Car wash. A presentation was made for an 11,500 sf car wash on the undeveloped parcel along Route 118 between the former Cablevision building and the entrance to the Mohegan Trailway. The 1.7 acre parcel is zoned C-3 (highway use) that allows gasoline stations and car washes by special permit approved by the Town Board. In contract to buy the parcel, the applicant advised the Board that he had been in discussion with the former director planning since last year and that the discussions had proceeded to the point where they were discussing the color of the building.
The zoning designation notwithstanding, Councilmen Gilbert, Esposito and Siegel questioned the appropriateness of a car wash at that location and Councilwoman Siegel said would ask town attorney if the Board could change the zone at this time.
Although the applicant has not yet done a traffic study, he anticipated that the project would likely involve spending $1.25 million to $1.35 million on traffic improvements that would include a light at the Downing Drive intersection. The plan has space for stacking 12-13 cars, and concern was raised whether additional waiting cars might be on Route 118.
In response to Councilman Gilbert’s concern about the wetlands and stream on the site, (the plan could disturb about a half acre of wetland), the applicant explained that a yet-to-be-prepared mitigation plan would replace any lost wetlands in a 2 to1 ratio. The plan would also protect the stream on the site.
According to the applicant, there would be 10-12 employees on the site at any time. But there would only be 4 parking spaces for employees because employees would be dropped off, carpool or use public transportation to get to work. Councilman Esposito questioned whether the 4 spaces were sufficient.
Councilwoman Siegel raised the issue of the impact of the facility on the capacity of the town’s Hallocks Mill sewage treatment to handle the additional wastewater flow without jeopardizing future hook ups such as the proposed Hallocks Mill extension district.
While a formal application has been filed, there was no indication when the car wash would be on a future Board agenda,
Shrub Oak Hockey Facility. In response to the well organized efforts by a group of concerned residents to reestablish a hockey rink at the Sunnyside park, the Board voted to apply for a $1.35 million grant, with a $675,000 town match, to demolish the existing decaying rink and replace it with a new one multi purpose rink that would include a canopy and glass walls but open sides allowing for year round use. The slab would include the pre-refrigeration trenches that would be needed if the town ever considered a Phase 2 that would allow the rink to the used for ice hockey, likely run as a public/private partnership.
During the discussion Councilwoman Siegel noted that the town is also working on grant applications for a sensory trail, a NY Kicks soccer project (details were not provided), and a possible resubmission of an application to improve drainage, ADA accessibility and parking at the Downing fields that had twice been rejected. The town currently is waiting to hear if its application for a grant to rehabilitee the playground at Railroad Park will be successful. In response to her question to members of the Recreation Commission as to their priorities and to members of the Town Board on how much money they were prepared to spend on recreation projects, the consensus of the Board was to apply for all possible grants and then deal with the money for the match if the town was awarded any of the grants.
Jefferson Valley Mall. (See Town Board, May 19, 2026) With no public comments, the Board opened and closed the hearing and then voted to approve the change in the allowed uses to include amusement and beer facilities.
Granite Knolls Parking Lot. The Board awarded a bid for $809,093 to pave the parking lot. Debris from the construction will be moved to the town property on the other side of Stoney Street to prepare the site for additional parking for the sports complex.
While voting to award the bid, both Councilmen Gilbert and Siegel noted that if the Board had rebid the possibility of erecting a solar canopy over the existing lot, the contractor would have paid for the paving – and the panels would have generated revenue for the town. In response, Supervisor Lachterman said that the majority of the previous Board that did not include Councilman Gilbert opposed the solar canopies because they would have a negative impact on the aesthetics of the site.
Other bid awards. $25,000 for the volleyball court at Granite Knolls, and an additional $18,536 for digital signs at the library and community center that will supplement the $100,000 CREST grant from Senator Harkham’s office.
Affordable housing. (See Town Board, July 7, 2026) Councilwoman Siegel announced the correct phone number for seniors interested in adding their names to the waiting list for the five affordable senior apartments at the York Farms development on Baldwin Road. The correct number is: 914-686-3474.
For a video of the meeting, click yorktownny.granicus.com/MediaPlayer.php?view_id=1&clip_id=2138