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Protecting Peekskill Hollow Creek for Future Generations
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.
February 11, 2026
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:
NYS GIS aerial shot of 824 Peekskill Hollow Road, Putnam Valley, NY 10579
showing wetlands, with green plant Indicator over more than half of the area of
Peekskill Hollow Preserve; the red rectangle shows the location for the proposed 100’
x 50’ x 35’ structure, directly on top of the wetlands.
NYS GIS latest orthoimagery of 824 Peekskill Hollow Road, Tax Map No. 52.-3-70.
As this photo illustrates with red arrow, the distance from the corner of the black fence to the Peekskill Hollow Creek is less than two car lengths or estimated roughly 20 feet.
Citywide Automotive & Towing is currently storing "collision-damaged & potentially leaking" vehicles on an unpaved surface, in an area surrounded by a black fence that is just several feet away from the wetlands and Peekskill Hollow Creek.
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.
May 15, 2026
Click here to read the Full SEQRA Record Submission submitted to the Planning Board and learn more about local community opposition to this proposed over-development, unnecessary environmental risks and threat to the beautiful rural character of Putnam Valley.
* Read the proposed site plan and documents on the Town of Putnam Valley / Planning Board webpage - Important Links - look for "Peekskill Hollow Preserve" (ironically named as it is not in an area zoned "Preservation District")
August 7, 2026
August 7, 2026
Riverkeeper Raises Serious Environmental Concerns About Citywide Automotive Expansion
Riverkeeper Raises Serious Environmental Concerns About Citywide Automotive Expansion
824 Peekskill Hollow Road, Putnam Valley
824 Peekskill Hollow Road, Putnam Valley
On August 7, 2026, Riverkeeper submitted a detailed 14-page letter to the Putnam Valley Planning Board concerning the proposed expansion of Citywide Automotive at 824 Peekskill Hollow Road.
After reviewing the project's Environmental Assessment Form (EAF) and available environmental records, Riverkeeper concluded that important information is missing or unresolved and should be addressed before the Planning Board makes its SEQRA determination or approves the project.
Riverkeeper Identified Several Major Concerns:
Riverkeeper Identified Several Major Concerns:
OPEN PETROLEUM SPILL & GROUNDWATER CONTAMINATION
NYSDEC Spill No. 1403888 dates to 2014 and remains open. Riverkeeper reports that previous investigations documented gasoline-contaminated soil and groundwater and that DEC issued a Notice of Violation in May 2025 concerning contamination remaining at the site.
INCOMPLETE ENVIRONMENTAL ASSESSMENT
Riverkeeper reports that the applicant answered “No” on its EAF when asked whether there had been a reported spill or remedial action at or adjacent to the property. Riverkeeper called this a major omission and requested a corrected EAF.
WETLANDS
Riverkeeper states that DEC had not yet confirmed the wetland delineation and jurisdictional determination for the property. It recommends that the Planning Board wait for DEC's determination before completing its environmental review.
STORMWATER & PEEKSKILL HOLLOW CREEK
Riverkeeper raised questions about where stormwater from the automotive property actually goes and warned that runoff could potentially carry petroleum products, automotive fluids, sediment, and other contaminants toward adjacent wetlands and Peekskill Hollow Creek.
FLOODING & CONTAMINATION
The property is within a Special Flood Hazard Area and floodway and lies over a principal aquifer. Riverkeeper asked the Planning Board to evaluate whether flooding could mobilize existing contamination into the creek or groundwater.
DRINKING-WATER PROTECTION
Riverkeeper emphasized that Peekskill Hollow Creek serves as the primary drinking-water source for the City of Peekskill, as well as serving other downstream communities. Riverkeeper requested that the City of Peekskill be given an opportunity to participate in the environmental review.
What Riverkeeper Is Asking the Planning Board to Do
What Riverkeeper Is Asking the Planning Board to Do
Riverkeeper is urging the Planning Board to obtain the missing environmental information, resolve the outstanding contamination and wetland questions, require appropriate stormwater protections, and require the applicant to submit a corrected Environmental Assessment Form before the Town proceeds with its SEQRA determination or project approval.
Why This Matters
Why This Matters
This is no longer simply a question about the size of a proposed building.
The environmental review involves an automotive property immediately associated with an open NYSDEC petroleum spill, documented soil and groundwater contamination, potentially affecting local wells, wetlands, a floodplain and floodway, a principal aquifer, and Peekskill Hollow Creek — an important downstream drinking-water source.
Before further expansion is approved, these issues deserve a complete, transparent, and scientifically supported environmental review.
Take Action !
Reach Out To Your Representatives
Contact Putnam Valley Supervisor
Alison Jolicoeur
845-528-2121
Contact the Planning Board Chairman Dale Philips
- via Michele Babnik - Senior Clerk
845-528-2121
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