April 28, 2017

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Harrison REVIEW THE

April 28, 2017 | Vol. 5, Number 17 | www.harrisonreview.com

Wegmans proposal speeds past environmental review By FRANCO FINO Staff Writer

I promise Westchester County Executive Rob Astorino pledges to hold the line on property taxes as long as he is in office, during his annual State of the County address in White Plains. For story, see page 9. Photo/Andrew Dapolite

Westchester in driver’s seat on Uber, Lyft policy By COREY STOCKTON Staff Writer While mobile ride-hailing services such as Uber and Lyft could legally expand their coverage areas across New York state by early summer, it will ultimately fall on Westchester County lawmakers to accept the state’s regulations, or to push for even tighter restrictions. Included in the state budget adopted earlier this month was a law allowing ride-hailing services like Lyft and Uber—which allow customers to order and pay for a ride with a few taps on a smartphone—to operate across New York state, expanding beyond New York City, where those companies have been operating through the city’s taxi and limousine laws since 2011.

The state law would require a list of insurance coverage during different stages of the service, and would require drivers to undergo state background checks. Drivers are required to have at least $1.25 million personal liability coverage, and the same amount in supplemental uninsured/underinsured motorist coverage. The state law also puts a 4 percent tax on ride revenue. But the ride-hailing legislation also allows the state’s counties and its largest cities to decide for themselves whether to accept the state’s provisions, to block the services altogether, or to further expand on the requirements made by the state. Any municipality with a population of 100,000 or more—in Westchester, that list includes only Yonkers and the county at large—has the op-

tion to accept or reject the state’s provision. According to county Legislator Ken Jenkins, a Yonkers Democrat who plans to run for county executive, county lawmakers are not certain whether Westchester will remain in or opt out of the program. He said the decision will be based on if the county can adjust the law to fit Westchester’s individual needs for fairness and safety. “The taxi and limousine folks would be at a competitive disadvantage,” Jenkins said, explaining that taxi and limo drivers pay state and county sales tax totaling more than 7 percent, higher than the 4 percent ride-hailing tax included in the new state law. Taxi groups like the Upstate UBER continued on page 5

Harrison has moved another step closer to approving the construction of a Wegmans Food Market along the Platinum Mile after the town Planning Board voted to skip the proposal’s environmental review process. After determining the project would pose no environmental risks, the Planning Board unanimously voted in favor of allowing the grocery chain to skip the review, which helps confirm whether or not a proposal meets federal, state and local environmental standards. The proposal, which calls for the demolition of an unoccupied building at 106-110 Corporate Park Drive, was given the green light to skip a review on April 25 at the board’s most recent meeting. Mayor Ron Belmont, a Republican, said that with this latest step and without any resistance from residents as of yet, town officials are now anticipating the food market will open in summer 2019. “We’re hoping it opens by then because it’s going to be really nice for the town and the whole area,” he said. With approval from the town, the privately owned regional supermarket chain would open its first location in Westchester County. Wegmans is a chain headquartered in Gates, New York, which is located near the city of Rochester. The company, which owns 92 stores across the mid-Atlantic and New England regions, is known for selling locally sourced food and has operated since its founding in Rochester in 1916. The proposal, which has already garnered local support from organizations like the Westchester County Association, calls for the construction of a 125,000-square-foot, 2-story grocery store—it will also include a café area—at the Corporate Park Drive location. The family-owned supermarket

At a glance The Harrison Planning Board voted to skip Wegmans Food Market’s environmental review The Rochester-based supermarket chain plans to open its first Westchester County location in Harrison The Town Council still has to approve a zoning change that will allow the company to operate in the special business district of town

has partnered with Normandy Real Estate Partners, which owns several other properties along the town’s Platinum Mile area, to construct the chain’s first location in the Lower Hudson Valley region along the Interstate 287 corridor. “They’re a really wonderful company to work with,” said Councilman Rich Dionisio, a Republican. “It seems like [Wegmans is] going above and beyond to comply with everything that’s required.” Dionisio added that with the way the company is quickly moving through the review and permitting process, it could possibly open even sooner than expected, he said of Belmont’s prediction. The Town Council would still, however, have to approve a zoning change that will allow the company to operate in the special business district of Harrison. The specific location designated for construction requires special approval from the Town Council and restricts buildings from being constructed beyond 4 stories high. The council is expected to approve the zoning change on May 4. CONTACT: franco@hometwn.com

INSIDE Harrison, Rye honor Gurgitano Story on page 15.


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