FLORIDA — The town Planning Board gave unanimous approval to the site plan and subdivision for the Beech-Nut baby food factory Thursday, but attached more than a dozen stipulations the company must adhere to while waiting for a permit from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers.

The town’s approval allows the company to begin site preparation work for the $124 million facility at the Florida Business Park.

“We’re very happy and we’re delighted to be welcome in the community,” Hero Group Vice President Edouard Feller said after the meeting.

Pressed with the need to begin construction this season, Beech-Nut officials sought some form of preliminary approval while the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers continues its review of an application for a permit to disturb wetlands on the site.

With a set of 14 stipulations, the company will be able to begin construction in areas that won’t impact about 1.19 acres of wetlands that are subject to the federal permitting process.

The conditions include a requirement that nearby residents receive 24 hours notice before any blasting takes place and that the Hero Group guarantee if the project falls through for any reason the site would be restored to its original condition.

A building permit will not be issued until the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers permit is secured as well, according to the list of conditions.

The Planning Board added an extra requirement to the list, stipulating construction of a berm between the site and the new Mohawk Hills housing development to the east.

The subdivision approval also came with a condition requiring design of gas and electric service easements be submitted within 30 days.

As it proceeded through the planning process, the project to build more than 600,000 square feet of manufacturing space drew some ire from local labor organizations who want construction work for local companies and employees.

Schenectady Central Labor Council President Frank Natalie said talks with the Hero Group/Beech-Nut officials were productive, and he called on the town’s Planning Board to approve the plans.

Natalie said company officials have agreed to continue talks to help ensure that local companies and workers are used on construction.

The Planning Board held a brief discussion with representatives from The Facilities Group, which is overseeing construction. Planning Board members noted concerns about daily job-site construction noise and the ability to reduce any light from the site .

Facilities Group Project Manager James Ivey said plans are to work from dawn to dusk, and permits from the state Department of Environmental Conservation already spell out acceptable working hours, he said.

He said it’s likely crews will work from about 6 a.m. to 7 p.m. The construction contractors are also required to keep noise down to acceptable levels, Ivey said.

“We have to do it without offending our neighbors,” Ivey said.

Montgomery County Industrial Development Director Ken Rose credited the Planning Board and others involved for success in reviewing a complex project in a relatively short amount of time.

“It’s a very positive move and we appreciate the professionalism of the town of Florida Planning Board,” Rose said.

Montgomery County and the state of New York provided a package of incentives totalling roughly $106 million in hopes of keeping Beech-Nut Nutrition Corp. in the county.

Following millions of dollars in damage sustained by the Canajoharie and Fort Plain facilities in flooding in 2006, company officials decided to look elsewhere outside of the Mohawk River flood zone to build a new plant.

Montgomery County competed with other states to keep the factory, and the ultimate success will mean keeping 356 jobs in the county. Beech-Nut has indicated that another 135 jobs would be created.

A 20-year property tax agreement, with payments relieved until year 14, will provide $6.9 million in property taxes to the county, $10.2 million to the Greater Amsterdam School District and $420,000 to the town of Florida, according to a project benefits summary from the county’s Economic Development office.

Rose said a ground-breaking ceremony will likely be planned for next week.