We are on track to break ground on Phase I late March/early April.
As I mentioned in previous emails, we have been working with New York City regarding the next phase, Phase II, in providing for sewers in densely populated areas of Bedford Hills and Katonah historically prone to septic problems and failures.
Phase II would cover Bedford Lake apartments and Lakeside at Bedford townhouses located off of Haines Road in Bedford Hills (adjacent to the Bedford Hills Memorial Park); 89 parcels in Katonah (primarily along Bedford, Edgemont and Valley Roads) of particular importance due to their proximity to the Muscoot Reservoir (which is part of the New York City water supply system); and thirteen parcels on Railroad Avenue in Bedford Hills. Railroad Avenue runs immediately parallel to a tributary of the Stone Hill River, which ultimately flows into the Muscoot Reservoir.
Bedford Lake apartments and Lakeside at Bedford are served by a wastewater treatment plant which NYC either is obligated to upgrade (a replacement), which is known as a regulatory upgrade, or serve through connection to a sewer system, which is known as an alternative regulatory upgrade. As authorized by the Town Board, I have been in discussions with the City for over a year in an effort to reach agreement on an alternative regulatory upgrade.
I learned today that we reached an agreement in principle with New York City under which the City would allocate up to $7.7 million in new funding to Phase II, and capture $950,000 of savings from Phase 1 for the project. The Phase II project cost is estimated to exceed $13 million so we are developing additional funding sources of which we are cautiously optimistic.
As has been the case with Phase I, Phase II will be a long and complicated process before ground is broken on it. As with Phase I, the Town will not proceed without the positive outcome of a referendum among the property owners within the Phase II sewer district (or extension of the existing sewer district). Whether or not Phase II goes forward will not impact Phase I. Should all approvals occur, we are hopeful that we may start construction on Phase II shortly after Phase I is completed.