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A "negative" findings statement would mean a majority of the board feels the proposal has not satisfied the potential environmental impacts. It would require further review, or study, or analysis, or change. In this case the environmental review process would continue.
A "positive" statement would mean that a majority of the board feels the proposal has satisfied the potential environmental impacts to the greatest extent possible. In this case, the application would proceed to a site plan review.
The Rivertowns Square project is planned for a parcel of land between the Saw Mill River Parkway and Lawrence Street on the Ardsley-Dobbs Ferry border and would include an apartment building with approximately 200 units, a gourmet supermarket, retail and restaurant businesses and a Sundance Cinemas complex with eight theaters.
The findings statement will be available to the public Monday at noon on the village website. Hard copies will be available at Village Hall and the Dobbs Ferry Public Library.
Adoption of the findings statement will be considered at the Board of Trustees meeting at 7:30 p.m. Tuesday.
A recent Daily Voice poll asking if the project should go forward revealed that 52 percent of those polled believed the project might be too large for the community, while 48 percent were in favor of the current plan if it did not cause environmental problems.
Dobbs Ferry Mayor Hartley Connett released a statement Thursday just before the village Planning Board met for a public working session on the environmental study.
"The village has communicated the process in a timely fashion, and has been completely transparent," Connett said in a statement. "The public has been encouraged and given the opportunity to stay involved at every step of the process. It is time now for the members of the Board of Trustees to arrive at a consensus on a Findings Statement."
"In review of this re-development proposal, the village has conducted a comprehensive SEQRA process over the past 2 years," Connett said. "During this time there have been numerous public hearings, special workshops, presentations and public comment periods."
SEQRA is the State Environmental Quality Review Act, which requires municipalities to assess the environmental impact of projects before approving them.
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