At a Tuesday meeting, incoming Supervisor Rob Greenstein called on the current New Castle Town Board to not make any approvals for the Chappaqua Crossing retail plan, according to a video of it that is posted on NCCMC.com.
Greenstein, speaking at that meeting on behalf of himself and fellow incoming town board members Adam Brodsky and Lisa Katz, outlined a series of steps that they would like to take in the environmental review process, according to the video. They include involving the planning board in the discussion; having the planning board look at the findings statement that the town board recently approved; having the planning board look at the proposed rezoning and town development plan changes for the project; filling the vacant seat on the planning board. The incoming board members are seeking local expertise for the project, Greenstein also explained.
At the meeting, Greenstein argued that to vote on more approvals would go against a mandate given from New Castle's citizens, according to the video. Greenstein, Katz and Brodsky ran on a town board election ticket called Team New Castle. The ticket's campaign was marked by opposition to the retail proposal, which calls for the creation of 120,000 square feet of retail space that is anchored by a grocery store.
Other measures that the incoming board members propose include having town consultant Michael Galante present a traffic report related to Chappaqua Crossing - he has reviewed traffic in the process so far - and to ask the town planner how long the process for updating the town's master plan will take and about including Chappaqua Crossing in it, Greenstein was recorded as stating.
With the findings statement, the last environmental review document, having been approved, the next steps for the review process are votes on the rezoning, town development plan (the master plan) and a preliminary development concept plan.
On the video, before Greenstein spoke, outgoing Councilman Robin Stout offered congratulations and called for a transition that is successful. On a related topic, the current town board voted at the same meeting to create a transition advisory committee. It will include the three incoming board members plus the two remaining incumbents, who are Deputy Supervisor Elise Kessler Mottel and Councilman Jason Chapin.
A written copy of Greenstein's full remarks has been posted on New Castle NOW and is at this link.
Get more local news delivered straight to your inbox. Sign up for free Patch newsletters and alerts.
