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Accessory dwelling units (ADUs). (See Town Board, March 11, 2025.) The Board took a second look at the proposed law after Planning Director Tegeder raised questions about whether the proposed law adequately dealt with the possibility that the construction of new detached units could negatively impact a neighborhood.
However, during the discussion, it was pointed out that the existing law was clearly meant to address ADUs in existing detached units, not newly constructed ones. It was also pointed out that there are numerous provisions in the existing code that give the Zoning Board the ability to deny a special permit for an ADU if the unit would negatively impact the neighborhood. The possibility of setting a percentage of ADUs that could be allowed in a neighborhood was rejected.
The Board also discussed whether the proposed maximum 1,000 sf size for the ADU should be reduced (the current maximum is 800 sf) but decided to keep 1,000’.
The Board directed the town attorney to add a few words to the proposed law to clarify that it only deals with existing ADUs before the clerk’s office refers out the proposed law.
Updates
Hallocks Mill Sewer Extension. Supervisor Lachterman said the Board will discuss the feasibility of using the $13 million in committed outside funding to proceed with a smaller project, i.e., fewer houses, at its April 1 meeting. Given the likelihood that the town won’t be able to get additional outside funding for the project, Councilwoman Siegel urged the Board to face reality and use what money it did have, even if it meant fewer houses could be sewered. Supervisor Lachtemran advised the Board that the $10 million in East of Hudson money controlled by the County could be used to pay up front costs.
Sensory Garden. Councilwoman Siegel advised the Board that the estimated cost for the project is now at about $150,000 but that additional estimates are needed for bringing water to the site so that the plants could be watered. As the grant is only for $50,000, she said the balance would either have to be paid by an as yet unnamed donor, or the Board would have to decide if it wanted to use fund balance to cover the cost. The $150,000 estimate did not include a “water feature” (aka the splashpad) that had been discussed at earlier meetings.
Battery Storage Law. A public hearing on a local law that would prohibit Tier 2 (commercial) storage facilities will likely be held on April 15.
Solar Law. The Board is still reviewing the language for possible amendments to the solar law before a draft law can be referred out for comment.
Peekskill Sewer Districts. Councilwoman Siegel gave a heads up to a likely Board discussion in April on a plan that would group together the 11 separate sewer districts that are part of the Peekskill Sanitary Sewer District into a single Peekskill Operation & Maintenance District. In order to take affect in 2026, the Board needs to create the district before the May 1 deadline for the 2025 Tentative Assessment Roll.
A video of the meeting is available at https://yorktownny.granicus.com/MediaPlayer.php?view_id=1&clip_id=1933