Village Seeks Public’s Ideas for East Parcel Development

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August 3, 2016

by Robert Kimmel

Sleepy Hollow residents are being asked to offer their opinions as to exactly what type of redevelopment should take place on the 29-acre parcel of land east of the Metro North rail tracks that was part of the old GM site in Sleepy Hollow.

Known as the East Parcel, it was turned over to the Sleepy Hollow Local Development Corporation (LDC) for village use as part of the deal that saw General Motors sell the larger, riverside parcel to developers of Edge-On-Hudson, a major mixed use residential and commercial undertaking.

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Two informal public meetings were scheduled by the village to “discuss the East Parcel Redevelopment.” The initial session took place in late July and the second one is slated for Wednesday, August 10, at 7 p.m. at the James F. Galgano Senior Center, 55 Elm Street.

The Draft Environmental Impact Statement (DEIS) for the parcel was accepted as complete last month by the LDC, a move that its chairman, David Schroedel called, “a real milestone to repurpose what was once a village dump, and then a parking lot for the former GM assembly plant.” The potential uses for the parcel are described in the DEIS and the site is analyzed for suitability and environmental impact.

A public hearing on the DEIS has been scheduled for Tuesday, August 23, and the LDC is expected to have joint meetings with the village Board of Trustees into September, according to Schroedel.

Among the projects initially projected for the area were a village Department of Public Works facility, athletic fields, additional parking for events at Historic Hudson Valley’s Philipsburg Manor, and, possibly, a repair garage for the Tarrytown School District.

Refinement of different concepts for the site are underway, and to start, since the site is on a flood plain, fill will be deposited throughout the parcel to raise its level for future construction. Among the projects that will likely take place is the extension of Continental Street toward the river to improve east-west connectivity. According to the village, “the Plan will address the need for central civic space that provides community amenities.”

Elements included in one proposed concept call for a 250-space parking lot, which could be connected to an existing park lot, a connection to a future trail along the river, 5,000 square feet of playground, and the possibility of basketball and tennis courts. The DPW site would be included, as would a 120,000-square-foot recreational center with sports fields. There would be expansion of parking for Historic Hudson Valley parking, and under-bridge use.

A second concept includes less regular public parking, 120 spaces, which could expand, outdoor performance space, recreational space, an extensive multiuse path system, as well as under-bridge space use, and the Department Public Works site.

The apparent preferred plan would be a hybrid of the two different concepts which would include a “discernible center and community space,” good circulation both east-west, and north-south circulation and outdoor performance space. Access to Beekman Street is considered critical as are pedestrian and bicycle connectivity.

A new, modern public works department facility is also considered critical to properly serve the increased needs that will come when the 1,177 residential units are completed on the Edge-On-Hudson development.

The Local Development Corporation holds ownership of the East Parcel in order to save the village additional costs required to meet state mandates for building projects by municipalities. The LDC will issue bonds to finance the project’s construction, and lease the buildings to the village and pay off the bonds with those funds.

The LDC also got a financial boost when it contracted with Metro North to have the company lease two acres of land on the property where it had existing track sidings. It got $284,731 for retroactive use of the acreage, and is receiving $13,109 monthly for its use, with a Metro North purchase option of $1,570,000, adding up to $1.8 million.

Residents can find an engineer’s concept plan on the Sleepy Hollow Village website to get a better idea of the property’s layout.

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