As a councilwoman, it’s my job to consider new legislative initiatives that address current and likely future issues that impact the town and its residents. I believe in being proactive, not reactive. Action. Not talk.
That’s why I’ve drawn up a “to do” list of issues I plan to pursue during the first quarter of 2026. Some of the issues affect all residents while others only impact some residents or neighborhoods. Some involve tweaking existing laws while others may involve restructuring how the town provides certain services. But all the issues have one thing in common: they all impact the quality of life of Yorktown residents.
Solar. There’ll be a public hearing on Jan. 20 on amendments to the Solar Law that would prohibit large scale solar farms in residential zones – but grandfather in two projects in residential neighborhoods that were on hold during the moratoriums – but which did not include a grandfathering provision. Also unresolved is whether the town will install solar panels on any town property.
Route 118/Underhill Avenue intersection. Exactly what specific measures will the board take, with or without outside funding, to add the two pedestrian crosswalks that it eliminated from last year’s bid award?
485b tax incentive. It’s long past due to take a fresh look at the 485b tax incentive law, adopted a decade ago, that has led – so far – to a $1.7 million loss in tax revenue for the town and Yorktown School District.
Field Home. Toll Brothers has offered to give the town, either as a donation or for a “modest” price, the existing building and surrounding land. An architectural team has developed a plan to convert the building into a boutique hotel/event space. Now it’s up to the board to decide whether to hire the firm to market the plan to potential investors.
Sewers. Four separate issues
Creating a single operation & maintenance (O&M) district for the 11 separate districts that are part of the county Peekskill Sanitary Sewer District. The plan, which dates back to 2023, would replace the current hodge podge of ways each district pays for its O&M expenses with a single methodology that would be fair and equitable for the 4,100 taxpayers in the 11 districts.
Hallocks Mill sewer extension. It’s been 10 years since the moratorium on new hook ups to the town’s sewage treatment plant was lifted. But hundreds of homeowners on aging septic systems are still waiting for a chance to hook up to the plant. The latest plan has been on hold for over a year waiting for a meeting to be scheduled with the D.E.C.
Pump station upgrades. In December 2021, the town was awarded $5.8 million to upgrade four aging pump stations. Four years later, the town is now saying it “hopes” to have bid specs ready by the summer.
Hunterbrook sewer district. In 2019, the town entered into a settlement agreement with the D.E.C. that committed the town to resolving problems in the district. To date, while there have been some upgrades at the Hunterbrook pump station, the town has still not developed a plan that addresses the district’s ongoing infiltration and inflow (I&I) problems.
Noise law. Since the Noise Law was updated in 2024, an issue has arisen that highlights the need to tweak the law as it relates to certain types of noise.
Sign law. Every election year there’s a call to restrict the number, size and placement of campaign signs. But nothing was done.
Affordable housing. Over the past three years, 446 new housing units have been approved. Not one of them can be considered affordable for our adult children who want to continue to live in the community they grew up in; for young families attracted to Yorktown’s quality schools and other assets; for our seniors who want to downsize but continue to live in the community that’s been their home for decades. We need an affordable housing law. We had one ─ but it was repealed in 2016.
Emergency medical services. Our two volunteer ambulance corps provide a vital service: emergency transportation to hospitals. But it’s becoming increasingly difficult for them to service a growing population without a steady and reliable source of revenue. The board needs to study options that assure the long term financial viability of this critical service.
Steep slopes. Much of Yorktown’s remaining undeveloped land includes steep slopes, land the D.E.C. says should be left undisturbed. But Yorktown doesn’t have a law that requires an in-depth review of proposed development on steep slopes. When the Toll Brothers plan for 118 units was being reviewed by the Planning Board, there was virtually no review of the plan’s long term impact on eight acres that included steep slopes.
Going forward, Town Board members may disagree about how these issues, and other issues, can or should be addressed. But that’s not a reason why they shouldn’t be addressed ─ during open meetings so that residents know what their elected officials are thinking about ─ and when they have an opportunity to provide input on issues that impact their quality of life.
Each councilmember should also be able to add discussion items to meeting agendas. No one member of the Town Board should be able to control the agenda.
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