Planning Board News
By Adam Kaufman,
Director of Planning

Planning Board Members

Peg Michelman
At the end of 2010 Peg Michelman announced her retirement from the North Castle Planning Board after 11 years of service, five of which were in the position of Chair.  Mrs. Michelman has a dedicated track record of community service beyond the Planning Board and includes being past Treasurer and President of the Library Board, member of the Windmill Water District Advisory Committee, member of the Large Homes Study Committee,  honorary trustee of Blythdale Children’s Hospital and member of the Byram Hills Budget Information Committee.  The Planning Department thanks Peg for all of her years of dedicated service and hopes that she enjoys the additional free time she will have to spend with friends and family.

John Delano
Upon the retirement of Peg Michelman, the Town Board appointed John Delano as Chairman of the Planning Board.  Mr. Delano brings with him over 25 years of engineering experience in the private sector and over seven years as a member of the North Castle Planning Board.  As a current member of the North Castle South Fire District No.1 Board of Fire Commissioners and previous involvement as a member of the Board of Directors of the Kensico Little League, the North Castle Land Use Study Committee and the North Castle Sewer Capacity Task Force, Mr. Delano is well prepared to lead the Planning Board into the future.

Guy Mezzancello
The Planning Department welcomes Guy Mezzancello, a 26 year resident of the Town, to the Planning Board.  Mr. Mezzancello has significant experience in the building trade industry and will be able to bring a unique perspective to the Board.

Planning Board Comments on Proposed Business Park Projects

The Planning Board recently provided comments to the Town Board indicating that the proposed zoning text amendments that would permit a 174 bed Assisted Living facility and a 25,000 square foot Supermarket in the Business Park would both be consistent with the Town Comprehensive Plan.  A series of Town Board and Planning Board meetings will be scheduled to discuss these projects.

Airport Parking Garage DEIS Completed

A Draft Environmental Impact Statement (DEIS) has been completed and accepted by the Town of North Castle Planning Board, acting as Lead Agency for the Proposed Action. 

Comments on the DEIS are requested and will be accepted by the Planning Board until 15 days after the close of the SEQRA Hearing or such later date as may be announced by the Planning Board at the close of the SEQRA Hearing. 

A public hearing on the DEIS has been scheduled to begin on Monday, May 2, 2011 at 7:00 PM at the H.C. Crittenden Middle School, 10 MacDonald Avenue, Armonk, NY 10504.

11 New King Street, LLC (the “applicant”) proposes to construct a multi-level automated parking structure (the “proposed project”) at 11 New King Street (the “project site”) in the Town of North Castle, Westchester County to alleviate an existing parking shortage at Westchester County Airport.

The proposed parking facility would be called Park Place at Westchester Airport (“Park Place”). In conjunction with the site plan application, the applicant has submitted a zoning petition to amend the Town of North Castle zoning code to allow parking structures in the Industrial AA (IND-AA) zoning district with a special permit.

The project site comprises two tax map parcels that are located in the southern portion of the Town of North Castle adjacent to Westchester County Airport near the Connecticut state line.  The proposed project would involve construction of an approximately 267,000-square-foot five level enclosed automated parking structure with a building footprint of approximately 51,000 square feet. The parking facility would provide space to accommodate 1,450 vehicles.

Planning Department Extends Submission Deadline

The Planning Department is now accepting continuing business items 12 days prior to a Planning Board meeting.  This change will allow Applicants that have appeared on a Planning Board agenda the opportunity to appear at the following Planning Board meeting without the need to “skip” a meeting between appearances.

Design Guidelines Proposed for Armonk, Banksville and North White Plains

The Town Board has approved the formation of a new committee to recommend new design guidelines for the Town’s three hamlets.  The new committee will consist of Planning Board members, ARB members, and Town Board members.  The committee will be established by the Town Board in the near future.

Septic Pumping Law Adopted for Properties Located in the NYC Watershed

Effective May 1, 2011 homeowners within the Croton and Kensico watersheds will be required to have their septic tanks pumped once every five years. The Town Board approved the Septic Inspection Law during their March 23, 2011 meeting.  The law is required as part of the Municipal Separate Storm Sewer Systems (MS4) requirements, a federal mandate that is enforced by the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation.  In addition to having the septic tank pumped, the process would include a visual inspection of the septic fields for any obvious problems.

If a homeowner fails to perform the pump out and inspection, the homeowner would receive a notice of violation requiring that the tank be pumped and inspected within 30 days. After the 30 day period, a $200 fine for every 14 days the system is not inspected could be imposed.

Residential Review Process Streamlined

The Town Board has adopted new regulations that result in a greatly expedited review of residential projects within the Town with the elimination of the “basic” limits regarding Gross Land Coverage and Gross Floor Area.  The changes will allow some homeowners who have relatively simple applications (and no environmental issues) to construct pools, small additions or even new houses without Planning Board review. 

Planning Department on the Web

The Planning Department has a well established website that contains valuable information about the planning process, Town information and history. 

We encourage you to come visit and look at all of the information available on-line.

Residential Project Review Committee (RPRC) on the Web

The RPRC was created to streamline the residential review process by having the RPRC quickly review incoming residential projects and permit projects determined to have no impact to proceed and to direct more complicated projects to the appropriate review board.

The RPRC has a website where residents can find information concerning RPRC projects.  The website has up to date status information regarding the completeness of applications, meeting schedules/agendas, review memos and RPRC decisions.  The website permits residents to have instant access to RPRC information at any time.