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YORKTOWN, N.Y. – The Yorktown police chief says his department is not equipped to adequately handle the projected annual calls for service from a proposed 200,000-square-foot retail development on Route 202.
In an April 26 letter to an environmental company assisting State Land Corp. in its efforts to rezone about half of the 100-acre parcel from four-acre residential (R-160) to commercial (C-3), Police Chief Daniel McMahon said, "The proposed State Land Corp. project will have a negative impact on the policing of the entire Town of Yorktown."
McMahon said the project, which is proposed to feature a 140,000-square-foot big-box store and five other stores, ranging in size from 10,000 to 20,000 square feet each, would result in 110 calls for police service annually and about 80 police investigations.
He also said increased traffic along Route 202 and surrounding roadways would create a need for traffic-control equipment and dedicated manpower in the area on weekends and busy shopping seasons.
"The proposed State Land Corp. site will also generate additional quality of life calls for service from the surrounding neighborhoods, as well as vehicular traffic issues," McMahon said.
The Yorktown Police Department currently has 55 police officers and seven civilian staff personnel and is the sole police entity responsible for 38,000 residents and businesses within 40 square miles.
McMahon said an audit conducted by the state Division of Criminal Justice Services in 1996 determined the department was understaffed, but staffing has remained constant for 30 years.
Town Board member Nick Bianco said the police budget is about one-third of the town's annual budget. He said each officer costs the town about $150,000 annually in salary and benefits.
"I'm glad that the chief did an analysis so we can make a proper decision," Bianco said. "You have to have an analysis. It's the only way to know what these things mean and what the impact will be."
State Land Corp. is awaiting a decision from the Town Board on its rezoning application. The board has sought input from numerous state, county and municipal agencies for recommendations, all of which were expected this week.
In the rear of the mountain-like property across from McDonald's is more than 50 acres that will be dedicated to Yorktown as open space abutting the Sylvan Glen Nature Preserve.
Comments (8)
This is as bogus as the Costco opponents report which claimed that an extra police shift might be needed if they were allowed to open. How often does one see police at BJ's or the other stores in that shopping center? And on a larger scale, how often does one see the state police at the Cortlandt Town Center, with the exception of the occasional ambulance at Walmart? If he is comparing it to the Jefferson Valley Mall, then it's not a valid comparison.
Can someone please tell me why the picture is of Mr. Nicholas "I never met a camera I didn't like" Bianco and not of Chief McMahon? The gist of the article is about the police, I would think the pic should be of the Chief. Secondly, we need these business. A) It will help with our tax base, which will hopefully help with need road repairs, which will also pay for any needed increase to the police. B) The stores and malls in the area are terrible...we need to attract stores like in Danbury and Stamford. C) We're not your Mom and Pop's Yorktown anymore. We are a large town and to help support it we need more options to shop or we will just take our hard earned dollars and spend them elsewhere.
I, for one, would welcome some new retail stores in the area. I am tired of having to travel to Danbury, New Jersey and Poughkeepsieto shop. The J.V. Mall is awful. Instead of turning away business, the town should focus on the traffic issues we have now. A traffic light was promised at the intersection of 202 and Pine Grove years ago..when BJ's was being built. How many more accidents must there be at that intersection.? It is a very dangerous situation. There is no way to make a left turn on to 202 from any of those businesses between Pine Grove and Lexington Avenue. That should be a priority.
Yorktown has to keep up with the times. It is no longer a sleepy summer community as it was years ago and road improvements must be made.
What a surprise coming from a councilman that "WASTES MONEY" on open spaces that DON'T generate revenue for the town. Councilman, who do you think is paying for your salary and medical? It is the home owners of Yorktown because there are fewer and fewer business's. If the councilman is so concerned about the cost of each policeman, then maybe he should be concerned about his salary and benefits for the part time job he has.
I have to say this sounds like B.S. First of all, isn't the Town supposed to be encouraging commercial development for the tax benefits? Second, this development is not large enough to cause that much disruption. It's not like they're building a Palisades Mall or anything. Third, if the State would get their act together and complete the Bear Mountain Parkway connection parallel to 202, then traffic on 202 wouldn't be such an issue! THIS SHOULD BE A VERY HIGH PRIORITY! But no, it's going to be another 30 years before they even THINK about doing that.
Everything in the article is true. What has been left out is the fact that this will create millions of dollars in new tax revenues, something the Chief and Coucilman Bianco are well aware of since the Police budget has been cut year after year. I would think the Chief would be an outstanding advocate for this type of opportunity. It will give the town the opportunity to hire and pay for additional policemen, something Chief McMahon has been asking for some time. Certainly no one is complaing about more tax revenue.
Increased retail opportunities would be a win-win for the community. We as residents and consumers need more options than BJ's and Jefferson Valley Mall. These stores could employ local teens and prevent them from loitering in places they should not be and keep them out of mischief. As for the situation on 202, the way the NY State troopers chase down drivers off of the Taconic, I'm sure they could lend a hand to Yorktown's Finest. Stop thinking politically and think about what the community really needs, we have the money, and if we don't have suitable options we will surely take it elsewhere!
Simple solution: stop arresting Moms and Grandads for minor traffic violations and you will have more than enough manpower to handle the "extra" duties.