By Steven Bernstein
On April 2nd, the New Castle Town Board revealed that they will soon be posting the Chappaqua Crossing Draft Supplemental Environmental Impact Statement. The board wishes to use the 120,000 square feet for retail use. The report examines how the environment will be impacted.
The board is allowing the public to see the completed document because they feel it is ready for public comment, and so citizens will know exactly what the board is planning to do with the former headquarters of Readers Digest.
“The document was complete, and by complete we use that as a secret term of ours which mean it’s adequate for public review, comment and discussion,” said New Castle town council Clinton Smith.
The Town Board has set three public hearings to allow people to raise questions, and comment on any changes they think need to be made to the plan. The board wants to give the public plenty of time to comment on the completed document.
“We want to allow as much opportunity for anyone to comment as possible.” said Smith.
The first public hearing will take place on Tuesday, April 23rd at 7 p.m. The second will take place on Monday, April 29th at 1:30 p.m., and if necessary there will be one final hearing on Tuesday, April 30th at 7 p.m.. People will also have ten days after the final hearing to summit written comments.
“The public hearing will remain open until the last person has spoken. Public comment is very important, and we will listen very closely. All comments come in. The final document will reflect all those comments,” said Town Board member Robin Stout.
The document will be posted on the town board’s website on Thursday, April 4th. All those who have questions or comments on the Environmental Impact Statement should make sure to go to at least one of the public hearings, so that their voices can be heard.
