Hearing Slated on Zoom for Medical Oriented District in Cortlandt
A public hearing on two mixed-used projects in the vicinity of New York Presbyterian/Hudson Valley Hospital on Route 202 in Cortlandt is scheduled to be held Tuesday, June 16 at 7 p.m. on Zoom.
During a hearing in January, more than 150 people jammed into Cortlandt Town Hall to voice their displeasure with the Evergreen Manor and Gyrodyne developments that would separately occupy almost 42 acres across from the hospital.
One of the most outspoken opponents was Cortlandt Supervisor Linda Puglisi who maintained the project was too big for the area to sustain.
The Evergreen Manor project involves the redevelopment of three vacant contiguous parcels totaling 28 acres with a 120-unit assisted living facility, a five-story, 100-room hotel with 13,000 square feet of retail space, 30,000-square-foot mixed-used retail/office building, 166 residential units (152 studios and one-bedroom units and 12 two-bedroom) and a 7,000-square-foot restaurant.
The Gyrodyne site includes the redevelopment of eight contiguous parcels totaling 13.8 acres with 100,000 square feet of medical offices, 4,000 square feet of complementary retail, 200 market rate apartments, 180 structured parking spaces and 383 at-grade parking spaces.
If approved, both projects are projected to generate more than $4.5 million annually in tax revenue, along with 780 construction jobs and 195 permanent on-site jobs.
The go-ahead for the projects was the zoning creation by town officials of the Medical Oriented District (MOD), the intent of which is to encourage economic revitalization in the area surrounding the hospital and implement the goals and recommendations outlined in the town’s 2016 Sustainable Comprehensive Plan.
However, the Town Board, which is the lead agency, must approve rezoning the properties to MOD for the projects to proceed. The developers have insisted their plans are consistent with the town’s vision as outlined in the most recent Master Plan.
Since the last hearing, the developers, VS Construction and Cameron Engineering, have submitted updated reports and revised plans that will be discussed on June 16.
To make sure the Zoom application is installed and working properly, residents are being advised to log in to Zoom at least 15 minutes prior to the start of the meeting, using the link https://zoom.us/download.
Anyone wishing to make oral comments during the Zoom meeting must register in advance of the meeting with the Town Clerk by 4 p.m. on June 16 by emailing townclerk@townofcortlandt.com.
Residents may also send questions or comments in writing or via email. Officials stress written and emailed comments have the same exact force and effect as asking a question during the public hearing itself. Written and emailed comments must be received no later than June 30, should the public hearing be closed. The applicants must respond to all questions posed as part of the DGEIS review process, regardless of the medium used to ask the questions.
Written comments should be addressed to: Town of Cortlandt, Laroue Shatzkin, Town Clerk, 1 Heady Street, Cortlandt Manor, NY 10567. Comments can also be submitted by email to MOD@TOWNOFCORTLANDT.COM.
Rick has more than 40 years’ experience covering local news in Westchester and Putnam counties, running the gamut from politics and crime to sports and human interest. He has been an editor at Examiner Media since 2012. Read more from Rick’s editor-author bio here. Read Rick’s work here: https://www.theexaminernews.com/author/pezzullo_rick-writer/
