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State Judge Rules For Sleepy Hollow In GM Lawsuit

10:45 a.m. Friday, This story has been updated to include comments from Tarrytown Mayor Drew Fixell. 

SLEEPY HOLLOW, N.Y. – The General Motors redevelopment can move forward now that a state judge has ruled against Tarrytown in a lawsuit the village had filed against neighboring Sleepy Hollow.

“With this news, we are poised to proceed with the most exciting project Sleepy Hollow has seen in a long time,” Sleepy Hollow Mayor Ken Wray said in a statement.

General Motors is hoping to redevelop the 96-acre vacant waterfront lot where its former automotive plant sat before it closed in 1996. The proposed Lighthouse Landing project would include residential, retail, dining and public space. Village officials estimate it will bring in 3,000 more residents.

Sleepy Hollow trustees have approved a special permit for the site.

The village of Tarrytown filed the suit against the village of Sleepy Hollow in New York State Supreme Court in June 2011, alleging that the proposed redevelopment would cause unacceptable traffic congestion. Tarrytown also said Sleepy Hollow had failed to take measures to mitigate the congestion by proposing alternatives.

State Judge James Hubert said in his ruling that Sleepy Hollow's traffic study was “nothing short of comprehensive.”

“The assertion that Respondents failed to adequately consider, recommend and adopt appropriate traffic mitigation, not only for Route 9, but for all conceivably impacted tributary roads and access roads, also lacks merit,” he wrote.

Wray said the village is looking forward to working with the developer selected by General Motors to redevelop the site.

Tarrytown Mayor Drew Fixell said the village was surprised by the decision.

"The Mayor and Board of Trustees are, of course, disappointed in court’s determination, and will be reviewing with legal counsel all of the Village’s options," he said in a statement Friday morning. "At this time, no decision has been made as to whether to pursue further actions."

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