Residents Voice PepsiCo Concerns

PepsiCo is planning a three phase expansion to their world headquarters site located on Anderson Hill Road in Purchase, and Purchase residents are concerned about the effect the addition could have on their way of life.

About 30 residents gathered at the Harrison Municipal Building Thursday night to voice their concerns. PepsiCo will prepare a written response to those concerns that will be released in early April.

Phase 1 of the expansion plans includes construction of a new 15,000 square foot visitor center with a 150 space parking lot and a dedicated entrance on Anderson Hill Road.

Phase 2  provides for an 80,000 square foot extension to their existing office building and employee parking lot, sufficient to accommodate an additional 600 employees. This could bring their employee base at the site to 2,100.

Phase 3, which is currently in the conceptual stage, would include even more office and support buildings with parking for an additional 300 employees.

The three phases would give the company availability for a potential additional 900 employees and 150 visitors.

PepsiCo currently has the plans for Phases 1 and 2 before the Planning Board for their approval.

Residents in Purchase and West Harrison are greatly concerned about the potential rise in traffic on Purchase Street, Anderson Hill Road and Lincoln Avenue, where traffic is already an issue.

John Canning, a traffic engineer hired by residents near the Pepsico building, said that there could be as much a 77 percent increase in wait times at some intersections near the site.

Even should the town find it viable to widen the roads, residents reject this as a workable solution; claiming it will change the country atmosphere of their neighborhood and encourage even greater traffic flow.

The entire issue underscores the difficulties inherent in balancing a town's corporate needs and those of adjoining residential areas.

Most residents who chose to speak quickly admitted that PepsiCo has been a wonderful neighbor. Most also said they have no plans to derail the project, only to find a workable compromise.

"Pepsi has been a great neighbor for them," said Jody Cross, an attorney hired by residents in the area. "We hope to continue to work with the town and the applicant to address these concerns."

The benefits of having a corporate presence to the town as a whole is indisputable. Property taxes are considerably lower as a result of their presence, in turn making individual property more desirable and therefore more valuable. Keeping these corporate neighbors happy is of obvious benefit to town residents.

At the same time, neighbors are concerned over changing the neighborhood's country aesthetic. They feel that traffic should not be something they have to deal with on a daily basis in neighborhood areas. 

Of further concern is the fact that PepsiCo is not the only corporation looking to expand in the area. SUNY Purchase is seeking to increase their commuter student population and wants to build a senior housing facility in the area. There is also rumor that a developer is interested in constructing a hotel near the airport on Purchase Street, which would only further exacerbate the problem.

A hearing on the issue was held in February. Thursday night's meeting gave residents who were not aware of possible changes the opportunity to voice their opinions. Pepsico has given residents until April 1 to submit any additional requests, comments or concerns.

Pepsico did not respond to any comments at Thursday's meeting. Instead, all public comments were recorded and will be responded to in a final environmental impact statement that the company will begin to put together in April.

Representatives from Pepico said that they will respond to all of the questions that have been appropriately asked.

The importance of finding the necessary balance between the needs of the two parties is underscored by the precedent it will set for all neighborhoods in the area. The Harrison town board has a difficult balancing act before them.

PepsiCo's plans and an associated draft Environmental Impact Statement can be viewed on the town's website at www.town.harrison.ny.us/indes.html in the Planning/Zoning/ARB Executive Summary section.