Planning Board Focuses on Chap Crossing Traffic, Safety Issues
New Castle Planning Board members last week voiced deep concerns related to traffic and safety near the site of the proposed Chappaqua Crossing retail project, including worries about the development attracting Horace Greeley High School students.
Board members posed several questions and comments for town consultant Michael Galante, executive vice president of Frederick P. Clark Associates, at a special May 8 meeting. Galante said developer Summit/Greenfield has proposed turning lanes on Route 117 into the former Reader’s Digest site along with other traffic mitigation measures.
Planning board member Tom Curley said the board is concerned about the safety of Horace Greeley students who might walk from the campus to the retail stores in the proposed development, located across the street from the school on Roaring Brook Road. A crosswalk that would connect the Greely campus with the retail side of Chappaqua Crossing should be included by the developer, Curley said.
He then asked Galante if a bus stop could be created inside the proposed shopping center.
“Yes, you can do that,” Galante said, pointing to bus stops inside the Cross County Shopping Center in Yonkers. However, there would need to be approvals from Westchester County and the state Department of Transportation, he said.
The 120,000-square-foot retail proposal, which would be anchored by a full-service supermarket of between 36,000 and 66,000 square feet, drew large crowds during a recent public hearing at New Castle Town Hall. Residents overwhelmingly criticized the project as they argued that Chappaqua Crossing would further snarl already congested roadways near the site. They also told town officials the retail component would hurt downtown Chappaqua and Millwood merchants by creating a third business district that would likely draw shoppers away from the two existing hamlets.
Besides the supermarket, other establishments could include a bank and a restaurant. Representatives for Summit/Greenfield have said there would be no big-box stores or fast-food restaurants.
Two years ago, the town board approved 111 condominium units in another portion of the campus.
Planning board member Sheila Crespi said Summit/Greenfield should also analyze the project’s potential traffic impacts on the Saw Mill River Parkway. Crespi said a new supermarket in New Castle would attract more shoppers to town who might no longer patronize the A&P in Millwood, although board chairman Richard Brownell said that supermarket has attracted fewer customers than originally predicted.
Curley asked about the possibility of a roundabout near the Horace entrance of the Horace Greeley campus entrance. Galante responded that he would be against a traffic circle because students would have to cross the roundabout to walk into the campus, posing safety issues.
The planning board intends to submit several questions in writing to Summit/Greenfield related to the issues raised last week.
“The goal here is to go back to the applicant,” Galante said.
No date was announced when Chappaqua Crossing would be discussed again by the planning board.
