Conifer Remediation At Hunts Place Must Be Closely Monitored: Officials

CHAPPAQUA, NY — On Tuesday, New Castle and state officials visited the brownfield remediation that's been halted at 54 Hunts Place in Chappaqua. The developer of a controversial affordable-housing project was removing contaminated soil until strong odors from digging at the former industrial site led to a stop work order from the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation.

The problems at the site have angered people who were already unhappy about the affordable housing project. Some of the objections to the project between the train tracks and the Saw Mill Parkway have been that it was a small site for a 4-story apartment building. Others said they worried that its location would make the future occupants of the apartments feel stigmatized and marginalized. Opponents also expressed concern for the future occupants' safety given the building's juxtaposition to the tracks and highway, and for the safety of Metro-North operations. Others objected to having an apartment building at the entrance to Chappaqua.

"This is a challenging site. For years, members of my administration have raised concerns about public safety, housing stigmatization and the astronomical cost of developing this particular site for residential housing," said New Castle Town Supervisor Rob Greenstein, who held a press conference on the Route 120 bridge with State Sen. Terrence Murphy and Assemblyman David Buchwald. "We expressed our negative opinions about the site, which consists of a vacant, ¼-acre lot that is sandwiched between the Quaker Street Bridge, the Metro North Railroad tracks, and the Chappaqua exit off ramp on the Saw Mill River Parkway. The soil on the property is badly contaminated due to its prior industrial usage. Despite that, prior administrations decided that a full environmental review was not necessary. We inherited this mess when we took office in 2014.

"I would like to thank Senator Murphy and Assemblyman Buchwald for working with state agencies to ensure that the site is closely monitored for potential health hazards and off-site environmental impacts. New York State Department of Health will be reviewing the sensor reports on a daily basis. As well, Senator Murphy and Assemblyman Buchwald will make sure we have ready access to all available resources at the state level as we deal with the remediation of this site."

NYSDEC previously approved the remediation plan under its Brownfields Remediation Program and has jurisdiction to monitor and control the process. Town officials have retained WCD Group, LLC to also oversee the remediation, including independent air sampling and review of all air sensor reports on a daily basis.

NYSDEC has advised the Town that it will develop a revised odor control plan. NYSDEC agreed to provide WCD with an opportunity to review and comment on the entire remediation plan, as well as the revised odor plan. The contractor will not perform any additional excavation of contaminated soil until the revised odor control plan is reviewed and approved.

SEE ALSO

• Conifer Presents Smaller Plan; Town Board Receptive
  
• Conifer Needs 10 Variances: Building Inspector
  
• Conifer Does Charm Offensive; Opponents Still Vocal
  
• NY State Department Reviews Conifer's Chappaqua Station
  
• Conifer Changes Plan, Gets Grilled Again
  
• Town Board Approves Conifer Special Permit
  
• Conifer Project Would Undermine Metro North Safety