Peekskill Completes Environmental Review for Central Firehouse Plan

The state environmental review for Peekskill central firehouse proposal was completed Thursday when the Common Council approved its finding statement for the project.

The move comes more than two weeks after officials accepted the final draft environmental impact statement for the project and passed a resolution authoring the use of eminent domain to acquire the land needed for the project.

A copy of the findings statement is available in the PDF file attached to this story.

"I know that there is a lot of controversy over the firehouse," said Councilwoman Marybeth McGowan. "But the council believes that, first of all, that there was proof that it would have been very difficult to bring all of the firehouses up to standard. The response time will be a little quicker and, the long run, it is fiscally responsible and will be a savings in the long-term."

Officials want to build a 36,000 square foot, $15.6 million, two-story structure built on the northwest corner of Main and Broad streets and has been studying plans for the facility since 2008. The city’s current facilities are outdated; too small for the fire trucks; too cramped for the people on duty and for proper training; and can’t be retrofitted to meet the needs current needs of the department.

The city has already acquired 1137 Main Street and 1141 Main Street in order to acquire the space needed for the project. But the city is still undergoing lengthy negotiations with the owner of the Crossroads Shopping Center, located at 1101-9 Main Street, so that it can move forward with the project.

Businesses in the shopping center that would be affected if the city decides to condemn the property have complained that it is unfair for them to have to relocate, that there other options available in terms of configuring the site, and that the city will not be able to fairly compensate them for moving.

Other city residents have complained that the scope of the project is too large and costly, given the current economic climate.