It took more than a decade but advocates for sewer extensions in New Castle scored a major victory Monday, when the Westchester County Board of Legislators voted to approve the town's expansion petition.

In a 11-6 vote, the legislators backed extensions for the residential neighborhoods of Random Farms, Yeshiva Farm and Riverwoods. Each of those neighborhoods were identified by the New York City Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) as needing to clean up their waste treatment systems in order to prevent unhealthy substances from getting into the Croton Reservior's watershed, which contains the drinking water for both city and Westchester County residents. The neighborhoods either use septic systems or on-site sewage treatment plants, which are generally a large expense to maintain.

The extension will also enlarge the existing sewer district's coverage of Chappaqua Crossing, something that developer Summit/Greenfield had sought in its attempt to build 199 housing units of condos and townhouses. The fact that Chappaqua Crossing's proposal included 20 units that would count towards the county's 2009 federal housing settlement also bolstered its chances. Whether the site, which the town board only gave residential rezoning for 111 units on in April, will actually be developed remains to be seen because the developer is suing the town over how its applicaton was reviewed.

In getting passage of the sewer extension, which will involve extending the existing county trunk line that stops in Briarcliff Manor, measures were approve to help with odor remediation at the sewage plant in Yonkers that would accept the waste. The odor has been a longstanding point of frustration among residents in legislators from the city. The measures to assist Yonkers include a $9,635,000 bond for Phase II in a design and construction of odor remediation work, which was passed earlier this month. Also, the New Castle legislation includes a requirement that design work must be done for the next phase on the plant, called Phase III, in order for the local work to proceed.

In a notable break, Chairman Ken Jenkins (D-Yonkers) who has previously gone on records as being opposed to an earlier extension proposal, voted in favor of this one, which included tougher language in his city's favor. Jenkins could not be reached for comment.

Legislator Mike Kaplowitz (D-Somers), who represents New Castle, described the passage as the first phase in bringing in sewers. Going forward, a financing package will need to be put in place next year. The extensions in town will be funded by a mix of payments from residents and from special monies that the county received in 1997 from New York City in order to help with environmental work in the Croton watershed.

A timetable for when design work on the plant, or extension work on New Castle, is not yet known, according to Kaplowitz. The bill that was passed awaits the signature of County Executive Rob Astorino, who has previously given his support for bringing the sewers to New Castle.

The extension petition, which the New Castle Town Board submitted to the county more than a year ago, gained momentum in early October, when Kaplowitz announced a deal in which the DEP wanted the town to get sewers in exchange for the city allowing the county to tie into a planned ultra-violet water treatment plant to be built in central Westchester. A vote is expected on that portion next year, according to Kaplowitz.

Going forward, there is already a local push to add downtown Millwood into the system. Under a proposal for extending the county trunk line to support the new neighborhoods in the district, the line would pass through the business district.