Planning Board Moves EV Chargers Outdoors at Hudson Condos, Approves Landscaping Plan for Mirage Mirror and Glass

The Croton Planning Board met June 23, approving three items including a revised electric vehicle charging plan at the Hudson Condos and a landscaping plan for the Mirage Mirror and Glass property on South Riverside Avenue.

Spring Come LLC continued The board opened and immediately adjourned a public hearing for Spring Come LLC's amended site plan at 352 South Riverside Avenue. The applicant, which is seeking to revise the parking configuration and signage at the property, was not present and had not submitted updated materials. Village Engineer Vincent Salanitro said he had told the applicant they would be adjourned but did not specify a date since he did not know when materials would be ready. Acting Chair Geoffrey Haynes explained the procedural options: the board could open the hearing and adjourn it to a date certain, which would avoid the cost of renoticing in the newspaper, or simply push it to the next meeting. The board voted to open the hearing and adjourn it to the July 14 meeting, with the understanding that if the applicant is still not ready, it would automatically roll to the next regularly scheduled meeting after that. EV chargers moved outdoors Ralph Rossi of Croton Riverside LLC presented an amended site plan for the Hudson Condos at 25 South Riverside Avenue, seeking to relocate all four electric vehicle charging stations from the basement garage to the outdoor parking area. Rossi said the change came after walkthroughs with the Croton fire department, which raised concerns about having chargers deep inside the garage. "If, you know, god forbid, there was a fire in the building or a vehicle caught fire in the garage, it probably was not wise to have electric vehicle chargers in the garage," {{quote:382}} Rossi said. The original site plan had called for two chargers in the garage and two outdoors. Under the revised plan, all four will be in the outdoor parking area. Rossi noted that the conduits were already pre-installed during original construction, so no additional trenching is needed. The four outdoor chargers are level two, 100-amp units that can provide a full charge in three to four hours. Board member Steve Krisky asked about snow removal at the outdoor charging spots. Rossi said the driveway is already plowed regularly and the chargers are in the same general area as the two that were originally planned for outdoors. Krisky also asked about the chain link fence that appeared at the top of the property near Van Wyck during construction. Rossi said the fence is on village property between the development and Van Wyck, installed for safety, and that he would work with Salanitro and the Department of Public Works on a more aesthetic solution, such as plantings in front of a barrier. "A small Jersey barrier of sort at the end right before the fence, planted in front of it with nice bushes, would be nice," {{quote:1185}} Rossi suggested.

The board approved the amended site plan unanimously. Hudson Condos signage The board also approved a signage permit for the Hudson Condos. Rossi said the building identification sign was already installed — he had treated it as a directional sign rather than a sign requiring board approval. The sign is not directly illuminated but is visible at night from canopy lights. The Village Esthetics Board had reviewed and recommended approval. Landscaping for Mirage Mirror and Glass Andrew Cortez of Carmel Riverside LLC presented a landscaping plan for 425 South Riverside Avenue, the former bakery property now occupied by Mirage Mirror and Glass. The plan, prepared by landscape architect Robert Sherwood, covers the two front median islands in the parking lot. Sherwood said the plan involves removing a stand of overgrown red or Scotch pines, underplanting with a mix of perennials and shrubs including catmint and viburnum for seasonal color, and installing two fastigiate maple trees in the smaller bed to bring down the scale of the building without interfering with overhead power lines. Board member Eva Thaddeus called the plan "a really, really nice upgrade to that property." {{quote:1729}} The board discussed timing for the installation. Cortez said the plantings could go in within four weeks, while Krisky suggested that mid-September would be ideal for establishment. Sherwood noted the plantings were hardy and could survive summer planting if properly watered. Krisky pressed for a watering plan, and the board ultimately required a landscaping bond per village standards to ensure plant survival. Cortez agreed to the condition. The landscaping plan was approved with the bond condition. Other business

Krisky distributed a memo on the village's dark skies plan, which is being developed by the Conservation Advisory Council, and asked board members to provide any input by the weekend. The board approved corrected minutes from its May 26 meeting with minor language clarifications and adjourned.