AMS SENIOR DEVELOPMENT (800 East Main Street). In a 4-1 vote, the Board accepted as complete the applicant’s FEIS (Final Environmental Impact Statement), paving the way for the next step in the SEQRA process prior to a vote to rezone the property. (As required by SEQRA, in the FEIS, the applicant has to respond to all the comments made at the September 3, 2024 DEIS (Draft Environmental Impact Statement) public hearing. The FEIS is available online at: https://www.yorktownny.gov/townclerk/800-east-main-street
Originally proposed for a mix of 250 rental apartments and for sale townhouses, the plan is now for 180 rental apartments.
Based on the DEIS and FEIS, the Planning Department will now draft a “Findings Statement” that the Town Board will have to adopt before it votes to rezone the property to RSP-2 for senior housing. The Findings Statement provides the rationale for the rezoning and includes the mitigation that will be necessary to offset any adverse environmental impacts that will result from the development.
Explaining her reason for voting against adopting the FEIS as complete, Councilwoman Siegel said that because some of the statements in the FEIS could be used in the Findings Statement, she wanted a few more days to reread some sections of the FEIS to check that they adequately addressed the issue.
Because the 2024 DEIS hearing was also a hearing on the rezoning application, another public hearing will not be needed before the Board votes on the rezoning application.
During the meeting, most of the questions about the FEIS dealt with traffic, housing, sewers and the project’s visual impact from the Taconic Parkway. On the traffic issue, it was noted that the applicant’s latest plan reflects comments from the DOT and the town’s outside traffic consultant. While the plan includes the installation of a traffic light on Route 6, the DOT will have to approve the light. The traffic improvements are expected to cost a “seven figure” amount, with the applicant paying the full cost.
The FEIS rejected the comment suggesting sidewalks along East Main Street given the grade to the property and the likelihood that they would not be used by seniors.
In response to comments from Councilwoman Siegel on the housing section of the FEIS regarding the need for housing for all age groups and for some units to be available at affordable rents, the applicant said it was up to other developments to provide non age restricted housing and that the town currently had no requirement to provide affordable housing.
Councilwoman Siegel also brought up the fact that under current town law, unlike other zoning districts, there is no requirement in the RSP-2 zone that requires the developer to either set aside land for public recreational purposes or pay a cash recreation fee in lieu of land. In response, Planning Director Tegeder advised the Board that even though there was no such requirement in town code, when the application comes before the Planning Board for site plan approval, the Planning Board could require a recreation fee.
See link below for the entire discussion.
TURNING LANES ON ROUTE 118/202/35. Resident Dan Strauss asked the Board to request the DOT to study the feasibility of widening a section of the road from Maple Hill Street to the light in order to create a third lane so that there could be two southbound lanes. It was Mr. Straus’s contention that there was sufficient room to add the third lane and that adding a second southbound lane would eliminate backups caused by drivers making left turns into Maple Hill Street or the shopping center.
NYSEG. Supervisor Lachterman announced that representatives of NYSEG will be available in Town Hall on March 12th from 1-3 pm and 5-7 pm to answer questions. The Board approved a resolution in support of a bill sponsored by Assemblyman Slater that would require NYSEG to provide more rate information.
For a video of the meeting click https://yorktownny.granicus.com/MediaPlayer.php?view_id=1&clip_id=1922