Armonk Parking Plan Raises Safety Questions

ARMONK, N.Y. – A potential new parking lot in Armonk raised the issue of safety at Wednesday evening’s North Castle Town Board meeting.

“I think it’s an accident waiting to happen,” said Armonk resident Ed Lashins.

Lashins is the property owner of 80 Business Park Drive, which sits near the entrance of Business Park Drive at Route 22. The Town Board passed a resolution Wednesday to tell the New York State Department of Transportation that it is interested in acquiring a state-owned parcel next to 80 Business Park Drive. The plan is to use the land to build a parking lot for the adjacent IBM ball fields.

Town Supervisor Howard Arden said the current parking lot for the fields creates an inconvenience for those using the far fields closest to Route 22.

“I’ve seen elderly people not be able to make it to those far fields,” Arden said. “So we’re going to look for a place where we can find closer access.”

It would not cost the town money to acquire the land from DOT as long as it is used for municipal purposes. Arden said there are similar parcels of land across North Castle that are owned by the state.

“There is land in our town that could be useful that we’re not taking advantage of,” Arden said.

Lashins, who has owned 80 Business Park for 35 years, said he estimates that the land next to his building is about one-third of an acre and could fit about 40 parking spaces.

Town Board member Stephen D’Angelo said he disagreed with the town’s plan.

“The entrance to the business park is going to be one big parking lot,” D’Angelo said. “It’s too close to Route 22, and it’s going to be dark when the games are over. The safety issue shouldn’t be ignored.”

The town will begin to conduct a study on the land to look at the traffic impacts of placing a parking lot there, and the town is not bound to build the lot. The issue will continue to be discussed at a future board meeting.

Click here to follow Daily Voice Armonk and receive free news updates.