting of said Agency on the 11th day of January, 2022, and the same is a true and correct transcript there from and the whole thereof.

 

Witness my hand and official seal

this 11th day of January, 2022                                                                                                                                                                                           James E. Mraz, Executive Director