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CROTON-ON-HUDSON, N.Y. In a rare move, the Croton Village Board gave its approval to house the Community Markets farmer's market, which ended Nov. 23, in a temporary winter location. The market will likely be relocated to the Croton train station parking lot A, the permitted lot across from the train station entrance, until a long term indoor solution can be found.
The market could begin as early as Jan. 7, this Saturday, if Community Markets can rally vendors and survey the location with the village manager. Community Markets originally proposed an expedited special permit to allow the market to operate in the vacant store location, in the Van Wyck Shopping Center.
I dont have a definitive answer like he will rent it to us, said Miriam Haas, owner of Community Markets, about whether the space that previously held Blockbuster Video could definitely be utilized for the market. The owner of the real estate is still determining whether to rent the space to Community Markets for between three and four months.
The Blockbuster space, despite being centrally located in the village with easy highway access, still has obstacles. The market will be open Saturdays from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m., a very busy part of the week for the shopping center.
Its a nightmare down there, said Trustee Greg Schmidt. Saturdays tend to be very busy at that shopping center. He added about the neighboring grocery store, We do have concerns from local residents who say were undermining Zeytinia.
The winter market has been held in the Village of Briarcliff for the last three years. Community Markets is considering several locations to accommodate customers in Briarcliff, Pleasantville, Ossining and Croton.
The temporary solution came in the wake of what is normally a long permitting process. Normally, farmers markets must be licensed by special permit, which must first be referred to the village planning board, brought to public hearing by the village board, and then approved of by the trustees. The process can take months because of requirements to publish public hearings.
Haas also requested a reduction in the special permitting fee, normally $550, in light of the fact that special permits are normally held for between three and five years and the market is only requesting the permit for the winter months.
Village Manager Abraham Zambrano said the village could be amenable to altering the fee but the applicant would still have to cover the villages cost of publishing legal notices and holding public hearings.
The village suggested the train station parking lot, as opposed to the markets location during the summer, because snow is dumped in the municipal lot during the winter months.
If the market does temporarily move into the train station parking lot, the board would essentially extend the conditions of the markets current contract, subject to special requirements by the village manager.
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