Lake Mohegan wetlands permit. (See Planning Board, June 30, 2025).The Board opened and closed a public hearing and then voted to approve the wetlands permit that will allow the Mohegan Lake Improvement District to apply to the DEC for permission to undertake a three year project designed to improve the condition of the lake.
The following are some announcements, updates and comments during the Public Comment portion of the meeting.
Old Crompond Road. Site work has begun in preparation for installing the new culvert. (Note: On May 23, 2025, the Board awarded a bid for $1.5 million for the project.
Grants
CREST. The town has received a $100,000 grant from Senator Harckham to be used for an “outdoor” purpose, which can range from upgrades to existing park and recreation facilities to the long delayed Veterans/Downing streetscape project. There will be Board discussions before any decision is made how to use the money.
Update on pending grant applications. The town’s outside grant writer will be at the Board’s August 12 meeting to provide an update on grant applications the company is working on. One is for a new community center at Sparkle Lake, an issue that Councilwoman Siegel said needs more discussion but must be submitted on August 15.
NY Forward grant. The Board will hold a special meeting Wednesday, August 13, from 12-3 pm to get community input on possible projects to include in this grant whose focus is downtown revitalization.
385 Kear Street. (See Town Board, May 20, 2025.) During Public Comment, a resident again raised the issue of the owner’s lack of compliance with the requirement that he relocate HVAC equipment and remove invasive species from town land as mitigation for removing trees on his parcel. Supervisor Lachterman and Councilman Esposito said they were working the town attorney on the appropriate next steps. (Note: In September, 2024, the owner posted two cash bonds totaling $35,000 to assure compliance with the requirements.
Water fountains in town parks. During Public Comment, a resident asked if any of the $24 million in the town’s unassigned fund balance could be used to fix the water fountains in four town parks that are currently not working and which would be used to refill water bottles. The cost would be an estimated $6,000 per fountain. Councilwoman Haughwout said that before the town spent the money, it needed to make sure that the underlying infrastructure was still functional.
Septic repairs. Councilwoman Siegel advised residents that the county is working on a revised program to provide grants for septic repairs. The details are expected in September. Based on preliminary information it appears that there will not be any income requirements associated with the grant.
Navajo Fields (Hidden Valleys). During Public Comment, there were comments for and against including the parcel in the Lake Osceola Overlay District. Supervisor Lachterman said that the Board will likely be reviewing recent memos from the Planning Board, Conservation Board and ABACA at the August 12 meeting. (Note: The recent ;memos are available online at the “pending projects” link on the Town Clerk’s page.)
Code enforcement. Councilwoman Siegel advised the Board that she has requested the Building Inspector to submit a report on violations and complaints received for the first two quarters of 2025. The report is required by the Zoning Code.
Legislative issues
Recreation Fee. Councilman Siegel suggested that the Board create an ad hoc committee to consider possible changes to the various chapters of the Town Code that require developers of residential projects to pay a recreation fee. She said she will have a resolution to create the committee at the Board’s August 12 meeting. She said the suggestion was a result of the lack of any follow up to a joint meeting with the Recreation Commission in January, 2025.
Steep slopes. Councilwoman Siegel advised the Board that she will be submitting a memo requesting the Board consider regulating development on steep slopes, including, but not limited to possibly requiring a steep slope permit and/or limiting the amount of disturbance on very steep slopes.
A video of the meeting is available at yorktownny.granicus.com/MediaPlayer.php?view_id=1&clip_id=1988