The Business Viewpoint – Putnam, what is our clarion call? | COVID News

Designed to position the town as a place where businesses and new development are welcome, the campaign, dubbed Destination Y, offers a strategic communications platform that clearly demonstrates, “Yorktown is accessible, affordable and ready to put your business on the fast track with expedited approvals, shovel‑ready sites, permits, zoning and diverse commercial sites.”

In an interview with the Business Council of Westchester, Yorktown Supervisor Matt Slater emphasized the town’s commitment to revitalization as a way to secure present and future economic stability. “In recent years we have been witnessing a sea change that’s brought dramatic and permanent changes to virtually every aspect of our economy. The changes in the world of retailing alone are having far reaching impacts on communities across the nation. As elected officials, it is incumbent on the Town Board to recognize that change is taking place and to seek new approaches to assure our town’s business sectors remain viable and vibrant. Destination Y is our clarion call announcing that we are ready to do business.”

According to Slater, the initial focus of the campaign targets business owners and executives seeking office and other workspaces in a socially distant environment; developers of mixed-use and other projects; small businesses looking to tap new suburban markets; and developers interested in investing in downtown Yorktown Heights and the town’s four other business hamlets.

Similar to what the PCBC has been discussing with our municipalities for years, Yorktown officials have already begun instituting policies to facilitate a business revival including: pre-application meetings with developers to speed-up the review of applications; expedited building permit processes; and quick permitting and waived fees for local businesses to operate outdoors this summer.

The town is planning on reviewing and adding new adoptions of zoning overlay districts for the business hamlets. The focus will be on walkability and linking up the business district with outdoor recreation, such as the Bike trail. Adding to that, they are also looking to repurpose any under-performing commercial centers.

For our part, Putnam County town, village and county government, as well as businesses, must strategize together to overcome the challenges posed by a rapidly transforming economic landscape. I look forward to taking a page from Yorktown’s playbook by starting this dialogue with all of our stakeholders to ensure the future of Putnam County is economically strong and sustainable for the next generation. Who’s with me?

Kudos to Yorktown Supervisor Matt Slater. He is a true “wartime” leader — Bi-Partisan, compassionate and smart. I hope he has a future in state politics some day. For additional inspiration and background on Yorktown’s Destination Y campaign, visit the town’s website.