Planning Commission Meeting – May 12, 2026
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Planning Commission Meeting – May 12, 2026
The Peekskill Planning Commission convened at 7:30 p.m. on May 12, 2026, in the Common Council Chamber to hold a public hearing on a proposed floating solar array, continue public hearings on two site plan applications, refer two variance requests to the Zoning Board of Appeals, and elect officers. The meeting included extensive public testimony and board deliberation.
Public Hearing: Floating Solar Array (P25-012)
- Applicant: Working Power ECP LLC (joint venture of Working Power and Ecological Citizens Project) for a 1.68 MW DC floating solar photovoltaic system on Camp Field Reservoir (1000 Lindbergh Place) in the R-1A district.
- Presentation: The applicant detailed the project's community benefits: $645,000 lease payments to the city, $1.1 million in electricity bill savings (10% discount for all subscribers, 20% for low/moderate-income households), and $1.2 million food sovereignty fund over 25 years – totaling $2.8 million. They highlighted nonprofit ownership, third-party water quality review by Arcadis (which found “no unacceptable negative water quality impacts as a likely outcome”), use of HDPE floats certified for potable water, and a contractual requirement to remove the array if testing links any water quality issue to the system. The project has raised $1.4 million in grants and is dependent on a 50% federal investment tax credit expiring in 2027.
- Public Comments: 15 written letters were submitted (13 opposed, 2 in favor). Oral testimony included:
- Support: Marcus Ryan (403 Simpson Place) argued the risks are mitigated by material safety data sheets, monitoring, and contractual removal; emphasized the project’s value for energy and food sovereignty amid federal safety net cuts affecting Westchester County.
- Opposition: Peter Korch (Stacy Court) cited microplastic leaching, inadequate water treatment, and $4.50 per person per year benefit; questioned the Arcadis language of “no unacceptable” vs. “acceptable” impacts. Other speakers (Lona Gonçalves, Drake, Aiva Fernandez, Marianne Macara Fitzpatrick, Claudia Ramos, Alena Munice-Walker, Brandon, Jason DeStefano) raised concerns about wildlife, construction disturbance, lack of public notice, and alternative siting on roofs or parking lots.
- Board Discussion: Members noted the high-risk/low-probability nature, requested detailed disaster recovery and monitoring plans, and questioned backup water supply, construction impacts, and long-term liability. The board voted to declare itself lead agency under SEQR and kept the public hearing open for continued input.
- Key Outcomes:
- Motion to open public hearing passed unanimously.
- Motion to declare lead agency passed (all in favor, none opposed).
- Public hearing remains open; additional comments to be accepted at future meetings.
Continued Public Hearing: Driveway Legalization – 163 Union Avenue (P25-036)
- Applicant: Blanca Anguisaca (owner: 163 Union Avenue Peekskill LLC) for final site plan approval to legalize an existing driveway in the R-2 district.
- Update: The applicant revised plans to narrow the driveway, install Belgiam block curbing, and use brick pavers, reducing impervious surface. No public opposition.
- Decision: The board closed the public hearing and granted final site plan approval with conditions from the staff report, noting the approval expires November 12, 2026. Vote: unanimous.
Continued Public Hearing: One-Story Addition – 140 Franklin Street (P25-036)
- Applicant: Christopher Cetola, RA (owners: Luis Machisaca and Angela Ordonez) for a master suite addition in the R-1C district.
- Issue: The existing septic system may not support the increase from two to four bedrooms. The board requested verification from the Westchester County Health Department on tank size and leach field capacity. Also discussed impervious coverage limits and material/color samples for architectural review.
- Outcome: Public hearing kept open; applicant to return with additional information.
Referrals to Zoning Board of Appeals
- 224 Smith Street (David & Felicia Mighty) – Area variance for accessory building location to construct a new detached garage. Forwarded with no comment.
- 921 Bernard Road (Gabrielle Salman, AIA) – Area variance for driveway extension parking/maneuvering. Forwarded with a comment from Commissioner about precedent.
Election of Officers
- Re-elected the existing Chairperson and Vice Chairperson (both abstained from their own votes). Motion passed.
Adjournment
- The meeting adjourned after completing all items.
Meeting Transcript
We have um the first item on our agenda tonight is a public hearing um regarding uh final site plan approval for uh a proposed floating solar array on the Campbell Reservoir on property located within the R1A one family zoning district. It's technically 1,000 Lindbergh place. Uh the applicant is working power ECP LLC uh 2400 Market Street. The owner of the property is the city of Peakskill. Um before we start, I just want to say that I know there's a lot of information out there. I know there's something been on CBS News. Um there's been a petition going around. Uh even though the this is a public hearing for final site plan approval, it does not mean we're not voting on final site plan tonight. So this is the beginning of the process, not the end of the process. Okay. Final site plan would be if we go if we go forward of the project would be the final step in the process, but we need to do environmental review. And so the main effort on our part tonight is to declare ourselves lead agency under the New York State seeker rules, so that we can then take in information, listen to public comment, and there'll be a series of meetings um before most likely before any vote is taken. So um there's information that's been posted on the website. We hope going we're gonna try going forward to put um something on the city's web page website so that the boy can post additional information. Um we've received letters from uh 15 people so far that I have here. Um, but I will read those names in a couple of minutes. But first we need to open officially open the public hearing so we can start the process. But just be assured where there's no vote tonight to say yes or no on the project. Okay, it's just to listen, listen to public comments, and then to move forward. So could I have a motion to open a public hearing? So moved. Can I have a second? Second. All in favor. Okay. So the public hearing is open. The process that we're gonna do is we will have the applicant give a presentation, hopefully answer some of the questions that are already out there, then we will open it to public discussion. We just ask the public to try to keep your comments brief. And um, you know, if somebody said something that you agree with, you if you want to come up, you can come up, state your name and just say I agree with everything. But hopefully, just not to repeat the same thing over and over again. Um call up the applicant to start their presentation. Um and just for clarification, the nonprofit organization, they can uh identify themselves. They're technically they're the applicant, even though it says here working power ECP LLC as the consultants who are won't be the ownership of it, but it is a local group, so do I need to let's say screen share here. Is that coming up for everybody? It'll be in a second, I think. There we go. Yeah, it's up. Okay. Okay. So I'll just uh begin to introduce the. Thank you, um, planning commission uh members for having us here tonight. Uh we are uh one of the applicants. We are the ecological citizens project. My name is Jason Angel. I am a co-director of the local nonprofit organization, the ecological citizens project. I'm joined here with uh my partner Johnson Apicello, who's also a co-director of the Ecological Citizens Project. Uh we have worked as a local nonprofit organization in the city of Peakskill for over a decade on initiatives like the Peakskill Community Congress, which uh launched Peakskill Walks. Uh most recently launching Peak Skill Regeneration Farm in partnership with the City of Peakskill, which is a public food garden located at Lapore Park on City Parkland that provides uh free food from that's locally grown and fresh for city residents whenever they need it. Uh in addition, over our last 15 years, um we are an environmentally focused organization. Uh we helped launch the community choice aggregation that moved 40,000 residents in the Hudson Valley over to renewable energy.
openpublica.com