Yorktown Town Board Approves Rezoning of 202 Parcel
The Yorktown Town Board unanimously agreed last week to rezone the front portion of a 100-acre site on Route 202 that is being envisioned for commercial development.
The board’s much anticipated action, which rezoned about 30 acres from R-160 (four-acre residential) to C-1 (commercial), paves the way for State Land Corporation to pursue approximately 230,000 square feet of commercial space through the planning process.
The site, located across from Parkside Corner, was once proposed by Homart Development Corporation for a 400,000-square-foot shopping center, and later a 27-lot subdivision.
“It’s only a plan. It could be more, it could be less,” Councilman Nick Bianco said of State Land’s planned commercial project.
Bianco insisted that language be included in the lengthy resolution adopted by the board that stipulated the majority of the remaining 70 acres in the rear of the site by preserved as open space as it was stated in the SEQRA Environmental Assessment Form (EAF).
The board agreed to Bianco’s request, but Supervisor Michael Grace, who described the rezoning as “basically a non-residential cluster development,” maintained it was not something the town could legally enforce.
“You can’t compel any dedication of open space,” Grace said. “The intent and hope of the property owner is that they give it to the town and hopefully we’ll take it. There’s no reason they would want to hold on to 50 acres and pay taxes for it when it’s totally useless.”
The rezoning also includes a line for a right-of-way for a future Bear Mountain Parkway extension that has been mentioned for many years by the state Department of Transportation but has never been formally pursued.
A few active community residents suggested the board hold off on rezoning the property until a formal application is filed.
Patty Peckham, co-chair of Green Yorktown, urged board members to take a “long view” of what the rezoning could allow.
“Look and see what the ramifications of your decision tonight might be 15 to 20 years down the road,” she remarked.
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