Town Board Work Session, February 26, 2008
At the suggestion of Councilman Bianco, about a dozen residents of the condos off Route 6 in Mohegan Lake appeared before the board to voice their concern over traffic and additional development in the area in general, and more specifically about a recently approved site plan on Route 6 for a day care center and bank. They cited inaccuracies and inconsistencies in the developer's site plan that the planning board hadn't responded to but instead took the word of the developer. They felt that the town board as well as the planning board weren't looking out for their safety.

The residents felt that the planning board had not listened to their concerns and they wanted the town board to take control over the planning board, either by splitting it up, appointing a member who lived in the northern part of town, or having the planning board hold more meetings. They felt that the planning board was rushed and overwhelmed and that it spent more time reviewing development plans for the Yorktown Heights area than for Mohegan Lake.

Part of the discussion focused on whether a water main for the proposed new development that was supposed to be located in a general utility easement had actually been moved, an issue the residents had raised earlier at the planning board. Councilman Campisi said that he had looked into the issue and that work orders showed that the main had been relocated. Highway Superintendent Eric DiBartolo had also looked into the matter and confirmed the relocation. The residents remained skeptical and DiBartolo said he would meet with them to review the matter.

One resident asked if the town could use some open space money to buy land for a park in the area.

The board members agreed with the residents that the traffic situation was untenable and that something had to be done about it; the issue was what. Possible solutions that were mentioned included traffic lights, widening the road by eliminating the sidewalks, and changing the zoning to a special overlay type of district (PPD district) that gave the town the ability to integrate planning over multiple parcels.

Both Councilmen Campisi and Martorano expressed concern that the needs of the existing residents had to be balanced with the rights of property owners.


Councilman Bianco said that he was considering a proposal that would shift the authority to approve commercial site plans from the planning board to the town board, possibly only for parcels along Route 6 and Route 202. Such a plan would make the town board answerable to the residents. He pointed out that from 1981-1985 the town board approved commercial site plans. He saw both good and bad in such as plan, but felt that the good outweighed any negatives.

Councilman Martorano expressed concern that if the town board turned down a plan without having solid facts, the developer could sue and if he won, the town would be back the square one. The best plan, he felt, was to take a long range look at Route 6 issues.