Amy's Kitchen moves forward after town accepts environmental review

By Geri Corey
GOSHEN — The way is clear for the $95 million Amy’s Kitchen project to move forward.
The Town of Goshen Planning Board accepted Amy's finding statement at its Oct. 20 meeting, the final step in the State Environmental Quality Review process.
Now it’s decision-making time for all the agencies that will, in turn, review the project, including:
The New York State Department of Transportation
The New York State Department Environmental Conservation
The New York State Department of Health
The Town of Goshen Planning Board
The Goshen Town Board
They'll be reviewing water and sewage provisions, land uses, and roads, among other issues.
Once all the approvals are completes, Amy’s can again approach the planning board for a site-plan approval and permits.
After getting that approval, building for Amy’s Kitchen, an organic meals processing plant, can begin on the 73-acre lot, known as the Ver Hage property.
The finding statement includes acceptance for Science of the Soul, a non-religious spiritual society located on the 212-acre Echo Lake parcel. It also includes construction of a potential warehouse.
Amy’s Kitchen applied to the Goshen planning board between three and four years ago. But the project was put on hold while the company built a plant in Idaho. During that time, another plant was built in Portugal.
Land preparation and roads and bridge construction is expected to begin in the spring.
Amy’s has purchased the Strong Farm, which will be turned over to the town as a conservation easement.
“The Strong Farm will always stay as it is, only to be used, if needed, as overflow parking for Science of the Soul yearly meetings,” said Town Supervisor Doug Bloomfield. "It will be farmed, manicured, taken well-cared-for."