COUNCIL OF GREENBURGH CIVIC ASSOCIATIONS
Minutes of May 25,1999 Meeting
Approved June 15, 1999
The Council of Greenburgh Civic Associations seeks to provide information and advance the common interests of member civic groups in important Town affairs. Of the 34 member civic groups, the following have paid their 1999 dues:
Beaver Hill Association
Broadview Civic Association
Downing Hill Civic Association
East Irvington Civic Association
Edgebrook Cooperative, Inc.
Edgemont Civic Association*
Edgemont Community Council, Inc.
Fort Hill Association
Fulton Park Civic Association
Glenville Community Association
Granada Condominium III Association
Hillside-Wyndover Civic Association
Juniper Hill Civic Association
Knollwood Manor Civic Association
Lower Manor Woods Neighborhood Association
Northern Greenville Civic Association
Parkway Gardens Civic Association
Parkway Homes Civic Association
Secor Homes Civic Association, Inc.
Southern Greenville Civic Association
Stone Oaks Condominium
The Colony At Hartsdale
The Cotswold Association, Inc.
Westchester Hills Condominium
Woodhill Civic Association
* Dues also paid for 2000.
To date, twenty-five civic groups have paid their 1999 dues. There is $1010.08 in the treasury. Minutes of the April 20, 1999 meeting were read and approved with minor corrections that will be made prior to circulation. Minutes of the December 1998 and January 1999 meetings were not available.
CGCA CABLE TV PROGRAM
It was noted that the program with Chairman Danny Gold interviewing Francis Sheehan about Greenburgh's Antenna Law is still airing in the CGCA regular time slot. It is presumed that the program which was taped in March with Chairman Gold interviewing Carol Wielk of the Secor Homes Civic Association will air sometime in the near future.
For the May taping of the CGCA cable TV program, Alice Moroney arranged to have three representatives (with two back-ups) from the City of New York Department of Environmental Protection for a discussion on the possible need to build a water filtration plant for the Catskill/Delaware water supply system. Unfortunately, no Town cable employee was available to tape this informative program.
CGCA members continue to be concerned about the deterioration of access to Cable TV. Community programs are not being taped or aired in a timely fashion. Cable TV director Michael Bennett gave notice months ago that he would be working only 10 hours a week after April, but Town officials have failed to address the issue of hiring additional help.
CONGRATULATIONS AND BEST WISHES!
To Catherine Lederer-Plaskett (Chair of the Antenna Review Board and President of the Birchwood Civic Association) and husband Rodney on the birth. of their son, Tyler, on May 24, 1999. Tyler will be welcomed at home by older sister, Aliza, and brother, Lucas.
To Stephanie Bellino (President of the Lower Manor Woods Neighborhood Association) whose birthday was celebrated at the May 25 CGCA meeting although she was not present.
To Carol Wielk who was elected President of the Secor Homes Civic Association, Inc. on May 17, 1999.
To Lorrin Brown who was elected President of the North Elmsford Neighborhood Association earlier this year.
ANTENNAS
177 East Hartsdale Avenue. On Thursday, May 27, the Zoning Board of Appeals is expected to hear Omnipoint's request to erect antennas on this multifamily building. A review of the case file today revealed that Omnipoint has not submitted all of the information required by the new Antenna Law amendments adopted in March. If the ZBA decides to hear the case even though the application is not complete, the TGCA will request that the hearing be kept open until all required information has been submitted and sufficient time is provided for public review. The CGCA continues to have reservations about how this application has proceeded and the precedent this case may establish for granting variances to place commercial antennas on residential buildings.
Proposed State-wide Antenna Law. Antenna Review Board Chair Catherine Lederer-Plaskett and member Francis Sheehan worked with Scenic Hudson and other environmental and municipal groups in drafting alternate legislation to protect our residential neighborhoods. The proposed alternate legislation, recently introduced in Albany in both the Senate and Assembly, would permit municipalities to retain control over the siting of antenna towers. The CGCA is proud of and grateful to Catherine and Francis for their efforts.
APPEAL OF BUILDING INSPECTOR'S DECISION
The Secor Homes Civic Association finally has received a ZBA case number for its appeal of the Building Inspector's decision regarding the legality of the WFAS radio tower and the antennas on the tower. However, the Town Attorney's office has not yet determined whether the SHCA has "standing" to appeal. The case is tentatively scheduled for a hearing at the July 22, 1999 ZBA meeting.
PROCESS - FILLING OPENINGS ON BOARDS
It was noted that Supervisor Feiner still has not responded to the CGCA letter of March 26, 1999 requesting information about the process that the Town Board uses when selecting candidates to fill vacancies occurring on the various volunteer boards and committees in the Town. The CGCA has great concern over the constantly changing process and the "closed-door' method of recent appointments.
CODE ENFORCEMENT - SOUTH WASHINGTON AVENUE
Five residents of South Washington Avenue attended the meeting to discuss the problems they have encountered as a result of a number of homes in their neighborhood being turned into rooming/boarding houses. When the residents presented their concerns to Town officials last fall, an inspector from the Building Department visited one such house, noticed locks on bedroom doors and said they must be removed. Despite assertions that people are paying $300 to $400 rent a month for one bedroom, the Building Department claims that since there is only one kitchen, the house is not a multifamily house and the money is not rent but simply a sharing of household expenses. Town officials have apparently helped the owners with multiple tenants obtain permits to legalize other violations.
The residents brought their complaints to the Town Board at a work session and were told that they must obtain proof of any illegality - via videotape or a signed affidavit from someone paying rent - before the Town can do anything. The residents feel they have not been treated in a courteous manner by Town officials, and in what appears to be retaliation because the residents continued to pursue this matter, the Building Department issued Notices of Violation to most residents on the street for illegal awnings, sheds, pools, etc. One resident was threatened with a Notice of Violation for having a motion-detector light shining into the street.
Residents continue to be concerned about the additional traffic, garbage, health and fire safety problems being generated by these multi-tenant rooming houses. CGCA members are appalled at the apparent selective enforcement and harassment of the South Washington Avenue residents who wish to preserve the single family quality of life in their neighborhood. The CGCA recommended that the residents first document chronologically all dealings with the Town concerning this matter. CGCA encouraged publicizing the issues through the media if the concerns are not addressed by Town officials. Chairman Gold will write a letter to Paul Feiner and the Town Board members about this issue.
WESTCHESTER VIEW BUFFERS TO BE RESTORED!
Persistence has paid off for Secor Homes residents. For 12 years residents have requested enforcement of the conditions imposed by the Planning Board in 1987 when the Westchester View subdivision was granted. After reading the historical record and making a site visit to the subject property, Planning Board members agreed on May 19, 1999 that the conditions imposed in 1987 were violated and made a strong recommendation to Town staff that the 50-foot wide buffer area should be restored.
CGCA SPONSORED DEBATES
CGCA members decided to form a committee for CGCA-sponsored public debates among any local candidates running for elective office in the September 14 primary and November 2 general elections. The CCGA previously sponsored a pre-primary debate during the 1993 local elections.
INTERPRETATION - CENTRAL AVENUE SIGN REGULATIONS
In 1996 the Zoning Ordinance was amended to allow businesses located in Unified Shopping Centers situated 100 feet from Central Avenue additional signage for greater visibility. The Building Inspector is now interpreting the amendments in a way that permits business owners on small parcels close to the street to have 30 square feet yards signs (50% larger than the sign ordinance allows). The Edgemont Community Council voiced concerns about this matter at the May 12 Town Board meeting and asked that immediate action be taken to prevent further proliferation of these eyesores.
PROPOSED ZONING CODE CHANGES
Health Clubs in CB districts. As reported at last month's CGCA meeting, the Town Board opened a "special meeting" at their April 20 work decision to refer to the Planning Board for review and recommendation a proposed amendment to the Zoning Ordinance which would allow health clubs in the CB (Close Business) zoning districts of the Town. The apparent genesis of this proposal was an April 16 letter to Supervisor Feiner from a realty service for property at 208 East Hartsdale Avenue.
One day later, on April 21, even though this matter was not on the agenda, the Planning Board scheduled a Public Discussion for May 5. Prior to this public meeting, no information was available to the public about the proposed wording. The Public Discussion was held and then adjourned until May 19 as both the Planning Board members and CGCA members asked for more information on the Town-wide impact this proposal would have. At the May 19 Planning Board meeting, insufficient information was provided to assess the potential impact. In addition, at the May 18 Town Board work session Supervisor Feiner stated that there was no specific tenant for this property. The CGCA questions why the Town Board is proposing Town-wide code changes at a mere suggestion. If a developer wants or needs a code change, why is the Town making the proposal and not requiring the developer to pay for the review process?
Dumping/landfill amendments. On May 19, the Planning Board held a public discussion on a Town Board proposed amendment to the Zoning Ordinance which Town officials claim would address concerns about landfills on properties of less than an acre in size, such as the 2 1/2 story-high landfill currently taking place on property on Leather Stocking Lane. At the meeting, Planning Board members as well as CGCA members had questions and concerns about the proposed wording of this amendment. The public discussion will continue at the June 2 Planning Board meeting.
Incidental Dining. The Planning Board has set a public discussion for June 2 for a Town Board proposed Zoning Ordinance change to allow most businesses throughout Town that sell food to have tables and chairs for on-site consumption of food. The CGCA has concerns about the ramifications of this proposed Town-wide code change.
WEST HELP CONVERSION?
The 10-year agreement for the WestHELP shelter for the homeless (on six acres of Westchester County-owned land off of Knollwood Road) will be expiring in the year 2001. Local residents are calling for the County Board of Legislators to honor the promise made to the community when the project was approved - i.e., after ten years, the 108 units would be converted to 54 units of housing for senior citizens. It was mentioned that Supervisor Feiner appointed a committee last year to address the issue. The CGCA will check the status of the committee's work.
MILLENIUM PIPELINE
Alice Moroney, Chairperson of the Town's Millenium Pipeline Committee, distributed copies of a memo that the committee wrote to the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission regarding the proposed new gas pipeline. The committee requests that the Final EIS address whether there is a need for additional gas in this area and the potential risks involved since the pipeline's path would be located within the Ardsley earthquake fault as well as along the right-of-ways of high tension wires and the aqueduct.
MISCELLANEOUS
Reception for Newcomers. CGCA members, Madelon O'Shea, Ella Preiser and Mary Tobias, greeted new Town residents at the May 12 reception. The names and addresses of new residents were collected and the list was given to Chairman Gold who will notify the respective civic organization leaders of the new families living in their areas.
Town Assists Illegal Commercial Business. The CGCA was deeply troubled to learn that the Town of Greenburgh had been supplying the materials for a soil/gravel business that has been operating illegally on residential property in the Secor Homes Civic Association area. The SHCA brought the matter to the attention of the Town. Councilman Les Adler was quoted as "monitoring" the activity in an April 20, 1999 article in The Journal News. However, it was subsequently learned that the Town has been helping the illegal operation continue on residential property for many years.
Route 9A Bypass. The next meeting to discuss the various alternatives that should be studied to deal with the unbearable traffic conditions on Route 9A will be held at 1:30 p.m. on Thursday, May 27 at Town Hall. The meeting will be videotaped and aired later on cable TV. Attending these meetings are representatives from the NYS Department of Transportation, the Westchester County Planning Department, the Town of Greenburgh, the Town of Mount Pleasant, the Village of Elmsford, major property owners, and the CGCA.
Catskill/Delaware Water Filtration Plant. To assess the ability of soils at the Eastview site to hold the world's largest water filtration plant, preliminary roads are being constructed to bring in the heavy equipment necessary to obtain the deep boring samples.
Supervisor Feiner's Copying Policy. CGCA members brought up the issue of the Supervisor's new copying policy and the hardship it imposes on volunteer board members and civic leaders at the May 12 Town Board meeting. Town Board members refused to outvote the Supervisor but have agreed once again to discuss the issue further. When is another matter!