The Sea Cliff Board of Trustees provided updates on issues affecting the village and continued work on projects at its public conference meeting Tuesday night. Propel NY Energy, Toll Brothers and residential battery storage were among discussion topics. The board’s public meeting with a public comment period is set for Monday. Here are three things to know:
1. Trustees updated on Propel NY Energy
Village Administrator Bruce Kennedy informed trustees of recent developments concerning the Propel NY Energy project. He discussed village filings, including objections on the first two phases on the project’s Environmental Management and Construction Plans, a motion to dismiss the application and a notice of threshold deficiency on EM&CP Phase 2 citing the village’s land ownership rights in Hempstead Harbor.
Kennedy explained that the motion to dismiss was filed because Propel has “failed to establish a current need for this $3.26 billion transmission line.” He also expressed concerns about the health of the harbor. Propel representatives cite grid reliability concerns and a need for more capacity as reasons for the project’s necessity. The New York Independent System Operator chose Propel in 2023 to export wind energy off of Long Island. Several offshore wind projects have since been cancelled.
2. Mayor provides report on Toll Brothers
Mayor Elena Villafane said at the Board of Trustees public meeting on July 13 that the North Shore Country Club property was under contract to be sold to Toll Brothers, a residential developer and home-building company. According to Villafane’s July 13 announcement, roughly 73 acres of the property are located in Sea Cliff, within a residential zone. She said that Toll Brothers was seeking a property-specific planned unit development, allowing 27 homes on the Sea Cliff side.
Villafane updated trustees on the situation at the Tuesday night conference meeting, saying the company has submitted a petition to the village and that Village Attorney Brian Stolar was reviewing it for legal sufficiency. Trustees must also review the application and decide whether the plan is satisfactory or if they would like the company to make revisions.
3. Battery storage legislation revisited
Trustees began drafting legislation to regulate residential battery energy storage systems in March. Between then and June, most of the law’s provisions were determined. Resident Roger Street Friedman submitted comments for trustees to consider.
Overall, the village’s residential BESS legislation will closely mirror the New York State code, particularly regarding fire safety measures.
Trustees agreed that units over 40 kilowatt hours would not only require a building permit, but approval from the village’s planning board. Units above 80 kilowatt hours would not be permitted as residential units.
Trustees agreed to review Friedman’s comments and send any revisions to Stolar ahead of Monday’s public comment meeting. The public hearing for the legislation will be scheduled on Monday night.
