Lewisboro Planning Board begins review of controversial subdivision

The 14-lot development would be located on land formerly owned by the Reynolds family.

By NEAL RENTZ

The Lewisboro Planning Board on Tuesday began its formal review of a controversial 14-lot subdivision for single-family homes in Cross River.

The proposal from 831 Route 35 Cross River LLC, is to divide a 14.5-acre property into lots of between 0.5 to 1.1 acres. It calls for a private road, entrance gate and cul-de-sac. The development would be located on land formerly owned by the Reynolds family, which has a long history in Cross River.

The project, one edge of which borders Ward Pound Ridge Reservation, has raised concerns and spurred formation of a group calling itself Preserve Lewisboro. The town has received more than two dozen letters regarding the project.

On Tuesday, the project was presented to the Planning Board by representatives of the developer, including Attorney Anthony Gioffre and project manager Dan Collins.

Gioffre told Planning Board members the property is in a residential half-acre zone, which already has a two-and-a-half story home, which would remain on the site. He said project representatives would give information sought by the board.

“There’s a lot of additional information you are going to request,” he said. 

Collins said those coming to the site would enter through a private road from Mark Mead Road which will end in a 96-foot cul-de-sac. All 13 housing lots will be serviced by their own on-site wastewater treatment system and well, he noted. The 14th lot would be left open for a future stormwater treatment system, he added.

The public did not have a chance to speak on Tuesday. Public hearings will be required during the Planning Board approval process, town planner and wetland consultant Jan Johannessen said.

A short-form environmental assessment form has been submitted to the town, and a long form EAF will be provided, he said. To fulfill town code requirements, 10% of the proposed homes, two units, would need to be affordable, he said.

The developer may need to submit the proposal to the South Salem Fire Department and the project will need to meet state fire code requirements, Johannessen said, adding a tree survey will be required.

Planning Board members had several comments.

Board Chair Janet Andersen said she wanted the developer to dedicate some of the land for open space and provide a connection between the property and the town park.

“A pathway would be a wonderful thing to see,” she said.

The developer may need to have a traffic study regarding the Mark Mead Road area of the site, Andersen said. Board member Charlene Indelicato said a traffic study was needed.

Board member Paul Fusco asked the developer to consider creating a community well for the development. Collins said he would speak with the Westchester County Health Department about the concept.

“It’s something we could consider,” he said. 

Andersen said she wanted the development to be “something the town will be proud of.”

Andersen thanked the residents who have submitted emails about the project. 

In a follow-up interview this week, Planning Board administrator Ciorsdan Conran noted that her department has received 27 correspondences with comments from residents about the proposal, with one person writing twice. 

Conran said the project will be back before the Planning Board at the Aug. 18 meeting if the developer’s representatives resubmit their proposal no later than July 28.