PEEKSKILL, N.Y. -- City officials will hold a meeting on Tuesday, March 6 at 7 p.m. to discuss the environmental impact of the planned central firehouse on Main Street.
The city has acquired a property at 1137 Main St., where it plans to build a new central firehouse but may have to acquire adjacent buildings located at 1101/1109 (Peekskill Heights) and another at 1141 Main St. by way of eminent domain if it is unable to purchase the properties.
The firehouse is expected to cost about $15.6 million, which is a little more than $1 million more than the estimated $14.3 million cost of renovating the existing stations. The city created a transfer tax on property sales and a 1 percent municipal tax increase to help pay for the new station.
A centralized firehouse would save the city money in utility costs and provide space for the 100 hours of required annual state training for firefighters, members of the department staff have argued. Currently, city firefighters travel elsewhere for training. Most of the outdated current firehouses in the city would be abandoned once the new firehouse is built.
In order to move forward with eminent domain procedures the city must begin the SEQRA environmental review process. The developer has begun crafting a scoping document, which outlines what the creation of the new building will involve and possible impacts of its construction such as increased traffic, noise and air quality. Next month's meeting is required for the SEQRA process to move forward.
"It's not a public hearing, it's a public meeting," explained Director of Planning Anthony Ruggiero, who said notifications would be sent to both involved and interested parties in order for them to attend and ask questions and provide feedback.
"We'll present this to the people who come, and if they want to comment or add something if maybe there's something we missed we'll take a look at it," he added.
Involved agencies to be notified include the Westchester County Planning Board, Department of Public Works and Transportation and Health Department, as well as 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.
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