Starbucks, Religious School, Self-Storage: Clarkstown Planning Board

NEW CITY, NY — As the new year begins, our local officials are busy conducting the public's business in plain sight.

John Adams famously wrote, "Liberty cannot be preserved without a general knowledge among the people, who have a right … and a desire to know."

There are plenty of upcoming chances to help tend to our democracy close to the roots. Several public meetings are scheduled for this week in Clarkstown.

Town government

Monday: Zoning Board of Appeals, 7 p.m. at Town Hall, 10 Maple Ave., in the auditorium

Tuesday: Town Board, 7 p.m., auditorium

Wednesday: Planning Board, 7 p.m., auditorium

There's a lot on the Planning Board agenda, including:

• Final review of the plan to build a Starbucks on the northwest corner of the intersection of Route 304 and West Nyack Road in Nanuet
• Informal review of a proposal to demolish two homes at 31 W. Clarkstown Road in New City and build a 31,428 square foot private, religious school (K-8) with 71 parking spaces (20 proposed to be in reserve) plus 30 spaces of special event parking at the bus area
• Informal review of a proposal to put a self-storage facility on the northwest corner of the intersection of NYS Route 59 and NYS Thruway Interchange 14 in Nanuet
• In addition, there's a proposed development on West Hook Mountain. Learn more on the Save West Hook Mountain! Facebook page.

School district

The Clarkstown Board of Education meets Thursday at 8 p.m. at Clarkstown High School South.