The Heiden Road Warehouse Project:A Potential Catastrophe for the Neversink River and Our Communities

Dear Friends and Neighbors

The Catskills are facing one of the most reckless development proposals in recent memory: a 1.5-million-square-foot warehouse and trucking terminal proposed by Kroeger USA on the banks of the Neversink River in the Town of Thompson. To put that into perspective, this is the equivalent of 25 football fields—a massive industrial footprint on one of the region’s most environmentally sensitive rivers.

This is not just poor planning—it is a direct threat to our water, wildlife, and the very character of the Catskills. The Neversink River is globally recognized as a cold-water trout fishery and home to endangered species like the Brook Floater. It supports recreational fishing, tourism, and local livelihoods. A project of this magnitude brings inevitable thermal pollution, storm water runoff, chemical contamination, sedimentation, habitat destruction, and aquifer depletion—all of which pose irreversible damage.

Some have suggested exploring an alternative location for the warehouse. But this raises serious questions: how can a project of this size—25 football fields—be relocated without simply transferring the environmental damage elsewhere? Moving it away from the Neversink may spare that specific waterway, but it would still require massive impervious surfaces, heavy industrial use, package plants, and expansive paved areas. These impacts do not disappear—they only shift. Moreover, we have no information on what the warehouse will store or whether hazardous materials might be kept on-site, which is especially concerning when combined with proximity to groundwater and streams.

Despite these risks, the Draft Scoping Document released by the Town of Thompson Planning Board fails to adequately assess the full scope of the environmental and public health impacts. Residents, anglers, hunters, and environmental groups—including Catskill Mountainkeeper, Backcountry Hunters & Anglers, Theodore Gordon Flyfishers, and Trout Unlimited—are calling for a much more comprehensive review.

Supporters of the project argue it could bring jobs and economic benefits to Sullivan County. However, that outcome is far from guaranteed. Development proposals often promise “job creation,” yet the reality can be far more limited—and sometimes those jobs never materialize. In some cases, tax subsidies or abatements offset much of the projected revenue gains, meaning residents shoulder the environmental burden while receiving little in return. Without transparency on employment, ownership, operations, or tax agreements, the community cannot realistically weigh the benefits against the risks.

Why this project is dangerous
The proposed warehouse would rely on private wells and septic systems, dramatically increasing stress on the region’s aquifers. Its location directly on the Neversink’s western bank means that millions of square feet of impervious surfaces will contribute to stormwater runoff, thermal pollution, and sedimentation—all of which degrade water quality and fisheries habitat.

The project would also bring:
• Thousands of truck trips, resulting in diesel emissions and air pollution.
• Noise and light pollution affecting nearby residents.
• Aesthetic and scenic destruction of a critical natural corridor.
• Increased risk of flooding and climate-related impacts.

Disadvantaged communities near the project would bear the brunt of these impacts, raising serious environmental justice concerns.

Package plants, which many large developments depend on, have a troubling history in this region. They are often poorly maintained, fail over time, and release untreated or partially treated wastewater into the environment. A warehouse of this magnitude would require significant wastewater and storm water infrastructure—creating long-term liabilities that the community may ultimately pay for, financially and environmentally. The scale of the building alone makes even minor system failures catastrophic.

What must be done
The Draft Environmental Impact Statement must be expanded to rigorously examine and mitigate all potential harms, including:
• Riparian buffer loss.
• Aquifer depletion and reduced base flows.
• Thermal runoff and sedimentation.
• Wastewater and septic contamination.
• Trucking emissions and chemical pollutants.
• Fisheries, wildlife, and endangered species impacts.
• Community character and scenic impacts.
• Climate-related risks.
• Full alternatives and mitigation, including a no-build option.

Beyond technical assessments, the Planning Board must protect sensitive habitats, maintain riparian setbacks, and ensure that vulnerable communities are not disproportionately harmed. Public engagement is critical: residents must have access to information, opportunities to review studies, and the chance to provide meaningful input.

A call to action

This is a potential disaster for the Neversink River, the Catskills, and all of us who rely on these resources for clean water, recreation, and community well-being. Residents can submit comments directly to the Planning Board, urging them to require a full, rigorous, science-based environmental review before moving forward. You can send your comments to the Thompson Planning Board by emailing planning@thompsonny.gov or calling the Planning Board Secretary at 845-794-2500 x321, because every voice matters.

We cannot allow one industrial project to permanently compromise one of New York’s most important river systems. The Neversink River is too vital to gamble with—and the time to act is now. 

Fallsburg's Future is a community network of concerned Fallsburg residents established in January 2016. Its Mission is to help guide the urban development of the town of Fallsburg and its five hamlets, to promote its sustainable economic development, protect the fragile beauty of its natural habitats and enhance the opportunities and quality of life for all its residents and visitors. We hope to curb the suburban sprawl that is threatening to overwhelm the town’s physical infrastructure and destroy the natural beauty that the area depends on for its future development. See us on Facebook and our website Fallsburgsfuture.com.