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Chappaqua Voters OK Fire District's Purchase Of Animal Hospital Site

CHAPPAQUA, N.Y. -- Voters approved a proposal that will allow for New Castle Fire District No. 1 to purchase the Chappaqua Animal Hospital site, a property that has been deemed vital to any future expansion of the Bedford Road Firehouse.

The Bedford Road Firehouse in Chappaqua.

The Bedford Road Firehouse in Chappaqua.

Photo Credit: File

Results show that the measure passed by 198 in favor to 111 votes against, with a total of 309 voting.

The measure allows for the district, which governs the Chappaqua Fire Department, to borrow $2,674,644 to pay for the purchase of the property, the building's subsequent demolition and for environmental remediation. 

The animal hospital site's location, along with the lack of viable locations elsewhere in the fire district, have been cited as reasons in favor of the acquisition. The property is located at 495 King St.

A similar measure failed in a referendum in October by a margin of 420 votes against to 302 in favor. That item was on the same ballot as a related proposal to expand the existing firehouse onto the animal hospital site; the second proposition was rejected by a wide margin of 632 against to just 105 in favor.

Turnout for Tuesday's referendum plummeted from the one in October, when residents who were angry with the handling of the expansion proposal, and with a voting window of just three hours, rejected each measure.

The voting window on Tuesday was much longer than before, having run from 6 a.m. to 9 p.m.

The fire district does not have immediate plans to pursue another expansion proposal, Board of Fire Commissioners Chair John Buckley noted at a recent information session. Buckley was unavailable for comment at the firehouse on Tuesday. 

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