Accessory Dwelling Units.( See Town Board, May 6, 2025.) The Board unanimously adopted the amended law.
Battery Storge/BESS. In a 4-1 the Board adopted the amended law that bans Tier 2 BESS systems. Councilwoman Siegel voted against the ban explaining that safety concerns can be addressed by mandating third party rigorous peer review and comprehensive monitoring systems.
Solar Law. The Board opened a closed a hearing that would ban large scale ground mounted solar farms in residential zones, leaving open a 10 day period for written comments. During the more than two hour hearing, there were speakers for and against the ban. While supporters cited the need to protect the character of residential neighborhoods, opponents of the ban cited the need for more renewable energy with many suggesting that the town consider applications on a case by case basis.
Councilwoman Siegel suggested that instead of only two options – allow or ban – the town should consider a third option that would allow the Town Board to consider applications for a large scale solar farm on a case by case basis and if an application met certain criteria rezone the property to allow the solar installation.
2025 Budget tax issue. (See Town Board May 6, 2025.) During her opening comments, Councilwoman Siegel held up several pages of the budget that documented what she said was an error in calculating the 2025 tax rate. In response, other Board members accused her of grandstanding when she should have brought the issue to their attention in private. Her concerns were echoed by a resident during the Public Comment portion of the meeting.
Sewer district consolidation (See Town Board, May 6, 2025.) During her opening comments, Councilwoman Siegel expressed her frustration that the Board was not addressing the issue of consolidating the 11 Peekskill sewer districts. When Supervisor Lachterman responded saying he opposed the consolidation because it would create a new tax, Siegel urged residents to visit her web site, susansiegel4yorktown.com, for a better understanding of the tax issue. The supervisor and Councilman Esposito said they preferred to fix the Peekskill sewer district problem by adjusting the charge on water consumption.
Public comment issues raised by residents
345 Kear St. (See Planning Board May 19, 2025.) Citing multiple signs at the new stores, a resident asked the supervisor to look into potential violations of the town’s sign ordinance. He also wanted to know what the town was doing about the violation of the building’s site plan approval which required the HVAC equipment to be located on the roof and not on the side of the building. Supervisor Lachterman said he would look into the sign issue and Councilwoman Siegel said the HVAC issue was an issue that the Planning Board would be taking up.
Route 118/Underhill Avenue Road improvements. (See Town Board, May 6,2025.) Questions were raised about changes to the plan regarding sidewalks and why, if the town was able to get state funds for a portion of the project, the money would go to the developer, not the town.
Note. See the town’s web site, https://www.yorktownny.gov/townboard/meeting-videos, for a link to the meeting video.