Planning Board OKs Moving EV Charging Stations Outside at Hudson Condos

The Croton Planning Board approved a series of applications at its June 23 meeting, headlined by a plan to relocate electric vehicle charging stations at The Hudson Condos and new landscaping for a South Riverside Avenue commercial property.

Spring Come Hearing Opened, Immediately Adjourned

The board's first action involved an applicant who wasn't ready to present. The public hearing for Spring Come, LLC's amended site plan at 352 S. Riverside Ave. — covering parking configuration, signage, and landscaping — was opened and immediately adjourned because revised plans had not yet been submitted to the Engineering Office. Village Attorney Joshua Subin advised the board that although neighbor notices had been mailed, the hearing was not officially open until the board voted to open it. He recommended opening and then adjourning to a future meeting, which avoids the cost of re-noticing. The board voted 5-0 to open the hearing, then 5-0 to adjourn it to the next regularly scheduled meeting on July 14, or the meeting thereafter if the applicant is still not prepared.

EV Charging Stations Relocated Outdoors

The board unanimously approved an amended site plan for The Hudson Condos at 25 S. Riverside Ave. that moves all four electric vehicle charging stations from the indoor garage to the outdoor parking area. Ralph Rossi of Croton Riverside, LLC, presented the application, explaining that the change came after multiple tours of the new building with the fire department. Rossi said the fire chief advised that if a fire broke out in the building or garage, having EV chargers indoors could be hazardous. The original site plan had placed two chargers in the garage and two outside; the amendment consolidates all four in the outdoor lot. "So we just made provisions to put all four of them outside," [source][7:03] Rossi told the board. The outdoor spaces serve both assigned resident parking and visitor parking. Steve Krisky asked whether it was determined that outdoor placement was safer than indoor. Rossi explained that in other buildings he manages, indoor chargers sit near entrance areas, while The Hudson's garage spaces were deeper inside near the elevators — harder for firefighters to reach. He noted that he tends to react quickly when the fire department raises concerns. The relocation required no additional trenching or utility work. Rossi said extra conduit had already been run during construction in case additional stations were needed, so the capacity for four outdoor chargers was already in place. Krisky raised the question of snow removal, noting that outdoor stations must remain accessible in winter. Rossi said the parking lot would need to be plowed regardless, so the chargers would always be cleared. The charging stations sit on private property but are available for anyone to use, including overnight guests of residents. Rossi said a future condominium board would make ultimate decisions about whether to open them for general public use, potentially during daytime hours when residents are at work. The board also discussed the large retaining wall behind the building, which is visible from Van Wyck Street. "In theory, there's no maintenance on that wall for a hundred and fifty years," [source][15:14] Rossi said, explaining that the wall is anchored to steel piles driven into the hillside. Krisky noted that a chain-link fence installed during construction remains visible from Van Wyck Street and asked whether landscaping or a more appropriate barrier could replace it. The area in question sits on village property. Salanitro agreed to coordinate with the applicant and the Department of Public Works on a solution, possibly including plantings or a decorative barrier.

Seyed Hosseini made the motion to approve the amended site plan, seconded by John Ghegan, carrying 5-0.

Hudson Condos Sign Permit Approved

The board also approved a sign permit for The Hudson Condos. Rossi said the sign is not directly illuminated but is washed by downward canopy lights above the walkway. The Advisory Board on the Visual Environment had reviewed the application and recommended approval. Haynes pointed out a discrepancy between the application and the schematic drawings: one listed the sign letters at nine inches and the other at eight. Rossi said he measured the letters himself and confirmed they are nine inches, suggesting the architect made a typo. Krisky asked about plantings in front of the sign and whether they might eventually block it. Salanitro said the Engineering Office would monitor the situation and could issue a violation if the bushes were not trimmed back. Krisky made the motion to approve the sign permit, seconded by Haynes, carrying 5-0.

Landscape Plan for 425 S. Riverside Ave.

Property owner Andrew Cortese and landscape architect Robert Sherwood presented a plan for the two front islands at 425 S. Riverside Ave., fulfilling a landscaping condition from last year's change-of-use resolution for the property, which houses Mirage Mirror and Glass. Sherwood described plans to weave existing pine trees with new perennials and shrubs for seasonal color, and to plant columnar — or fastigiate — trees chosen specifically to avoid interfering with overhead power lines. "Nothing that will block sight lines pulling out or anything like that," [source][28:28] Sherwood told the board. Salanitro confirmed that the landscape plan was required as a compliance item. Haynes noted that this was the first attempt at the landscaping plan and reminded the applicant that the conditions attached to resolutions are taken seriously. The board discussed whether to require a bond for the plantings. Salanitro noted that the village typically holds bonds for landscaping to ensure survivability, similar to what was done at 25 S. Riverside Ave. The board agreed to add a condition requiring a two-year bond to the satisfaction of the village attorney and village engineer. Haynes made the motion to approve with the bond condition, seconded by Krisky, carrying 5-0.

Other Business

Krisky, who serves as the board's liaison to the Conservation Advisory Council, distributed a memo from Village Attorney Joshua Subin on a dark skies plan being developed for the village. He asked members to review it and provide any comments within about a week. The board approved minutes from its May 26 meeting by a 4-0 vote, with Chairman Rob Luntz abstaining as he was absent at that session.