Planning board questions Hilly Truck amendment over floodplain parking and storage

The Goshen Planning Board took an update on Hilly Truck's amended site plan and raised repeated concerns about floodplain placement and water‑quality risks.

A board member said Hilly Truck appeared before the Zoning Board of Appeals and had received a variance to build within the stream corridor. Members emphasized the rear area functions as outdoor storage rather than public parking and therefore does not trigger the same parking‑lot standards (striping, islands, shade trees) as a conventional lot.

Environmental issues were central to the discussion. Members said the site is in a sensitive watershed that drains to the Will River and expressed concern about leaks or spilled fluids from stored vehicles reaching waterways. The board recorded that the applicant told the panel there is a plan to move vehicles out of the floodplain in advance of high water, but members asked that plan be documented in writing and provided to staff.

Why it matters: the board flagged the need to treat existing impervious surfaces and stormwater features as part of any approval. Members also asked whether the area had been impervious for many years and requested clarity on whether prior pavement was permitted or installed without required approvals.

Next steps: the board expects the applicant to provide a written flood‑evacuation plan for stored vehicles and clear documentation on stormwater controls and impervious surfaces before the planning board moves the project forward.