Planning Board sends 96-townhome Evergreen proposal back to staff

Cortlandt’s Planning Board referred the proposed 96-townhome Evergreen project back to staff on September 1 and scheduled a site inspection for September 24 at 5 p.m. The action kept the application under review; it did not grant the preliminary plat approval and permits described in the application. [p. 9] [p. 10] [p. 26]

This account is based on the Town-posted, certified transcript of the September 1, 2026 Planning Board meeting. It describes the application and decisions as recorded that evening, rather than the project’s status today. [p. 1] [p. 47]

The application from VS Construction Corporation concerned property at 2003 Crompond Road. It proposed townhomes, including 10 percent affordable units, and sought preliminary plat approval along with steep-slope, wetland and tree-removal permits. The subdivision description included 96 individual townhome lots, a homeowners association lot, a commercial lot and an open-space lot containing an existing wetland. [p. 9] [p. 10]

Matt Steinberg of DTS Provident described revisions giving individual homeowners some yard area in front and behind their units. He explained that the homeowners association would control shared parts of the townhome property, including roads, driveways and stormwater infrastructure. On retaining walls behind some units, the transcript records Steinberg explaining that the lot lines were intended to stop short of the walls so the association would maintain them. The transcript records Steinberg describing the individual lots as giving “each homeowner kind of their own yard as part of their ownership.” [p. 10] [p. 20] [p. 21] [p. 22]

Board members also examined the walking trail and its relationship to wetlands. The transcript records Kevin Kobasa asking about the trail’s material, accessibility and position within a 100-foot non-disturbance buffer. Steinberg described a natural surface, with mulch where stabilization was needed and possible boardwalk sections. In response to an engineering question about grading, the transcript quotes Steinberg: “The idea is that we would not try to regrade them.” [p. 13] [p. 14] [p. 22]

For the site inspection, the discussion turned to marking roads and parts of the proposed housing layout so board members could understand the terrain. Peter McKinley then moved to schedule the inspection and return the application to staff. Thomas Bianchi seconded the motion; the transcript records a collective “Aye” and no recorded opposition. McKinley’s motion, as printed in the transcript, called for the application to go “back to staff for further development and technical meetings.” [p. 24] [p. 25] [p. 26]

Two separate projects received more time earlier in the meeting. Resolution 2026-19 granted Pomona Development its sixth six-month extension of preliminary plat approval. Resolution 2026-20 granted a third one-year extension of conditional site development plan approval for the Cortlandt Manor Hotel, described in the discussion as the proposed hotel at 2054 East Main Street. Each motion was seconded and followed by collective assent in the transcript. [p. 6] [p. 8] [p. 9]