North Castle Conservation Board recommends pool at 67 Cedar Hill Road with revised mitigation; Co‑Chair recused

At its Feb. 10, 2026, meeting in Armonk, the Town of North Castle Conservation Board voted to recommend an application to install a pool, patio and equipment storage at 67 Cedar Hill Road, contingent on a revised mitigation planting plan and monitoring by KSCJ Consulting.

The applicants were represented by Alan Pilch and Nick Pouder, who showed the board wetland boundaries and a 100‑foot wetland buffer on the submitted plans. Pilch said soil testing conducted in December 2025 included a deep‑hole test on Dec. 11 that found groundwater about 64 inches below grade and a percolation rate of 22½ inches, and that those results support the proposed rain‑garden location. Pilch also described proposed erosion controls, tree protection measures, a 4‑foot access path to the rain garden, a pool fence and a steel‑edged berm to limit future lawn encroachment.

Pouder told the board the pool location on the southwest side of the property is the only feasible site and said the homeowners "want a pool for their grandchildren and do not want to move." He said the project footprint was reduced from an earlier concept and that an updated cost estimate includes a 10% contingency.

Board members pressed for design and planting details. Several members noted heavy infestation of invasive stilt grass across the site and discussed relocating roughly 1,600 square feet of mitigation to better enhance the wetland buffer. Vincent Giordano proposed the relocation and moved that the board recommend the plan as revised, with KSCJ Consulting to monitor the mitigation; George Drapeau seconded the motion. John Krupa abstained; all other voting members approved the recommendation. Jane Black recused herself from the discussion and vote because she is a friend and neighbor of the applicant.

Members also discussed tree canopy and sunlight concerns for the proposed pool area, the need to confirm the pool backwash location and that the mitigation planting palette be shade‑tolerant. The plan calls for retaining a large oak tree while removing a small spruce that had been mis‑identified on the drawings. Board consultant Eric Dorsch said a thick herbaceous planting with tall fescue is one effective approach to counter the stilt grass; members also discussed pre‑grown meadow mats (noted by Dorsch as a possible, higher‑cost option).

Next steps in the process, as discussed at the meeting, include the applicants submitting construction details, revised mitigation planting notes and tree‑protection measures for KSCJ review and monitoring. The board recorded the formal recommendation and will forward that recommendation to the Planning Board and Town staff for further review.

The Conservation Board scheduled its next regular meeting for March 17, 2026 (snow date March 18).