Planning Board sets public hearing for accessory storage structure at 28 South Washington

DOBBS FERRY, N.Y. — The Planning Board on Feb. 6 agreed to call a public hearing next month on a proposed 504‑square‑foot accessory (storage) structure behind the home at 28 South Washington Avenue, after reviewing site and design details and tree‑preservation considerations.

Architect Jesse Reiser, who said he grew up in the house, presented the proposal and said the structure would be elevated on nine posts with a 42‑by‑12 footprint, a maximum height of 15 feet 6 inches at the peak, and no exterior habitation; interior electricity for lights only was proposed. “It’s a utilitarian building at the site. There’s drainage underneath it,” Reiser said.

Reiser said contractor and engineering reviews produced differing counts for trees to be removed; the applicant estimated a maximum of six trees, while the engineer’s more conservative approach suggested as many as 13 might be affected. The board asked for a detailed landscape plan showing which trees would be removed and where replacement trees would be planted.

Village building and engineering staff indicated no outstanding engineering objections and said stormwater management had been designed for a 100‑year storm. The board said the project does not require zoning variances and directed the applicant to submit a landscape plan and tree‑replacement schedule; the board voted to call a public hearing for the next meeting.

Board members also noted the structure’s design aims to be visually unobtrusive from South Washington and stressed that tree protection measures and critical root zone considerations must be addressed on the resubmittal.