Supervisor’s update on status of Chappaqua Crossing application
Town Board will discuss elements of CC application in work session preceding Nov. 18 public hearing
November 17, 2014
~ by Supervisor Rob Greenstein
The Town Board is continuing its work on a draft local law and preliminary development concept plan that could allow a Whole Foods supermarket, a gym, restaurants and retail stores to be built at Chappaqua Crossing. With input from our Planning Board, we’ve persuaded Summit Greenfield to move away from its original proposal to build large format retail stores, and instead to design a more community-oriented, walkable retail development.
Each side has compromised and the current proposal, while not perfect, has been significantly improved.
The Board also is working with its Town Planner and consultants to do everything it can to ensure that the type of retailers and amenities we might see at Chappaqua Crossing are the best for our community.
Perhaps most importantly, the Board continues to press Summit Greenfield to commit itself to taking the steps necessary to ensure that the impacts of any retail development are avoided or mitigated to the fullest extent possible. These steps may involve limiting not just the allowable retail space at Chappaqua Crossing, but the overall amount of commercial space on the property.
The Board also is exploring ways to create new open space on the property and other improvements that could benefit nearby residents.
Next week, I expect that the Town Board will be discussing some of these possibilities at its Work Session on Tuesday, November 18, 2014.
Editor’s Note: The work session is followed by a public hearing on the Chappaqua Crossing application. The list of possible retail tenants submitted by Summit Greenfield can be viewed by clicking HERE.
Rob- keep up the good work. Retail at CC will be a great thing for our community. We have had enough and heard enough from the few opposed. They would have you believe that most are opposed and that terrible things will happen if CC is developed. They are wrong. MOST people support you and the plan on the drawing board. Contrary to what those opposed say, we are sensitive to their neighborhood and you must build this in such a way that traffic can be mitigated. It wont be perfect but when its done it will be a win – win for all – including those currently protesting the loudest.
Push on!
Since Katz insists that SG needs to continue to compromise, you may want to inform her that they already have. Maybe it is she that needs to compromise from her position of “nothing at CC”
This proposal is shaping up nicely, including many possible attractive tenants in the list submitted.
What is the estimated annual tax contribution to New Castle, net of incremental town expenses? A range is fine.
The compromises have all be on the side of the town. This town board and the last one have compromised us all the way to a project that was never contemplated and is still not contemplated by our master plan, no matter how they strike out certain words to replace them with others. You board members are breaking the zoning contract, selling—and selling out—a large piece of New Castle for tax revenue.
Rob you were elected on the platform to stop development at CC. Now we know that you are not a man of your word and can never be trusted. You do what is good for you at all times. Are you also getting paid off by Summit Greenfield? Many of us wonder . . .
It is not so much the incremental tax revenue, it is the amount the town would lose in a tax cert if nothing is built. The value of the property would be significantly reduced and the town and school would lose a $1 million.
Here is an example of Greenstein’s latest dissembling … as was stated at the last TB meeting this new plan is not all a walkable neighborhood design.
“Chappaqua Crossing
The Town Board is continuing its work on a draft local law and preliminary development concept plan that could allow a Whole Foods supermarket, a gym, restaurants and retail stores to be built at Chappaqua Crossing. With input from our Planning Board, we’ve persuaded Summit Greenfield to move away from its original proposal to build large format retail stores, and instead to design a more community-oriented, walkable retail development. Each side has compromised and the current proposal, while not perfect, has been significantly improved.”
FAIL and more lies.
Fantastic. Thank you, Rob, for all you have done in the short time you have. Family is looking for word to having you close by, as well as other retail that will accompany it.
thank youRob Greenstein. Finally progress.
I voted for you for this reason- to negotiate a deal and get this 10 year saga ended.
I’m still flabbergasted by some that continue to say that they voted for you because you ran on a platform to stop development at CC. I followed closely and you ran on a new approach. Your approach was to be a tough negotiator with SG, to get the town tax revenue and amenities and to move town hall to revitalize downtown.
Keep up the good work.
In a very short time Robster will be ruining this town. He is turning Chappaqua into Scarsdale.
Susan Caroenter was the horror who began this with her lies and Greenstein finishes her dirty work.
Thank you Rob for all you have done to help us. We thought we were in for it when you were elected, but now realize that you and Adam were just lying so you could be elected and help our cause. We are so glad that you are against the residents at every turn and are completely in our pocket. Screw the town, long live developers!
Thank you Rob for all you have done to help us. We thought we were in for it when you were elected, but now realize that you and Adam were more interested in the wishes of the majority and not just those of the NIMBY’s. We are so glad that you are for the residents at every turn and are not in the pocket of the vocal minority
For some reason, my comment above was not properly transcribed. It should have read:
Fantastic. Thank you, Rob, for all you have done in the short time you have been supervisor. Our family is looking forward to having Whole Foods close by, as well as the other retail that will accompany it.
Rob, you started The Chappaqua-Millwood Commerce group, and you are completely wrong to allow CC to attract small stores, unless you believe that the merchants of Chappaqua need to break ranks with their landlords and break their leases and move up to CC. By having smaller spaces available at CC you will allow such a disturbance of commerce to occur in down town Chappaqua, that the only reason the Town would move to approve such a matter is because you have no experience in being either a landlord or a business owner that carries an inventory or provides a non-intellectual service like getting your nails or hair done. Lawyers or Architects that are in business for themselves are not the same kind of business owner or business that needs to move product / inventory, food, or provide a vanity service. Rob, you should want to see big foot tenants like Stew Leonards, Movie theater, bowling alley, spa / gym, and and all big foot type tenants. These kinds of tenants would help the economic growth of down town Chappaqua. I hope you mean small by meaning minimum store size to be 5,000 sgft and above. If not “bye bye bye” beautiful down town Chappaqua, and it will not happen over night, little by little by little. Walk around down town Chappaqua and take a look at the buildings, exterior trim, quality of windows, doors, and landscaping, take a look a really good look and you will see that down town Chappaqua is just barely getting by for the kind of area it represents – everything is relative. Perhaps the merchants are excited to move out of down town Chappaqua and in the same complex with Whole Foods, but then what laws are you going to pass that help the landlords with empty space that will attract new tenants that are not currently allowed to occupy down town Chappaqua soon to be vacant areas. Its real easy for the town to say come appear before us, and very hard to get approvals out. Wow! Say it ain’t so!!!!!
The loss of $1,000,000 is a one time deal that can be cured with the kind of “use” that will not hurt the downtown vibrancy of Chappaqua. However, the ever lasting impact on downtown Chappaqua will be ongoing in the form of Certiorari proceedings over a life time of constant turn over.
