Chappaqua Crossing: Retail Plan Votes Could be Oct. 16

The New Castle Town Board could potentially hold a series of votes at a special meeting on Oct. 16 for the Chappaqua Crossing retail proposal, according to town officials.

The possible votes would be on a findings statement wrapping up the environmental review, creating a new retail zone in the town code and approving master plan changes, Town Attorney Clinton Smith confirmed.

However, it is unlikely that the board would vote on rezoning Chappaqua Crossing itself, which includes mapping the site, Smith explained. This is because developer Summit/Greenfield has indicated that it is not ready yet with the proposal's preliminary development concept plan, which is for site layout, because of the status of its intention to lease the property. The plan is needed in order to have the mapping, Smith stated.

Although the focus on the proposal, which calls for having 120,000 square feet of retail space, is on rezoning, the text itself is a separate legislative matter. For example, the town code already has several zones in existence that are not mapped to any specific sites, Smith explained.

The date may not happen if the findings statement is not ready. Staff will present the town board with a draft version, but caveats that could delay the timetable include whether the board is satisfied with it or if the legislation has been publicly available for at least two days prior to a vote.

The board had a discussion regarding the proposal at a meeting on Tuesday, Smith confirmed. He also explained that the zoning text vote would not be subject to a petition submitted that would require a supermajority of the board (four members out of five) for rezoning. The petition would only affect the vote for mapping.

Another topic raised was the scenario of the supermajority being a factor in possible litigation following a vote. Such hypothetical legal action, depending on the outcome of the vote, could be from Summit/Greenfield or from local opposition.