Harrison is seeking to break the ice on a developer’s plan to replace an old office complex at 106-110 Corporate Park Drive with a Wegmans Food Market.
According to Mayor Ron Belmont, a Republican, the Harrison Town Council is planning to approve a change that will allow the company to operate in the special business district of the town. “We’re moving full-speed ahead on this,” he said. “It’s going to be a great thing for our town, and it’s a no-brainer for that area.”
The supermarket would be the first of its kind in Westchester County.
Wegmans is a privately owned regional supermarket chain headquartered in Gates, New York, which is located near the city of Rochester. The company, which owns 92 stores across the mid-Atlantic and New England regions, is known for selling locally sourced food and has operated since its founding in Rochester in 1916.
The land planned for construction is located in an SB-O district, which requires special approval from the Town Council. That zoning code restricts buildings to be constructed up to 4 stories high.
“I do believe that this is something the community would be happy to have,” said Councilman Rich Dionisio, a Republican. “I would support [the zoning change] if it meets all the criteria. I can’t see anything but a positive for Harrison with this.”
The zoning change would pave the way for Normandy Real Estate Partners, which owns an abundance of property on the “Platinum Mile” along the Interstate 287 corridor, to construct the family-owned supermarket, approximately a 125,000 square-foot, 2-story grocery store, which will also include a café area, at the Corporate Park Drive location.
The proposal would include the replacement of three existing underutilized office buildings, which are located near the EastRidge Enrichment Center and White Plains Daycare and Preschool at 109 Corporate Park Drive. Those facilities, located at the rear of the property, will not be a part of the project.
Wegmans, in partnership with developer Steiner NYC, a Brooklyn-based firm, is planning to open a second location in the New York metropolitan area along Brooklyn Navy Yard’s Admiral’s Row, which is located along the east River, in 2018.
In Harrison, there will be a public hearing for the zoning change at the next meeting, scheduled for April 6.
