Chappaqua Crossing: Town Board Could Vote on Retail Next Month

The end of the New Castle Town Board's review of the Chappaqua Crossing retail plan could happen within weeks, with votes possible near mid August, based on comments given at Tuesday's board work session.

Under a tentative schedule discussed - it comes with caveats - a portion of the proposal's final supplemental environmental impact statement (FSEIS) that contains developer Summit/Greenfield's responses to comments made for an earlier draft version of the document could be put on the town's website around the end of this week. The comments, which were reviewed by town staff, will still be subject to review from board members. An earlier batch of responses to comments have already been posted.

The next change involves finalizing a market study done on the town's behalf by AKRF, which could be made public around the end of this week. The town board opted to have it done last month in response to an earlier study commissioned for Summit/Greenfield by HR&A Advisors, Inc., which declared that the retail plan would not undermine existing merchants in Chappaqua or Millwood. The AKRF study, Councilman Jason Chapin said, includes checking existing retail inventory, potential for competition and overlap, findings and a recommendation.

“So I think it's very comprehensive," he said.

Chapin also noted that the study states that there is a lot of money spent out of town that could be spent in New Castle, a term that is called "leakage."

Councilman Robin Stout noted that the AKRF study, which is currently in draft form and will be subject to more review this week, does not come to “hard and fast conclusions” about what should be at the site.

On Wednesday, the town plans to give the developer staff comments about its proposed stormwater pollution and invasive species management plans, with Friday slated to be Summit/Greenfield's response date. The town recently received feedback about stormwater management from an inspector general for the issue, New York City's Department of Environmental Protection and Riverkeeper. Feedback, Town Attorney Clinton Smith replied, includes concerns about the depth of an analysis done in an older narrative, and concerns about technical measurements and calculations.

The response to comments, market study, stormwater and invasive species materials are all components of the FSEIS, which the town could have all together by July 23, although Smith cautioned it could come after that date. The town board could decide on July 30 to adopt the FSEIS, a date that also happens to be when public hearings will be held on pieces of legislation that would enable the proposal.

If the FSEIS is adopted, then there is a required 10-day waiting period before the board can vote on a findings statement, a document that ends the environmental review. Smith anticipates having a notice of adoption about the FSEIS published on Aug. 2, which he explained, according to a state legal position, would mark the start of the wait. However, Smith noted that if the board adopts the FSEIS but it is subject to more work being done, then the 10-day period would not start until after outstanding work is finished.

Finally, the board is looking at a vote on the findings statement by Aug. 13, along with votes the same day on rezoning legislation and changes to the town's master plan to enable the project. The proposal, which involves creating 120,000 square feet of retail space and includes a grocery store of 36,000 to 66,000 square feet, calls for establishing a new floating zone to allow for the use.

One required item for the project that might be voted on at a later date is for a preliminary development concept plan for the property, which includes location of structures. Smith explained that one reason for moving later on the concept plan is the fact that Summit/Greenfield has considered “a boulevard layout versus a shopping center layout," a reference to an alternative building arrangement proposed by Planning Board member Tom Curley, who suggested lining structures along a "main street" corridor. Other factors given for waiting to vote on the concept plan are for reviewing the stormwater issue and because of the demands from potential tenants, the later of which are not known by the town.

If the town board approves all of the required items for the plan, it only marks the end of one phase of the town's review. Summit/Greenfield will then need to get site plan approval from the New Castle Planning Board.