Developer seeks zoning change to add indoor amusement at Jefferson Valley Mall; town board moves to fast-track language

The owner of the former Sears parcel at Jefferson Valley Mall asked the Yorktown Town Board on May 19 to amend the mall’s zoning to allow larger indoor amusement and recreation uses, saying a tenant has signed a lease contingent on the change.

ShapSi Levy, who identified himself as part of the parcel’s ownership group, told the board a tenant is prepared to build a roughly "60,000 to 67,000-square-foot" recreation facility offering laser tag, ninja courses, golf simulators and other family-oriented attractions. "We have a tenant that's willing to open a 60,000 67,000 foot center... they're willing to invest a lot of money," Levy said.

The proposal: Staff and the owner said temporary, small-scale amusement has existed in the mall, but the request is for a long-term, permanent indoor recreation use that is not explicitly listed in the mall zoning district. The owner said adding the use would make the large empty anchor space leasable and could spur further redevelopment across the mall.

Board response and next steps: Planning staff (Robin) and the town attorney will draft clarifying land-use language defining "indoor amusement" and "indoor recreation" for the special mall zoning. The board instructed staff to prepare a local-law draft quickly so a public hearing could be scheduled in June if the text is ready. The board emphasized standard planning issues — parking, hours, safety staffing for children’s parties and any food-service permits — would be addressed in the zoning language and site-plan review.

Community context: The board and owner framed the change as part of a broader effort to adapt vacant mall space to experiential uses favored by retail developers and families. The owner representative said other large tenants have expressed interest in adjacent mall parcels if the center proceeds.