Winery Property Rezoned

The Winery at St. George no longer sits within a residential zone. The Yorktown Town Board unanimously approved a resolution last Tuesday that changed the parcel to a transitional zone, which allows the establishment to be classified as a restaurant/bar rather than a farm.

“The creation of the transition zone was always intended for the St. George parcel and the former Sunoco gas station property at Strawberry Lane and Route 6,” said Supervisor Michael Grace at the June 5 meeting. “The point of a transition zone is to connect two incompatible zones, which are typically residential and commercial zones.”

While the public hearing was held to hear the residents’ views on the zoning change, the focus of the hearing was on the next phase of planning the winery owner Tom DeChiaro has proposed, which will need a wetlands permit before it can be built.

DeChiaro wants to build 12 parking spaces on town-owned land that buffers local wetlands. He plans on helping the town turn the open space into a town park that could be used by the public as well as school and environmental groups.

The parking area would be done in gravel so the surface would remain permeable.

Al Avitabile, vice-chairman of the town’s recreation commission, sent a letter applauding the proposed plan.  He asks the town to approve the 12 parking space proposal because it would help kick off a pilot Adopt-a Wetlands program that recreation commission would like to implement.

“The Adopt-a-Wetlands program is a way to encourage environmental stewardship throughout our community and help care for our local natural resources,” wrote Avitabile. “By the town approving the 12 parking spaces we can provide access to the [park]. We can begin this innovative program that is exclusive to Yorktown.”

During DeChiaro’s initial proposal to add parking space there was a request to “land-swap” parts of his property with that of the town-owned parcel. The town would then have to seek approval from the New York State legislature for park-land alienation.  The plan has been revised.

Since now DeChiaro is seeking permission to build 12-parking spaces on the town’s land, no alienation is needed.

“It going to be a wetlands park that going to accessible to everybody and anybody,” said DeChiaro. “This is a public-private partnership that we should encourage in this town. It will be vital in order for us to have economic growth in this town, especially on the small business level.”

Paul Moskowitz of the Open Space Advisory Commission questions the legality of The Winery of St. George using the parking spaces for private use. He encouraged the town board to send the site plan to the state attorney general and the state’s Office of Parks, Recreation and Historical Preservation before giving its final approval.

“The parking lot will be a public parking lot,” said Grace. “It will be town-owned. If the town wanted to put in a parking lot it could do it itself, but the simple point of the matter is we have the opportunity to have a private investor make a public infrastructure improvement for us; it is a bonus for us to have that happen.”

Maura Gregory, who lives on Mohegan Lake, is concerned about the effect the parking lot could potentially have on the lake.

“I am not against the winery at all. I think it is a good use of that property,” she said. “But I am very concerned about building up this parking structure so close to the wetlands and what will happen to the wetlands. These wetlands filter the water that goes into Mohegan Lake. I am asking you to be very cautious about how you approach this. This is not just about whether it is good for commerce in the town.”

Grace reminded Gregory that the wetlands in question actually get the outflow of Mohegan Lake.  Gregory expressed concern over the backflow.

While Councilman Nick Bianco voted in favor of the zone change, he did not commit to approving the proposed parking plan.

“That parking lot is on the town’s land and you are going to have to get a wetlands permit to build the parking lot,” he said. “I do not know if I will vote in favor of the wetlands permit for the parking spaces. We will have to see how that develops.”

The parcel in question has no immediate access to a roadway.

“You will have to give [the town] and easement over your property in order for the public to gain access to the parking lot,” said Grace. “It is the ironies of ironies.”

After DeChiaro applies for the wetlands permit, another public hearing will be set.