Cross River tavern discussion centers on sidewalks

By NEAL RENTZ

The Lewisboro Planning Board on Aug. 18 continued its review of the Old Post Tavern proposal in Cross River with board Chair Janet Andersen requesting that the applicant reserve space for future sidewalks in the area.

The project would be on roughly 2 acres located at 902 Route 35, in the hamlet center near the intersection with Route 121. It would include a new restaurant, marketplace store and greenhouse.

The building on the site was historically used as a restaurant and a residence. The proposed market would be in a portion of the former restaurant.

The project also calls for parking, a new septic system, a well or wells to provide potable water, and stormwater drainage and other improvements. 

The property currently has drainage from Route 35 and wetlands regulated by the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation, the Army Corps of Engineers and the town of Lewisboro. The existing drainage ditch would be piped and nearly 3,388 square feet of wetlands filled. There is a proposal to mitigate the loss of the wetlands with on-site and off-site wetland creation, plantings and invasive species removal.

Skaz Gecaj and John Swertfager are the contract vendees. The owners of the site are Robert Valenti and Michael Mongiello. The applicants are seeking site development plan approval from the Planning Board.

Some particulars of the project are in flux because the applicant will need approval from other agencies. 

Mark Schulman, a partner with Design Development Architects, told the Planning Board this week his firm has responded to the majority of the 61 comments from the town’s planner and wetland consultant Jan Johannessen.

Much of the ultimate design plans for the property will be determined by such outside agencies as the Westchester County Health Department and the New York City Department of Environmental Protection, Andersen said. 

“There’s so much open,” Johannessen said. 

The county Health Department will review the application and should get back to him within the next few weeks, Schulman said.

Johannessen said the planning office received the project’s Environmental Assessment Form this week and he will review it. 

The applicant needs to complete a wetlands mitigation plan, Johannessen said. Steve Marino, who is working with the applicant on wetlands issues, said New York State Department of Environmental Conservation officials have walked the site and the wetlands have been delineated. The DEC needs to approve a wetlands mitigation plan, Marino said.

The DEP will need to approve the plan for stormwater, Marino added.

Andersen expressed concerns about the proposed greenhouse. 

“I am still worried about the accessibility of the greenhouse,” she said. “I don’t see any way to get there except by taking stairs and I don’t think that is something we can approve.” 

Andersen continued to call on the applicant to leave portions of the property undeveloped, allowing for future sidewalks that could connect businesses nearby along Route 35. Andersen stressed that she did not expect the project before the board now to include sidewalks that connect it to other parts of the neighborhood. She called it “aspirational” as opposed to something that was codified.

“There’s a real interest to have this become a more walkable area,” she said of future plans for the hamlet center.

“We totally agree with you,” Schulman said. “The plan does show from the property line to the entrance to the tavern” would be a sidewalk.

A proposed sidewalk would also provide access to the new town offices next door. 

“I think if we’re ever going to have a walkable Cross River, it’s only by planning a little bit ahead of time,” Andersen said. “And saying, let’s get these spots sort of saved.”

No date was announced for when the project would be back before the Planning Board.