Peekskill Planning Commission Meeting - December 9, 2025

The Peekskill Planning Commission met on Tuesday, December 9, 2025, at 7:45 PM in the Common Council Chamber to consider several continued public hearings, a SEQRA lead agency declaration, and approvals for multiple development projects. The meeting addressed five applications, including a cannabis manufacturing facility, a 36-unit waterfront building, two townhouse projects on Main Street, and a mixed-use addition on Park Street. The Commission also approved minutes from a previous meeting.

Public Comments & Testimony

• No members of the public spoke during the meeting.

Discussion Items

1. Continued Public Hearing: 710 Washington Street (Cannabis Manufacturing Facility)

• Applicant: Colin Beauchemin/Grand Street Cannabis. Location: 710 Washington Street.
• The Commission postponed discussion because the Common Council had not yet voted on related matters. A motion to keep the public hearing open until the next meeting passed unanimously.

2. SEQRA Lead Agency Declaration: Westchester Industrial Complex (1048–1050 Lower South Street & 31 Louisa Street)

• Applicant: Charles Cartalemi / Westchester Industrial Manufacturing & Warehousing Group LLC. Representative: Jim Anakarico (Cronin Engineering).
• The project proposes converting a former single-manufacturing building into a multi-tenant mixed-use commercial facility with outdoor storage for vehicles and materials. Tenants include Hawkeye, North Line Utilities (Con Edison contractors), and Spaxel Builders (prefabricated panel construction).
• Discussion focused on site conditions (broken fence, graffiti), outdoor storage (no repair work), retaining wall design, and soil testing from the BASF era. The Commission noted the need for a vegetated buffer and aesthetic improvements.
• The Commission voted to declare its intent to act as lead agency for coordinated SEQRA review and to circulate notices to interested agencies (MTA, DEC). The recommendation to the Common Council on outdoor storage special permits will be deferred until environmental information and city engineer sign-off are received (expected in 30 days).

3. Continued Public Hearing: 400 Main Street (5-Story, 36-Unit Residential Building)

• Applicant: Joseph G. Thompson Architect. Owner: 400 Main Street, LLC.
• Updates included a negative determination from SHPO, agreement with the Water Department to upgrade a water main on Main Street (eliminating a dead-end, improving flow to 750 GPM at over 100 PSI), and sewer scoping showing no issues.
• A soil report from 2022 was reviewed; the Board noted three contaminants (benzene, benzoyl pyrene, and another) exceeding DEC cleanup guidelines in sample S6A (3.5–4 ft depth), contradicting the report's own conclusion. The Commission requested follow-up testing, including intermediate depth sampling and possible BOC testing, and asked the applicant to clarify the discrepancy.
• The public hearing was kept open for further information.

4. Continued Public Hearing & Approval: 660 Main Street (3-Story, 9-Unit Townhouse)

• Applicant: Joseph G. Thompson Architect. Owner: 660 Main Street, LLC.
• The applicant presented revised plans for a pedestrian walkway and stair connecting to Main Street (via an easement), removal of one parking space to improve walkway continuity, and a new sewer/water routing plan to Main Street instead of Spring Street (to avoid easement issues and provide adequate gravity flow).
• The Commission discussed conditions: the sewer/water line to Main Street subject to review by the city engineer and water department, and reuse or matching of stone from the existing wall for the stair wing walls.
• The public hearing was closed. The Commission issued a negative declaration under SEQRA (no further environmental review) and granted final site plan approval (expires June 9, 2026) with conditions, including addressing all engineering comments in the city's consultant letter.

5. Continued Public Hearing & Approval: 668 Main Street (3-Unit Residential Apartment)

• Applicant: Joseph G. Thompson Architect. Owner: KJM Enterprises LLC.
• The project is linked to the 660 Main Street development. The water line will run to Spring Street, and the sewer line will be rerouted through the 660 property to Main Street (as discussed in the previous item). No new concerns were raised.
• The public hearing was closed. The Commission determined it was a Type II action under SEQRA (no further review). The special permit (required for the three-unit building in the R-6 district) was granted after findings that the project meets the criteria in Section 575-24 B2 (area variances already approved by the ZBA). Final site plan approval was granted with conditions from the staff report, expiring June 9, 2026.

6. Continued Public Hearing & Approval: 1019 Park Street (Mixed-Use Addition)

• Applicant: Joseph G. Thompson Architect. Owner: 1019 Park Street, LLC.
• The project involves a third-story addition and conversion of second-floor office into residential, creating 12 new units. The applicant removed the proposed restaurant from the first floor, reducing parking waiver needs to 12 spaces (from a higher number). The Common Council had approved a payment-in-lieu-of-parking resolution on November 24, 2025. The ZBA granted a floor area ratio variance, and the Historic Landmark Preservation Board issued a certificate of appropriateness.
• Discussion confirmed that the construction area (on Brown Street side) will not displace existing permit parking spaces; metered spaces used for construction will be paid for by the applicant. Construction is expected to last 12–14 months, with heavy disruption for 6–8 months.
• The public hearing was closed. The Commission granted a special permit for upper-floor dwelling units (Section 575-33 B 10), final site plan approval (expires June 9, 2026), and a parking waiver for 12 commercial spaces, citing proximity to public parking. The applicant must participate in the payment-in-lieu program for 17 residential parking permits.

Key Outcomes

• 710 Washington Street: Public hearing kept open; postponed to next month.
• Westchester Industrial Complex: Commission declared itself lead agency for SEQRA; recommendation to Common Council deferred for 30 days pending additional environmental and engineering review.
• 400 Main Street: Public hearing continued; applicant to address soil contamination discrepancies and provide further testing.
• 660 Main Street: Public hearing closed; SEQRA negative declaration issued; final site plan approved with conditions, including sewer/water routing to Main Street and stone reuse.
• 668 Main Street: Public hearing closed; Type II SEQRA determination; special permit and final site plan approved.
• 1019 Park Street: Public hearing closed; special permit, final site plan, and parking waiver granted; payment-in-lieu-of-parking required.
• Minutes: The July 8, 2025 meeting minutes were adopted.
• The meeting adjourned at an unspecified time, with wishes for happy holidays.