Yorktown Town Board Meeting - July 16, 2024

The Yorktown Town Board held a regular meeting on July 16, 2024, starting at approximately 7:00 PM. The meeting included reports, public hearings on a dredging project, a major rezoning and development proposal, and an ATV law, along with numerous public comments.

Consent Calendar

• Appointed Mary Ann Cronk as Senior Office Assistant in the Controller's office, Matthew Hawk as Maintenance Mechanic Repair in the Refuse and Recycling Department, and David McConnell as a member of the Tree Conservation Advisory Commission. All appointments were approved unanimously.

Public Comments & Testimony

• Doug Erickson (Granite Springs Road) urged the board to include cell tower code review in the upcoming code update, noting current code appears to streamline installation for companies without adequate protections for residents.
• Jay Copstein asked when a stop work order at EMS Foresight on Route 35 would be lifted (Supervisor responded permits had been issued, awaiting DOT access).
• Maura Gregory (Mohegan Lake, speaking personally) expressed concern that the proposed 800 East Main Street project is described as luxury market-rate housing, while the town needs affordable housing. She urged the board to require a percentage of units be affordable (60-80% of median income for rentals).
• Jack Renzuli (Jefferson Village) opposed the rezoning proposals along Route 6, arguing they would increase congestion, pollution, crime, and lower property values. He stated that adding a sewer and baseball field does not justify devaluing the town.
• Dan Strauss (58-year resident) criticized the term "diversified housing stock," stating that market-rate luxury condos selling for $1 million do not help seniors downsize from $600,000 houses. He said the board is not looking out for Yorktown residents.
• Charles O'Neill (President of Jefferson Village) detailed the community's contributions (vaccination site, voting location, charity events) and opposed the 254-unit mixed-use development and the recycling center, asking the board to support Jefferson Village in stopping these proposals.
• Joanne Sillett (Jefferson Village) argued the developer must meet eight criteria to enter the overlay district, and she believes the project fails most of them. She urged the board to drop the project.
• Dwayne Simmons (Jefferson Village) expressed frustration that the board continues to hear the same concerns without action, warning that approving development will harm the community irreparably.
• Susan Siegel asked about summer hours (town hall departments close at 1 PM on Fridays except clerk's office), requested an update on code enforcement at Fieldstone Manor, and asked for explanation of a $7,200 expenditure for "fifth asset doing business as debt book." She also asked if the board is considering a moratorium on recycling applications while drafting amendments.
• Karen Bobet (President, Glassbury Court at Hunter Brook Condominium) and Mike Becchiola (Vice President) raised multiple concerns about the Toll Brothers project: increased density from 52 to 118 homes, sewer capacity, traffic study outdated (Feb 2022, before Trader Joe's and new restaurants), Catherine Street conditions, construction impacts, and water rates. They requested an updated traffic study and improvements to Catherine Street.
• Joe Canini attempted to comment on the empty seat (special election) but was ruled out of order by the Supervisor.
• Anthony Pachette asked for traffic experts to present at public hearings so residents can question the numbers, especially regarding how adding cars can reduce traffic.
• Michael Kiernan (Brianna Lane) asked if the town has received feedback from Somers on the transfer station project and expressed fear of the project's impact on his neighborhood.
• Juan Russian (East Main Street) questioned the housing crisis definition, asked about infrastructure capacity (police, fire, traffic, flooding), and noted runoff issues. He urged the board to hear residents' pain.
• Several Glassbury Court residents (Pat Lecce, Jane Daniels, Richard Linkowski, Pat Di Mattia) raised questions about entrance locations, tree removal, square footage of homes, and historic building monetization.
• Lynn Briggs (Chair, Yorktown Heritage Preservation Commission) recommended the board not rezone until a plan for the Field Home is developed, citing the town's poor track record with historic properties. She suggested forming a stakeholder working group.
• Maura Gregory (again) and Anthony Pachette (again) reiterated the need for affordable housing and smaller units, not luxury market-rate.
• Philistine Tia (Glassbury Court) emphasized the traffic impact of 200+ cars and delivery trucks from 118 homes on Catherine Street, plus emergency vehicles.
• Dan Strauss (again) argued that Toll Brothers will sell units for $1 million, not $500,000, and criticized the overlay district for shifting responsibility to the planning board.
• Susan Siegel (again) asked the board not to vote on any rezoning until three issues are addressed: the future of the Field Home, independent verification of sewer estimates, and the segmentation issue raised by the Watershed Inspector General.

Discussion Items

• 800 East Main Street (AMS Acquisitions) DEIS Acceptance: The applicant presented a proposal to redevelop 35.5 acres (former Contractor's Registry) with 250 luxury multifamily apartments and 54 for-sale townhomes (55+ age restricted). The draft environmental impact statement (DEIS) was deemed complete by the planning director after multiple reviews. The board voted to accept the DEIS as complete, scheduling a public hearing for August 8, 2024. Council members asked about alternative unit counts (as low as 185) and building height concerns.
• T Town Lake Reservation Dredging Project: A public hearing was held for a permit to place geotubes for dewatering dredged sediments from T Town Lake. The project involves removing 12,000 cubic yards of fill, installing a culvert for wildlife crossing, and restoring a meadow. No public comment. The board approved the permit with conditions, including a negative declaration under SEQRA.
• Toll Brothers Catherine Street Rezoning: A public hearing was convened for a proposed rezoning of 50 acres at 2302 and 2448 Catherine Street from RSP-3 and R1-40 to RSP-2 to construct 118 age-restricted townhouses (2.5 stories, 2,400-3,000 sq ft). The applicant noted the density was reduced from 130 units after board feedback. They highlighted benefits: no school children, $1M+ annual tax surplus, $622,000 in recreation fees, preservation of 14.3 acres of conservation area, and donation of the historic Field Home building on 2.5 acres to the town. Public comments raised concerns about traffic, sewer capacity, historic building use, density, and impacts on Glassbury Court. The board left the hearing open until September 3, 2024, to allow the traffic expert to attend and further community dialogue.
• ATV/Off-Highway Motorcycle Law: A public hearing was held on proposed Local Law to amend Chapter 275 (Vehicles and Traffic) to ban ATVs and off-highway motorcycles on public property and town-owned land. Public comments (Jay Copstein, Walt Daniels, Paul Moskowitz, Dan Strauss, Susan Siegel, and others) pointed out textual errors, enforcement challenges, and the need for stronger penalties. The board closed the public hearing and directed the town attorney to make minor textual corrections, with the law to be brought back for a vote in two weeks. Supervisor and council members noted the law has been vetted extensively and represents progress, even if not perfect.

Key Outcomes

• Consent Agenda: Unanimously approved personnel appointments.
• 800 East Main Street DEIS: Accepted as complete; public hearing set for August 8, 2024.
• T Town Lake Dredging: Approved with conditions; negative declaration adopted.
• Toll Brothers Catherine Street Rezoning: Public hearing left open until September 3, 2024; applicant to arrange meeting with Glassbury Court residents and bring traffic expert.
• ATV Law: Public hearing closed; town attorney to make corrections and bring back for vote within two weeks.
• Resolutions: Approved several administrative resolutions including authorization for grant applications, disposal of obsolete vehicle, and budget transfers.