Planning board backs Field Library relocation plan and refers proposal to ZBA with recommendation

The Peekskill Planning Commission voted to recommend approval of variances sought for the Field Library’s proposed relocation into 41 North Division Street and to refer the application to the Zoning Board of Appeals.

Architect Joseph Thompson described adaptive‑reuse plans that would place the library on the building's ground floor and basement, add a mezzanine for offices and a conference room and create program space for children, teens and community presentations. “The plan itself proposes to put the main circulation space on the ground level,” Thompson said, and outlined proposed accessibility measures, including a 15‑minute drop‑off on Bank Street and two parking spaces on North Division for library use.

Library director Dana Bridal told the commission the new location would provide program and meeting space the current facility lacks and that the library has optimized the programmatic layout even with a net reduction in main‑floor square footage. “It is not (18,000) ... only the main body of the library upstairs and the 3 program rooms, our archive, and a couple of offices downstairs is counted,” Bridal said when board members queried square‑footage comparisons to the current site.

The commission agreed the application qualifies as a Type II action under SEQRA and therefore requires no further environmental review at this stage; it then voted to forward the referral to the ZBA with a positive recommendation on the variances needed for the mezzanine and FAR adjustments. The board also noted issues to be addressed in later site‑plan review, including signage, parking access and accessible drop‑off arrangements.