Protecting Peekskill Hollow Creek for Future Generations

Peekskill Hollow Creek is one of the most beautiful and environmentally sensitive natural corridors in Putnam Valley. Flowing through wetlands, forests, historic mill sites, and residential communities, the creek has long been part of the identity, history, and natural heritage of our region.

Today, our community faces an important and challenging moment.

The Town of Putnam Valley Planning Board is currently conducting a SEQRA (State Environmental Quality Review Act) review regarding a proposed commercial expansion project at 824 Peekskill Hollow Road, Arrigoni Development / Peekskill Hollow Preserve / Citywide Automotive and Towing; File No. 2025-0013 / Tax Map No. 52.-3-70; involving a large new structure and the expansion of automotive and heavy-duty diesel towing and truck operations within several feet of Peekskill Hollow Creek, wetlands, and nearby residential wells.

Community members have raised concerns regarding:

• Wetlands and storm water runoff

• Groundwater protection

• Long-term environmental future of the Peekskill Hollow Creek corridor which provides an estimated 70% of the drinking water for the City of Peekskill

• Concerns about how this potentially affects property value in the surrounding area

• As of early 2026, Arrigoni Development / Peekskill Hollow Preserve / Citywide Automotive and Towing has received several violations from the NYS DEC for improperly filling in wetlands and disturbing the natural habitat of the Peekskill Hollow Creek. 

• Common sense:  Towing, storing and servicing "collision-damaged & potentially leaking" automotive vehicles and large diesel trucks outside, should be prohibited in such close proximity to wetlands. It creates the potential for storm water runoff containing petroleum products or contaminants which migrate toward surface water and could directly affect Peekskill Hollow Creek, wetlands, and nearby residential wells.

• Concerns regarding leaking fluids from automotive and towing operations including:

diesel fuel

motor oil

gasoline

hydraulic fluid

transmission fluid

numerous chemical solvents

• The proposed 100’ x 50’ x 35’ tall building, as well as the current expansion of business activities at Citywide Automotive have pushed well beyond any reasonable definition of “Neighborhood Commercial” (CN) Zoning, as stated in the Town Code §165 for CN Zoning Regulations.

• Heavy diesel truck activity and diesel exhaust polluting the local Putnam Valley air quality

• Increased traffic, noise pollution, invasive lighting and 24/7 operations are inconsistent with the rural community character of Putnam Valley and (CN) Zoning, as stated in the Town Code §165 for CN Zoning Regulations.

• The proposed building appears to be on wetlands as defined by the NYS DEC, as shown below:

Our goal is transparency, stewardship, and constructive community planning.

• Keep residents informed and engaged

• Encourage respectful public participation in decisions that may affect this corridor for generations to come

• Provide access to public documents and information resources

• Track the SEQRA review process in an accurate and transparent manner

• Preserve the history and environmental importance of Peekskill Hollow Creek

• Preserve rural community character of Putnam Valley

• Based on the potential impacts described above, including impacts to transportation infrastructure, zoning, community character, surface water, groundwater, known floodplain, wildlife habitat, and storm water systems, it is clear that the proposed project poses at least one or more potentially significant environmental impacts and we formally request a Positive Declaration under SEQRA.

• Based on the potential impacts described above for File No. 2025-0013 / Tax Map No. 52.-3-70, 824 Peekskill Hollow Road, Putnam Valley, NY 10579, as permitted under 6 NYCRR §617.7 and §617.9, we formally request a Public Hearing.