Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Public Comment topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Neighbors tell Peekskill ZBA they worry about safety, noise and property values at 1698 Main Street
Summary
Two nearby residents raised concerns at the ZBA hearing about early-morning loading, open garage doors, rats, large propane tanks on-site and potential negative effects on property values and downtown character; the chair advised they raise the concerns again at Council and Planning Commission hearings.
During public comment, nearby residents described existing nuisances at 1698 Main Street and warned the board about potential impacts if the proposed cannabis microbusiness moves forward without strict mitigation.
Karen DeStefano (S7), who lives a block away, described frequent late-night and early-morning loading activity at a first-floor tenant and said the back parking area is unpaved with weeds and contains "six huge propane tanks, which are gonna have to be protected with a barrier." She added complaints about rats and the safety of children living adjacent to the building. Another resident, Alaina Walker (S8), said she worried about property values and downtown quality of life, asking whether the city wants "more of the same type of industry already in Peekskill."
Chair (S1) told both residents their comments were on the record and recommended they restate concerns at the upcoming Common Council and Planning Commission public hearings; he also noted that many of the problems they described (loading at night, unsecured doors, pest issues) are enforcement matters that should be raised with code enforcement as well as at permit hearings.
Board members said those neighborhood concerns would be considered during special-permit review and stressed that permit conditions and site plan scrutiny are avenues to address safety, screening, ventilation and delivery logistics.
