Solutions Pitched to Residents About Columbus Avenue Rezoning in Crestwood

It was another full house at Tuckahoe Village Hall on Monday night.

For the past several months, the Mayor and Board of Trustees have held open hearings on the rezoning of the Getty Service Center. The site is currently owned by Crestwood Station Plaza, LLC, which is pursing the rezoning and hopes to build a condominium complex with storefronts on the site, 300-308 Columbus Avenue.

In the proposed plan, the first floor of the building would have 3,600-square-feet of business space. The second and third floors would be comprised of 21 900-square-foot two-bedroom apartments and five 750-square-foot one-bedroom units. 

A 24-hour diner, restaurant, retail shops, or doctor's offices were some ideas for the storefronts brought forth by John Meyer Consulting on behalf of the applicant.

JMC's attorney, Bob Davis, went over these ideas, along with how a condo complex would benefit Tuckahoe residents by reducing traffic during peak hours at the Crestwood Train Station—still a major concern among residents.

He cited that the units would be attractive to commuters looking to be closer to the train, who would walk to the station rather than drive. He also noted that it would force out-of-the-area commuters to use other train stations.

A traffic study, performed by JMC, showed peak hours to be between 7:15 and 8:15 a.m. and 4:30 to 5:30 p.m. The study found that approximately 70-90 motorists park at the gas station every weekday, and the majority of them don't live in Tuckahoe. It is believed that these motorists will park closer to their homes—and other stations—rather than at the Crestwood Station.

"If it were convenient for them to be dropped off or picked up at the station, they would not be paying to park their cars there," said Davis.

"Part of the gas station property now is used as a lot for commuters. The owner charges $200 per month to park there, that's $2,400 per year," said Trustee Steven Ecklond. Once that lot is turned into a condo complex, those spots would be gone. "They won't be able to park on our side roads," he continued.

To prevent speeding, Davis explained that the applicant is willing to put in a speed bump along Oakland Avenue. He reassured the Board and residents that the building would not impede driver visibility, as it is proposed to be 38 feet tall, four feet shorter than the maximum height for that kind of zone. He also told the group that the applicant was willing to install a stop sign along the northbound side of Columbus Avenue, if the Village wanted it.

Residents continued to voice concern, however.

Lou of Oakland Avenue was worried about accidents increasing on Oakland and Fisher and Oakland and Lincoln, as well as the speeding on Columbus Avenue, which he believed to be one of the worst spots.

Mayor Fitzpatrick asked Tuckahoe's Chief of Police John Costanzo to read from a prepared list of accidents that occurred over the past few years on Oakland, Columbus, Lincoln, and Fisher, to show that only a few personal injury accidents and less than a dozen crashes that resulted in property damage occurred in the area.

Denise of Dale Road thought that senior housing for those 55 and over would be more desirable to most people than a condo complex for young families.

"In these hard times, people will put two to three kids in one bedroom if they have to, and especially to be close to the Eastchester schools," she said.

In response to her question, Davis answered, "Under the current zoning, we can't put in senior housing there. It has to be in a residential area only. It can't be in a business district."

Vito Catania of Dante Avenue believes the condo will bring 20 children rather than the proposed three to five.

"I still think three to five children is reasonable, but we're going to see what our developer says," Mayor Fitzpatrick responded.

Trustee Ecklond also pointed out that the Village Board is simply charged with the decision to rezone the area from a commercial business to a business-residence. The Board cannot determine color, height, lot size, number of one, two, or three bedrooms—that's up to the Planning Board.

"We have no control of what would go on this proposal of business-residence. We feel there should be residential-business combination on this project," he said.

Trustee Ecklond continued, "I would like to see a shorter building, but I don't have any say in this issue. The public and I, myself, as a resident of Crestwood, we need to let the planning board know how we feel when it goes before them."

Mayor Fitzpatrick said the vote will most likely take place in September, and that they may close the public hearing in August if they have enough information by then.

"The schools, traffic, taxes, and aesthetics are all factors that will be considered in the vote," he said.

"If the rezoning is not approved, the developer can put up a commercial building, or the applicant can challenge our decision before a judge," Trustee Ecklond said.