Mount Kisco to Purchase Boys & Girls Club Land for $600G
The Boys & Girls Club of Northern Westchester will sell a portion of its property to the Village of Mount Kisco for $600,000 to use for recreation and keep as open space.
The village board unanimously approved the purchase of close to seven of the club’s 12 acres in downtown Mount Kisco. Money for the transaction will come from the open space reserve fund.
Mayor Michael Cindrich said the village has made every effort to preserve open space.
“There are very few parcels left,” he said.
Cindrich noted that for the past year the village has negotiated with the club to get the deal done.
“It took a lot of work to put together,” the mayor said.
The draft agreement, which is subject to revisions by Village Attorney Whitney Singleton, states that a portion of the land must be rezoned Recreational (R) from the current General Office (general office) district.
A provision to subdivide a portion of the property located near the Woodcrest Village condominium complex on Woodcrest Lane into five lots for single-family homes is also included in the draft agreement. The subdivision would require planning board approval and a rezoning from the village board to RS-12, a low density one-family home district. Once those approvals are granted the transaction can be closed.
The village is also considering constructing an athletic field on the land. Under the deal, the Boys & Girls Club has “preferential use” to allow it to operate a summer day camp on the site. During the remainder of the year, the club is allowed to use the property 20 percent of the time on weekdays.
Deputy Mayor George Griffin Jr., who was involved in the negotiations, said the portion of the land that will be used for recreation would be a place for all residents to enjoy. Trustee Jean Farber said the land to be used for recreation would have the least impact on neighbors.
The Boys & Girls Club had entertained other proposals for the site but the development and traffic would be far more intensive than the village’s proposal.
