This past March, responding to an online petition created in 2011 about the need for a grocery store in Chappaqua, New Castle's Town Board initiated a proposal that would allow retail use at the Chappaqua Crossing campus.
The proposal was met with mixed reviews from residents, some of whom thought it resembled a “strip mall” and worried that it would effectively create a third business hamlet in the town.
Chappaqua Crossing's owners, Summit/Greenfield, applauded the idea, however, and submitted retail plans for the site in October.
Summit/Greenfield’s petition calls for 120,000 square feet of retail space anchored by a full-service grocery store between 36,000 and 66,000 square feet. The grocery store would be supported by other, smaller retail stores.
That proposal was slammed by residents at a public hearing in November.
Initially, Summit/Greenfield had sought to build 199 condos and townhouses on its 114 acre property, but the town said it would allow only 111 units. Summit/Greenfield responded by filing suit arguing that the town was preventing development on its property.
In December, Chappaqua Crossing's owners agreed to suspend its lawsuit against the Town of New Castle pending the outcome of the proposed rezoning change to permit retail use.
Under its agreement with the town, Summit/Greenfield reserves the right to resume litigation if the zoning petition is not approved.
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