Developers outline expanded cleanup and ask Greenburgh board to refer Ridgewood/Elmwood subdivision to the planning board

Garrett DeGain, the town planning commissioner, and Diego Villareal of JMC told the Greenburgh Town Board that remediation work on the Ridgewood/Elmwood subdivision is progressing and recommended the board hold a public hearing to consider changes to the project's finding statements.

DeGain opened the presentation by noting the project is approved for 113 single-family homes and that Ridgewood/Elmwood is seeking a referral to the planning board so final subdivision review can proceed. "They've been making great progress with their site at Dobbs Ferry Road," DeGain said.

Villareal, a planning and engineering consultant for the applicants, said the subdivision layout, unit count and roadway configuration remain the same but that testing and cleanup have revealed a larger remediation footprint than originally anticipated. "As part of the approval, we have an obligation to remediate the entire site to unrestricted residential standards," he said, explaining the work covers single-family lots, conservation areas, roads and the park parcel.

Villareal said the site is enrolled in the state Brownfield cleanup program and that the applicant has been working with the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation on testing protocols. He identified arsenic and lead as the primary contaminants from historic golf-course pesticide use and said testing was done in grids across the property. "There are some spots that do not have any contaminants," Villareal said, "but a good portion of the property contains areas that need to be remediated."

The consultant said the remediation will require additional disturbance areas and result in tree removals where soil must be excavated; the developer plans an extensive landscaping program that exceeds town code requirements. "We have a robust and extensive landscaping plan," Villareal said, adding the planting plan is "10 times higher than what is required by your ordinance." Board members pressed about flood mitigation and native plantings; Villareal said the project includes a stormwater pollution prevention plan, on-site infiltration and individual home stormwater controls, and that species selections are being developed with town staff.

DeGain and Villareal described coordination with New York State DOT and identified a 14.2-acre parcel the applicant expects to transfer to the town for park use once the DEC deems it remediated. The project team said remediation and regulatory steps must be completed before construction can begin and that a draft remedial action plan would trigger a 45-day public comment period under DEC procedures. When asked about timing, Villareal said the builder would like to start "as soon as physically possible" but that approvals from DEC, the health department and final subdivision sign-offs remain prerequisites; he said 2026 was the hopeful start date but stressed it is contingent on completing those steps.

DeGain recommended the town hold a public hearing to explain the additional disturbance areas and then amend the SEQR/finding statement accordingly so the planning board can complete final subdivision approval. The board agreed to review the submitted documents and consider a public hearing and referral to the planning board.

Next steps noted by staff and the applicants include filing the draft remedial action work plan with the DEC (which triggers public comment), completing any remaining town code and landscaping details for planning-board review, and returning to the board to set the public hearing and to approve amended findings. The applicants and planning staff emphasized that the park parcel transfer and construction schedule remain contingent on completion of remediation and required approvals.