Fage planning to expand Johnstown plant

PHOTOGRAPHER: Bethany Bump

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City officials say a proposed expansion to the Fage Yogurt plant is likely to increase jobs and revenue in the region.

The Greek yogurt manufacturing facility in the Johnstown Industrial Park has proposed a two-story, 180,000-square-foot addition to make room for more production and office space. The addition would nearly double the size of the current 210,000-square-foot facility on Opportunity Drive.

Before the company can break ground in spring, though, Fage needs to complete a State Environmental Quality Review, which will assess and mitigate any significant environmental impact. Smith said once the review is completed, a public hearing will be scheduled for November’s Planning Board meeting.

Company officials could not be reached Wednesday to comment on the plan.

Albany architect Nicholas Schwartz presented an amended site plan to the city Planning Board last week, in which he proposed the expansion, two additional milk-receiving bays, a new truck entrance, an expanded parking lot and expanded landscaping.

Fage decided on the Johnstown location in 2005, built its plant and began production in 2008. The company has already purchased three acres of land on the west side of the site and 1.15 acres to the east.

A new truck entrance would make truck traffic in and around the site safer and more efficient, Schwartz told the Planning Board, according to minutes of the Sept. 6 meeting. City streets have trouble accommodating all the tractor-trailers that drive in and out of the park, Smith said, so a new entrance and additional parking would be helpful.