What's Happening in the Village of Pleasantville Update

Request to place red light camera on the Saw Mill River Parkway at Grant Street: In an effort to enhance pedestrian safety, the Village has formally requested that a red light camera be placed on the Saw Mill River Parkway at the Grant Street intersection. The Saw Mill River Parkway is owned by the New York State Department of Transportation (NYSDOT) with traffic enforcement done by the Westchester County Police Department. State legislation enabling the placement of red light cameras on NYSDOT roadways would be required. The Village’s NYS representatives are working on this initiative.  

Manville Road Pedestrian Project has resumed: The project, which is approximately half-way complete, will restart the week of March 18.  The remaining work includes the construction of a retaining wall around monument island to enable the placement of a right hand turn lane from Memorial Plaza onto Manville Road. To facilitate this phase of construction, the plantings and trees near the retaining wall will be removed, and the flag poles temporarily taken-down. In the final phase of the project, the flagpoles will be re-installed, and new trees and landscaping added. Once the right hand turn lane has been constructed at the Memorial Plaza/Manville Road intersection, new curbing and sidewalk will be installed around the monument and across the existing slip lane. The sidewalk will widen as it extends over the MTA bridge towards Wheeler Avenue. For an overview of the Manville Road project, click here.

Work in the northern end of Memorial Plaza: The Manville Road project will result in the removal of the right hand ‘slip lane’ exiting the north end of Memorial Plaza. Reconfigured parking will remain on the railroad side of the median, and we will add plantings, trees and lawn area near the monuments. This work is projected to cost approximately $600,000, which is supported by $450,000 in grant funding. This work contributes toward the proposed civic space, if that project is undertaken in the future. This work is expected in summer/fall 2024. Click here to view a rendering. 

Cooley Street/Memorial Plaza Update: This spring/summer the work to transition Cooley Street into a formal two-way through street between Manville Road and Bedford Road should be completed. This alternative route will relieve traffic on Memorial Plaza. The Cooley Street improvements include the following: roadway re-paving, new curb, sidewalks and ADA accessible curb ramps, traffic striping/signage, decorative street lighting, and work to the drainage and water systems. The Village continues to track how the changes to traffic flow and parking in Memorial Plaza has impacted pedestrian and vehicular safety. Since its implementation, accidents have been reduced on Memorial Plaza. Between July 2018 and February 2019 there were 11 accidents recorded, compared to 3 between July 2023 and February 2024.  

Summer jobs available: The Parks & Recreation Department is recruiting for summer jobs, including life guards, pool staff, camp counselors and laborers. For more information, please click here.

Playground Upgrades: A group of village residents has volunteered to assist the Parks and Recreation Department to develop designs for the replacement of the three Village-owned playgrounds. The Nannahagan Park playground is the first scheduled to be replaced in the spring of 2024 with demolition already completed. The cost of this work will be paid for through grant funding and parkland deposit funds paid by private developers. For more information, please click here. 

Volunteers needed for ‘Playground Community Build’ on April 19 and April 20: The Village is seeking volunteers to help build the new Nannahagan Playground on 4/19 and 4/20. No experience is needed. A site supervisor and support staff will be on-hand. For more information and to register, please click here.

Nannahagan Brook Wall Reconstruction Project: The Village is moving forward with a project to address the erosion of the Nannahagan Brook wall structure. The Nannahagan Brook, which runs along Lake Street, receives water from approximately 850 acres of watershed, and due to the increased frequency and intensity of storms, portions of the brook’s wall structure have significantly eroded, specifically in the area of 2 Lake Street (the former village water pumphouse). This has comprised approximate 500-700 linear feet of wall, and put at risk the collapse public infrastructure that runs underneath Lake Street. To address these critical concerns, the Village proposes a project that will replace the compromised section of the brook’s wall and relocate and/or protect the water service line along with other public infrastructure. The estimated cost of construction is in the range of $1.2 to $1.5 million. The Village is actively seeking grant funding to support this project.

Nannahagan walking path to be reconstructed: The Village is seeking to replace the walking path that runs from Nannahagan Park to 2 Lake Street/the old Water Dept. pumphouse. The work will occur in conjunction with the brook wall reconstruction project and is being supported by grant funding from the Hudson River Valley Greenway.  

Clark Street/Soldiers & Sailors Drainage Project: The Village proposes to replace storm water infrastructure that runs on Clark Street between Bedford Road and Manville Road. This work will alleviate flooding conditions at Soldiers & Sailors Park after significant rainfall events. The project is likely to commence in late summer/early fall with an effort to mitigate any impacts to field usage. The estimated cost of this work is $600,000.

Traffic signal timing on Bedford Road: DTS Provident Engineering has completed a traffic signal timing and optimization analysis of the three Village-owned traffic signals on Bedford Road. The Village and DTS Provident are now evaluating the traffic signal infrastructure in order to develop a traffic signal timing plan that optimizes performance of the traffic signal systems —to enhance efficiencies and safety for motorists and pedestrians. Upgrades to the timing plan will also help to make the Wheeler Avenue light more efficient. The study and study presentation can be viewed here.

Update on the Village Pool: This fall the pool sustained flooding from a significant rain event, which caused damage to the liner and electrical equipment in the pump-room. Work is ongoing to repair damage to the facility so that the pool can operate during the summer of 2024. The proposed pool reconstruction work is tentatively planned to begin in September 2024. The location of the pool (at the foot of Nannahagan Pond with the adjacent stream) presents unique challenges. Proposed improvements will include enhanced water-proofing of the new pumphouse, additional on-site drainage, and the construction of a new culvert. This project will be funded by a bond issuance with the annual debt service paid for by increases to pool membership fees and property tax increases likely in the range of $200 for the average Pleasantville homeowner. If project bids come in too high, the Village will reconsider the scale of the project, while the pool is in a condition to continue its operations. Information about the project can be found here.

Village Board to consider reducing Village speed limit to 25 mph: The New York State Legislature recently empowered Villages to lower local speed limits to 25 mph (this does not include school zones). Currently the speed limit on Village owned roads is 30 mph. The first step in this process is to engage a licensed traffic engineer to analyze impacts of a Village-wide speed limit reduction. Ultimately, a local law would have to be passed by the Board, which would require a public hearing.

2024 Sanitation and Recycling Calendar: The new sanitation and recycling calendar are available online. Please click here to view.

The Village of Pleasantville has expanded food scrap/compost drop-off hours at 1 Village Lane (Public Works) as follows:

April – November

Saturdays: 6 am – 3 pm (drop-off bins are outside the gate until 9 am)

Thursdays: 8 am – 2 pm at (drop-off bins located outside the gate)

December – March

Saturdays: 9 am – 3 pm

Thursdays: 8 am – 2 pm at (drop-off bins located outside the gate)

Recycling App: The Village and Sustainable Westchester launched a mobile app, “Recycle Right Westchester,” to make it easier for residents to stay connected about waste and recycling collection programs. In the mobile app, you’ll find the garbage, recycling, and special pickup collection schedule specific to your address. The app can also remind you of your collection day. Download the mobile app for Apple or Android by searching “Recycle Right Westchester.” Similar tools are available on the web; search your home address in the “My Schedule” tool.

Development/Private Property Update: 

• 39 Washington Avenue – A new pharmacy and healthcare products store called “White’s Apothecary” will be opening in the vacant commercial space. This is to be their first location in Westchester County. 

• 29 Washington Avenue – New commercial business tenant “Stretch Labs” has opened in the vacant tenant space previously occupied by “The Kimberly House”, which is now located at 69 Wheeler Avenue

• 60 Wheeler Avenue (former Pleasantville Pharmacy) – A new dental practice is near completion and will be opening shortly within the right half of the former Pleasantville Pharmacy space. A new accessible storefront entry has been implemented in the remaining vacant half, but there is no further information regarding the possible future tenant. 

• 444 Bedford Road (former Chase building) – A proposed mixed use development that includes 36 apartments had been submitted to Planning Commission but there has been no recent update. See application here.

• 1 Campus Drive – No formal application has been submitted to the Village at this time. The property is zoned for commercial campus/office use, so a proposal for a different use would require a zoning change.

• Girl Scout Property – Four new residential lots have been approved by the Planning Commission. Abatement work has been completed within the building and demolition of the old building should begin shortly. It’s anticipated that the construction of the new homes would begin this summer. The property owner has agreed to convey a .034 parcel at the northern border of the property that has informally existed as a pedestrian walkway and access point to the Village’s downtown. This will ensure the walkway remains open to public access in perpetuity. Click here for documents related to this project. 

• 70 Memorial Plaza – The mixed use apartment development has been issued a temporary certificate of occupancy, and is in the leasing process. The final completion of the updated roadway connection from the new two way Cooley Street to Manville Road should be completed soon.

• 52 Depew Street/The Atwood –The building was granted a temporary certificate of occupancy and the building is fully occupied.

• 98 Washington Avenue – This is a 14-unit affordable housing project. After years of contract breaches and delays, Westchester County has made the decision to sue MIGI Asset Acquisition LLC, (the property owner) for several breaches and failure to complete the project.

• Bedford Road & Clark Street – Construction of two new single family homes on a subdivision previously approved by the Planning Commission is underway.

Upcoming Meetings and Events:

-March 11, 2024 at 7:00pm Village Board Work Session - Parks and Recreation Budget Meeting

-March 11, 2024 at 8:00pm Village Board Regular Meeting

-March 13, 2024 at 8:00pm Planning Commission & the Board of Architectural Review Meeting

-March 19, 2024 Village Elections

-March 25, 2024 at 7:00pm Village Board Work Session

-March 25, 2024 at 8:00pm Village Board Regular Meeting

-March 27, 2024 at 8:00pm Planning Commission & the Board of Architectural Review Meeting

-March 28, 2024 at 8:15pm Zoning Board of Appeals

-April 8, 2024 at 7:00pm Village Board Work Session

-April 8, 2024 at 8:00pm Village Board Regular Meeting

-April 10, 2024 at 8:00pm Planning Commission & the Board of Architectural Review Meeting

-April 22, 2024 at 7:00pm Village Board Work Session

-April 24, 2024 at 8:15pm Planning Commission & the Board of Architectural Review Meeting

-April 25, 2024 at 8:15pm Zoning Board of Appeals

-April 29, 2024 at 7:00PM Village Board Work Session

-April 29, 2024 at 7:00PM Village Board Regular Meeting

*Meeting agendas can be found here.

*You can sign-up to receive agendas and/or e-notifications here.