Politics & Government

Kaplowitz Updates New Castle on Sewer Extensions, Millwood Swim Club

Plus: Kaplowitz briefs town on affordable housing settlement.

There could be some movement coming soon on New Castle's petition to expand an existing sewer district into four parts of the town, County Legislator Mike Kaplowitz (D-Somers) told the town board.

In his Tuesday presentation, part of a general list of updates on county legislative news, Kaplowitz said is he hopeful about something “in not too distant future."

The petition, which the town filed in July 2010, would expand the existing Saw Mill Valley Sanitary Sewer District to the Random Farms, Riverwoods and Yeshiva Farms developments, as well as Chappaqua Crossing. Legislation for expansion is now pending before the Westchester County Board of Legislators, where approval is required for it to take effect because the district is under the county's jurisdiction.

Find out what's happening in Chappaqua-Mount Kiscowith free, real-time updates from Patch.

Random Farms, Riverwoods and Yeshiva either rely on failing septic systems or on-site private sewage treatment plants, which have been deemed inadequate for safely keeping sewage out of the Croton watershed, and thus New York City's drinking supply, according to government records.

Chappaqua Crossing developer Summit/Greenfield, and three board members over how its review process of the proposal was handled, has sought extension of the sewer district to cover the eastern part of its property. That portion includes a site that the town and a preliminary development plan for building 111 condo and townhouse units. A portion of the former Reader's Digest site is already covered by the sewer district, where existing commercial buildings are situated.

Find out what's happening in Chappaqua-Mount Kiscowith free, real-time updates from Patch.

In an interview Kaplowitz, stated he believes that the sewer petition has a good chance of passing. While there has been past opposition from legislators who live in Yonkers because more sewage would be sent down to an existing treatment plant in the city, Kaplowitz believes that the petition can get through with enough support in this case.

Kaplowitz does not have a date yet for when news will come out about the legislation, but hopes it will happen soon.

“There is potentially positive news in this area," he said in an interview, declining to get into specifics.

Kaplowitz, who is up for re-election in legislative District 4, is not the only candidate in the race talking about sewer expansion. Last week, for the town board, his GOP opponent Terrence Murphy (R-Yorktown) gave his support for bringing sewers to downtown Millwood to help with economic growth.

 

Possible County Takeover of Millwood Swim Club Site?

Kaplowitz also signalled to the town board that he is interested in the idea of the county taking over the former Millwood Swim Club site and putting it to a new use, possibility as a pocket park along the North County Trailway, the adjacent, county owned bike path.

The swim club has not been open since 2009 and some neighbors in the Sand Street residential area for a conversion.

The town is currently looking at the idea, Kaplowitz explained. Supervisor Barbara Gerrard stated that the town is working with the county on the matter.

Kaplowitz suggested combining the takeover with any sort of town movement on implementing the county's fair and affordable housing settlement on a local level, or as a standlone legislative item.

There is no cost estimate for a conversion at this point, according to Kaplowitz.

 

County Ahead of Affordable Housing Target

Kaplowitz noted that the county has about 150-200 fair and affordable housing units approved so far, out of more than 700 it agreed to have built under a 2009 legal settlement with the Anti-Discrimination Center and the federal government. He also criticized recents arguments between County Executive Rob Astorino and officials from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD), calling it "a bit of a rugby match." 


Editor's Note: A PDF copy of an environmental review for the sewer expansion, conducted at the county level, is attached as a PDF.


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