City Continues Eminent Domain Process for Firehouse

With the announcement of a public scoping session this week, the Peekskill City Council moves forward with the eminent domain process being used to acquire two properties on which it hopes to build the new All involved and interested parties, including the property owners of the desired land, are invited to the scoping session, which will be held on March 6 at 7 p.m. in the. It is also open to the public.

At the meeting, the council and staff will discuss a scoping statement, which includes information on how the project will impact traffic, noise and air quality and is required in order to move forward with the Eminent Domain Process (read the scoping document in the PDF attached to this article). They will also discuss the draft environmental impact statement, as required by New York State State Environmental Quality Review Act (SEQRA). The reconsideration of SEQRA is required in order to move forward with eminent domain.

The $15.6 million firehouse about $1 million more than upgrades of the existing firehouses would cost, according to a study done by the project architect Bob Mitchell. The project would be built on Main and Broad streets. The city plans to use eminent domain to acquire the properties at 1101/1109 (part of Crossroads plaza and the liquor store) and 1141 Main Street (the white house on the corner), unless owners come to agreement with the Council on a purchase price. The city has been negotiating with those two property owners for a little. Last year, the city bought the other building it needs for the project, 1137 Main Street. The city is allowing non-profit to use that building for free while the organization looks for another permanent location. Should the central firehouse be built, the existing firehouses would remain empty until the city finds tenants to rent them.

Fire Department officials at public hearings pleading with the public to accept the plans for the new firehouse. They told the Council at a June 2011 public hearing that they currently have no training space, which the new firehouse would provide. Currently, firefighters have to travel to Valhalla for training on their own dime. The fire officials also said that the existing firehouses are unhealthy and unsafe and are two small for more modern fire trucks used today. Opponents of the project have spoken out against the $15.6 million cost and location of the firehouse at previous public hearings, and have said this is not the time to pay for a 36,000 square foot, two-story firehouse.

At the March 6 scoping session public comments and discussion will be heard by staff.

The draft Environmental Impact Statement should be completed by the end of April, the city's corporation counsel said at Tuesday's City Council meeting. Once the Council has determined it is completed there will be a public hearing on that. Mayor Mary Foster emphasized that the council wants the project to break ground by this fall. The council discussed the project timeline during executive session.

Involved agencies to be notified of the March 6 scoping session include the Westchester County Planning Board, Department of Public Works and Transportation and Health Department and the Peekskill Planning Commission and Building Department. Interested agencies for the project including the city fire and water departments and the property owners will also be notified.

What do you think of the city's plans to use eminent domain to acquire properties needed for the central firehouse project? Tell us in the comments.

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