Chappaqua Crossing retail plan advances

On Sept. 3, the New Castle Town Board accepted the developer’s final supplemental environmental impact statement for the proposed retail development at Chappaqua Crossing, bringing the project closer to approval.

Developer Summit/Greenfield still must do an on-site vegetation inventory and submit an invasive species management plan to the town board by Sept. 10.

The Chappaqua Crossing partners propose to develop 120,000 square feet of retail space, including a grocery store of 36,000 to 66,000 square feet, in a newly zoned office park retail overlay district on the southern part of the former Reader’s Digest Association property.

The plan requires a change in town zoning legislation, adopted in 1989, to remove language that discourages expanding new businesses to areas outside the hamlets of Chappaqua and Millwood.

A public hearing for Summit/Greenfield’s preliminary development concept plan, which outlines the buildings’ layout, remains open. The developer also has considered an alternate concept introduced by New Castle Planning Board member Tom Curley, who proposed a “Main Street” layout for the buildings similar to a conventional downtown. The town board will vote on the design plan at a later date.

After Summit/Greenfield submits its invasive species management plan, the town board will adopt a statement of findings in the environmental review before voting on zoning and town development plan changes.