PepsiCo Expansion Plans Move Forward

PepsiCo is one step closer to making a substantial addition to its Purchase campus, a move that would bring additional revenue to Harrison, but could leave some neighbors dealing with unwanted traffic.

A recently completed Environmental Impact Statement (EIS), in which PepsiCo addressed written concerns by residents who live near the area, was accepted by the Harrison Planning Board on Tuesday. PepsiCo will accept written comments for another week, but has essentially closed the investigative and information gathering stage of the process at this point.

Several representatives from PepsiCo sat in on Tuesday's meeting, but few took the podium to speak. PepsiCo did clarify that the first two phases of the plan would add about 500 employees to the site, once completed. The third and final phase could add more workers, but PepsiCo would need to return to the town in order to approve that project down the line.

The first phase of the expansion plan includes construction of a new 15,000 square foot visitor center with a 150 space parking lot and a dedicated entrance on Anderson Hill Road.

The second would add an 80,000 square foot extension to their existing office building and an employee parking lot.

Jody Cross, an attorney hired by residents in the area was allowed to speak for the handful of neighbors in attendance. Although Cross thanked PepsiCo for being so open during its planning process, she said that there are still concerns about traffic on Purchase Street, Anderson Hill Road and Lincoln Avenue.

John Canning, a traffic engineer also hired by residents in the area, said at the last PepsiCo meeting that there could be as much as a 77 percent increase in wait times at some intersections near the site.

On Tuesday, Cross asked that PepsiCo continue to monitor the situation and to consider traffic while moving forward with their planned construction.

Even should the town find it viable to widen the roads, residents reject this as a workable solution; claiming it will change the country atmosphere of their neighborhood and encourage even greater traffic flow.

PepsiCo mentioned on Tuesday that widening some of Purchase's roads has been considered in the past, but avoided because of fears that additions would increase traffic flow even more.

Another special meeting has been approved for July 12, where the addition will again be discussed.