Tree mitigation. The issue of what should constitute mitigation for removing trees was the major issue in a public hearing for a stormwater permit and tree permit for a single house off Saw Mill River Road. Thirty three trees will have to be removed.
While the applicant intends to plant 18 new trees, both the Tree Conversation Advisory Commission and the Conservation Board accepted the applicant’s plan that the benefit of bringing a sewer line to up to 11 potential parcels constituted sufficient mitigation for the remaining trees. Councilwoman Siegel disagreed, stating the while the Tree Law was flexible regarding possible mitigation measures, a sewer line, despite its environmental benefits, was not an appropriate mitigation under the intent of the Tree Law. The Board closed the hearing and reserved decision.
2024 Audit. Supervisor Lachterman announced that the town’s 2024 outside audit was complete, is online on the comptroller’s page on the town website, and that the auditor will make a presentation at the July 1 Board meeting.
Sewer infrastructure
Bond issue. The Board set a July 1 hearing on a proposed bond authorization, not to exceed $7.2 million to finance 5 pump station upgrades: four in the Hallocks Mill sewer district and a fifth, the Farm Walk pump station, in the Osceola sewer district. In 2021, the town was awarded a $5.8 million grant for the projects.
Hunterbrook pump station. The Board approved a budget transfer of $29,500 from the Hunterbrook sewer district’s fund balance to pay for pump maintenance and repair. In March, the Board awarded a contract to investigate possible leakage problems in the district’s collection system. In response to a question about the contract’s status, the town engineer said the work was scheduled to start next week and would take about a month to complete.
Hallocks Mill sewer extension. (See Town Board May 13, 2025.) In response to a question, Supervisor Lachterman said that the town engineer is working with DEC to learn if the agency would approve the proposed encroachment into the Gomer Street wetlands. But, as for when the town might except a decision, he said the town was a “slave” to the agency’s clock
Field Home. (See Town Board 12/10/24 and 1/14/25.) The Board authorized the supervisor to sign a contract for $78,000 with an architectural firm the investigate future adaptive uses of the historic building.
Micro brewery. (See Town Board, June 10,2025.) The Board set July 15 for a public hearing on amending the Zoning Code to allow a micro brewery/tasting from in a Front Street Building.
Web site survey. As part of the town’s efforts to update its web site, it is asking residents to complete a short online survey of how they currently use the web site and what changes, if any, they would like to see in the updated site. A link to the survey is available at
https://www.yorktownny.gov/town-website-access-and-usage-survey
Tax rate/assessed value. (See Town Board meeting summary May 20, 2025 and watch video of comptroller’s comments at June 10, 2025 meeting.) During Public Comment, Larry Kilian, citing a Westchester County law, took issue with the comptroller’s June 10 comments about which date the town should be using, and would be using going forward, to calculate the tax rate in the budget.
Whereas the comptroller said she would continue to use the value from the previous March, Mr. Kilian said that the County law required the town to use the later, and more up to date, September 15 date that the town assessor filed with the state. In response to Councilwoman Siegel’s comment that the town should be complying with the county law, Supervisor Lachterman said he would ask the town attorney to see whether Yorktown could change the law. (Note: The 2025 budget book stated on page 2 that it used the September 15 date although on page 9 it used the prior March date.)
Density for new developments. (See Town Board, June 10,2025.) For a second time, the Board rejected Councilwoman Siegel’s request for a discussion about how the density of development (number of units) is calculated in the Overlay Law. While Board members said they were satisfied with the Planning Director Tegeder’s comments made at the previous meeting, Ms. Siegel reminded them that at that meeting, she said she was reserving her responses to Mr. Tegeders’s comments for a future discussion.
A video of the meeting is available at yorktownny.granicus.com/MediaPlayer.php?view_id=1&clip_id=1974