Micron Support Facility to Reduce Truck Traffic; Planning Board Reviews Site Plan
The Town of Clay Planning Board reviewed plans for a $44 million rail spur facility intended to supply aggregate materials for the Micron chip fabrication plant. The board also advanced subdivision plats for a Morgan Road business park and addressed site plans for a Byrne Dairy expansion and a new Canandaigua National Bank branch.
●RailWorks Presentation: Board received a preliminary presentation on a 38-acre rail spur facility at 8625 Caughdenoy Road to support Micron construction via rail rather than truck.
●Windsor Property Group: Unanimously approved the preliminary and final plat for a business park at 7985 Morgan Road (Case #2025-021, #2025-022).
●Byrne Dairy: Continued review of site plan adjustments for 7190 Buckley Road to October 8, pending lighting plan sign-off from Onondaga County.
●Canandaigua National Bank: Continued site plan review for 7515-7519 Oswego Road to October 8 to finalize engineering details and landscaping.
●Northern Credit Union: Adjourned site plan and special permit review for 5004-5008 West Taft Road to October 8.
●Chad Mutter: Adjourned EV charging station site plan for 7293 Buckley Road to November 19; no applicant present.
●Morgan Road Business Park: Adjourned site plan review to November 19.
●Rich Family Subdivision: Adjourned zone change referral for 8100-8101 Oasis Lane to October 8.
CLAY — The Planning Board took a first look Tuesday night at a major industrial facility proposed to support the massive Micron semiconductor campus, while also moving forward with plans for local banking and dairy expansions.
The board met at Town Hall to review a mix of new and old business, with the most complex proposal being a rail spur facility designed to minimize the construction traffic impact of the Micron project.
**Rail Spur Proposal Detailed**
Representatives from RailWorks Track Services and B&B Engineering presented a preliminary site plan for a 38-acre facility located at 8625 Caughdenoy Road. The property, situated just west of the Micron campus and adjacent to the CSX rail line, is currently vacant.
The proposed facility would serve as a logistics hub for stone aggregate materials needed for Micron’s construction. Rather than hauling materials solely by truck, the plan involves a rail-siding system where materials arrive by train and are transferred via a complex conveyor system to the construction site.
"The purpose is to minimize environmental impact from truck traffic," according to the project description presented to the board.
The conveyor system would span Caughdenoy Road at a height of approximately 30 feet. According to the presentation, the system would include "grasshopper" portable conveyors that can be moved around the Micron site to deliver materials where needed, drastically reducing the number of heavy trucks on local roads.
The site plans include a locomotive shed, storage for 60 rail cars, and stormwater management facilities. Operations are slated for 24 hours a day, though conveyor activity would be limited to 6 a.m. to 10 p.m.
Board member Hal Henty questioned the height of the over-road conveyor and potential tractor-trailer traffic to the site, though the specific traffic study details were not fully vetted in this initial session. The board will continue its review of this application in future meetings.
**Bank and Dairy Projects Advance**
In other business, the board continued its review of a new Canandaigua National Bank branch at 7515-7519 Oswego Road. The applicant, Keplinger Freeman Associates, submitted revised plans including a 16-foot clock tower.
Board members pressed for details on landscaping and traffic signage. Member Jim Palumbo expressed concern that trees planted in the curb island along Route 57 might eventually block visibility for signage.
"We want to make sure the established trees along Route 57 are kept," Palumbo said, requesting that the applicant ensure all landscaping is clearly labeled.
The board continued this case to its October 8 meeting to allow for final engineering adjustments.
Similarly, the Byrne Dairy expansion at 7190 Buckley Road was continued to October 8. The applicant, Sonbyrne Sales, has submitted a full set of lighting plans and added a six-foot vinyl fence and a sidewalk along Dolshire Drive. However, the board is still waiting for the Onondaga County Department of Transportation to sign off on the lighting mitigation plan before it can grant final approval.
**Subdivision Approved**
The board did cast final votes on one significant item. The Windsor Property Group’s subdivision at 7985 Morgan Road received unanimous approval for both its preliminary and final plats.
The project, located in the Morgan Road Business Park area, passed the State Environmental Quality Review (SEQR) process with a "negative declaration," meaning the board determined the project would have no significant environmental impact that cannot be mitigated.
The board approved the final map based on a survey by Ianuzzi & Romans Land Surveyors PC, dated March 6, 2025, and revised September 24, 2025.
**Other Business**
Several other items were adjourned to later dates, including an EV charging station for 7293 Buckley Road, which was pushed to November 19 after no representative appeared for the applicant. The Northern Credit Union proposal for West Taft Road was also moved to October 8.
The next regular meeting of the Clay Town Planning Board is scheduled for October 8, 2025, at Town Hall.
This article was drafted by AI (claude-sonnet-4-20250514) from the official meeting transcript and reviewed by a human editor.
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Related Planning Board Meetings
Planning Board Backs Rezoning for 80-90 New Homes on West Taft Road
●Planning Board voted 6-0 to recommend the Town Board approve a zone change for 5300 West Taft Road from Limited Use/Restaurant and R-10 to Office (O-2) and R-7.5 districts.
●The project proposes 80-90 single-family dwellings, a low-intensity office building, and a daycare center on 29.1 acres.
●Public hearing opened and closed regarding the zone change; comments forwarded to the Town Board.
●Seneca Savings site plan review adjourned to Oct. 22 following discussion on dumpster placement and septic approval.
●Canandaigua National Bank site plan (7515 & 7519 Oswego Road) approved following public hearing.
●Site plan reviews for John Fisher Construction, Byrne Dairy, and Emerald Lawn Care adjourned to later dates.
Credit Union Proposal Advances; Board Green Lights Pack Rat Storage
●Red Barn Extension Approved: The board granted final plat approval for "Red Barn Extension (3)" on Buckley Road, clearing the way for 17 single-family homes on 8.6 acres. (Vote: 5-0)
●Credit Union Endorsed: The board recommended a special permit for Northern Credit Union to build a 3,100 sq. ft. branch with a drive-thru at 3584 State Route 31, though site plan review was extended to November 19. (Vote: 5-0)
●Warehouse Modifications: An amended site plan for 7245 Henry Clay Blvd. to subdivide a facility into three tenant spaces was tabled until November 19 pending wetland permit documentation. (Vote: 5-0)
●Shopping Center Traffic: Review of the Mirabito Shopping Center site plan was extended after the deputy chair raised concerns regarding traffic circulation conflicts near the proposed drive-thru.
●Two Cases Withdrawn: The Emerald Lawn Care site plan was adjourned to November 19 at the applicant's request, and the Amerco Real Estate amended site plan was withdrawn.
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