Yorktown Sues Developer Over Property Trespass and Contract Violations

The Town of Yorktown has sued a developer for unpermitted construction, illegal vehicle storage, and failure to fulfill long-standing development obligations.

The town filed a legal complaint in New York Supreme Court on July 31 against developer William Catucci and his entities, WEJ Realty Corp. and Lake Mohegan Mansion, LLC. The dispute centers on an 8.9-acre municipal lot on Fieldstone Manor Drive in Mohegan Lake.

“For years, the town has worked productively with developers to ensure that community benefits, including public recreation space and affordable housing, are fully realized,” said Yorktown Supervisor Ed Lachterman. “However, when commercial operations unlawfully intrude on public land, we must take decisive legal action to protect our taxpayers, safeguard municipal assets, and enforce local law.”

The land was deeded to Yorktown in connection with the Fieldstone Manor residential subdivision project approved in August 2016. Under the original approval terms, the developer was required to construct public recreational facilities, including tennis and basketball courts, and set aside two affordable housing units.

Despite deeding the land to the town, the defendants failed to build the mandated recreational facilities. Instead, on June 10, Yorktown Code Enforcement issued a Notice of Violation after observing unpermitted basketball court construction and the unauthorized parking of heavy equipment and vehicles on town land.

The property suffered clearcutting and other damage while Catucci and WEJ Realty Corp. unlawfully charged third parties rent to store equipment on the municipal lot.

The lawsuit seeks a judicial declaration ordering the immediate cessation of illegal activities, the removal of all vehicles and equipment, civil fines, restitution of all rental income collected from town property, and strict compliance with affordable housing mandates.