COUNCIL OF GREENBURGH CIVIC ASSOCIATIONS
Minutes of November 16, 1999 Meeting
Adopted December 14, 1999
The Council of Greenburgh Civic Associations seeks to provide information and advance the common interests of member civic groups in important Town affairs. The following member civic groups have paid their 1999 dues:
Ardsley Estates Civic Association
Beaver Hill Association
Birchwood Civic 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
Hillcrest Park - Ardsley Civic Association
Hillside-Wyndover Civic Association
Juniper Hill Civic Association
Knollwood Manor Civic Association
Longview Civic Association
Lower Manor Woods Neighborhood Association Mayfair-Knollwood Civic Association
North Elmsford 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
Winding Road Farm Association
Woodhill Civic Association
* Dues also paid for 2000.
To date, thirty-three civic groups have paid their 1999 dues. There is $947.95 in the treasury.
Minutes of the August 17, 1999 and October 19, 1999 meetings were read and approved with minor corrections that will be made prior to circulation. Minutes of the September 21, 1999 meeting were not available.
CABLE TELEVISION
At the next taping on Thursday, November 18 of the regular CGCA cable program, Chairman Danny Gold will interview Carol Wiek President of the Secor Homes Civic Association. The Town lost the tape Danny made with Carol earlier this year. It was never aired.
Cable TV revenues and expenditures were discussed. During the last eight years, revenues from the Cable TV Franchise Tax and Equipment Fund have totaled over $2.2 million. Only a tiny fraction of these revenues have been spent on cable TV. For example, in 1998 the Town received $341,211 from the Cable Franchise Tax and $50,679 for the Equipment Fund. However, less than 6.5% of these revenues were spent on cable TV ($21,775 for the director's salary, $2,810 for equipment and $831 for supplies). Remaining revenues from cable TV appear to go into the general fund to be used at the Town Board's discretion.
Cable TV is an important means of keeping Greenburgh residents informed about community affairs. CGCA members strongly recommend that more of the Cable TV revenues be expende to improve the embarrassingly poor quality of Greenburgh Cable access television.
CGCA members again expressed their strong objection to how cable access TV appears to be politically influenced. The CGCA calls for an independent Cable TV decision-making board whose membership will not include a majority from any political party.
HOME DEPOT - MOUNT PLEASANT
Alice Moroney reported on the November 4, 1999 Mount Pleasant Planning Board meeting regarding the proposal to build a Home Depot on the Hines "Keren" (formerly Union Carbide) property in the town of Mount Pleasant near the Greenburgh border. While the final decision will not be handed down until December 2, it appears that the Mount Pleasant Planning Board will vote unanimously (7-0) to deny the applications for a Wetlands Permit and Storm Water Abatement Permit. The Mount Pleasant Planning Board members have spent several months studying this proposal and have a number of concerns about the negative impacts the project would have on the environment.
1. The site would be severely impacted. Radical topographical changes would be necessary requiring the filling of sensitive wetlands and grading resulting in more than 2,000 linear feet of retaining walls. Open space would be lost and hundreds of trees would be destroyed. Home Depot has refused to comply with Mount Pleasant Town requests to scale down the size of the proposed building. (Westchester County Planning Department also opposes this application because of the severe impact on the wetlands.)
2. An elaborate drainage system would be required. There are questions about who would maintain the system since Home Depot would be leasing the property. If both Home Depot and the property owner were to go out of business, the Town does not want responsibility for maintaining the system.
3 . Significant traffic issues exist. Traffic congestion on Route 9A is an existing problem. Serious accidents have occurred at the proposed site frontage and there are no breakdown lanes or shoulders on 9A. Traffic studies presented by Home Depot are unacceptable. The proposed 9A "bypass" being considered by the State DOT for Greenburgh would have a negative impact, dumping more traffic in Mount Pleasant with no proposed improvements thus far.
4. The financial benefit to Mount Pleasant is not obvious. The Mount Pleasant Police Department has stated the project will become the single largest drain on the police department with proposed store hours requiring three shifts of an undetermined number of officers. The projected property tax revenue of $57,000 per year paid directly to the Town would not even pay the salary of one police officer. In addition the Mount Pleasant Central School District would not benefit from projected property tax revenues; only the Pocantico Hills School District would benefit.
SECOR HOMES - REQUEST FOR MORATORIUM
Representatives from the Secor Homes Civic Association met with Supervisor Paul Feiner on October 26 and requested that certain parcels along Secor Road be included in the moratorium that the Town is considering prior to the adoption of the Comprehensive Plan. The SHCA has great concern about the 7.3-acre WFAS, radio station property and the adjacent 12.5-acre property that is currently used by. Ferncliff Cemetery for storing dirt. In addition, the SHCA would like the Town to include the 6-acre "farm"' property at Secor Road and West Hartsdale Avenue and an adjacent 8-acre parcel with access on both roads in a broader proposal which would include any undeveloped parcel 5 acres or more along Secor Road or Dobbs Ferry Road in the moratorium to assess their impacts on the 9A corridor. The Supervisor supported the SHCA request.
ADOPTED CODE CHANGES
Elevator Law. On October 27, the Town Board adopted a new law requiring the registration and semi-annual inspections of all elevators and other "conveyances" in the Town. Thousands of dollars will accrue to the Town as a result of this legislation. On October 21, Ella Preiser and Francis Sheehan spent 5-1/2 hours with Deputy Town Attorney Mindy Hartstein making major revisions to the wording of this proposed legislation. Additional time was spent on October 27 making last minute changes. The Town Board adopted the legislation without even a simple "thank you" to Ms. Hartstein or the volunteers.
Dumping/Landfill Amendment. In response to concerns regarding the Leatherstocking Lane dumping operation, the Town Board passed legislation amending the Zoning Ordinance on October 27. The new legislation will not address the deplorable conditions currently at Leatherstocking Lane or prohibit another Leatherstocking Lane operation. However, a permit will be required for any new operation totaling more than 100 cubic yards of fill, and neighbors will be provided with advance notice and an opportunity to comment on the issuance of a fill permit before it is issued.
PROPOSED CODE CHANGES
Adult Use. CGCA members noted that the Planning Board agenda for November 17 includes considering a recommendation to the Town Board on Adult Use legislation. Questions were raised about why the case was placed on the agenda. The hearing on this case has never been closed, and the Town Board appears to have done little work on the proposed code change since 1996 except to badger the community into believing it is necessary to create an adult "zone."
Flood Damage Prevention. Proposed amendments to the Town's Flood Damage Prevention Law are scheduled to be considered at the November 17 Planning Board work session, but no action will be taken as the law is not ready. Planning Board member Blanche Alter and volunteers Madelon O'Shea, Ella Preiser and Francis Sheehan have met with Deputy Town Attorney Mindy Hartstein On October 28 and November11 to rewrite this law. Another meeting with Ms. Hartstein is scheduled for tomorrow.
Incidental Dining. This proposed amendment to the Zoning Ordinance would allow up to 8 seats and 2 tables for on-site consumption of food in all premises that purvey food. Commissioner Lopez is writing findings. Since parking requirements and other issues have not been addressed, the CGCA continues to question the need for this town-wide code change. The proposal appears to have been initiated to side-step sprinkler and parking requirements. Fire District officials' strong objections have resulted in sprinkler requirements but parking still remains to be addressed.
Swimming Pool Enclosures. The Planning Board has scheduled a public discussion on November 17 on proposed changes to the Zoning Ordinance regarding swimming pool enclosures. The amendments are being proposed to bring the Town's code into compliance with the New York State Building Code. CGCA members have questions about the proposed amendments and will request that the hearing be held open until the community has the opportunity to examine the State code.
PLANNING BOARD BYLAWS - PROPOSED CHANGES
At the October 20 Planning Board meeting, Chairperson Fran McLaughlin noted that the Planning Board had not been conducting business in compliance with the written bylaws and recommended that the Board consider amendments to the bylaws. Ms. McLaughlin also suggested beginning work sessions at 7:30 p.m. instead of 8:00 p.m. The November 3 agenda included mention of a discussion for possible amendments to the bylaws but due to time constraints, no discussion occurred. Instead a decision was made to schedule the November 17 meeting for 7:30 p.m. to allow an extra 15 minutes for the public work session.
The CGCA would be willing to review any proposed changes to the Planning Board Bylaws and provide input during a required public hearing. CGCA members are opposed to beginning Planning Board meetings at 7:30 p.m. This time change would produce hardships for those who regularly attend meetings and have job, family and other responsibilities. It was also noted that some Planning Board members themselves often arrive late to an 8:00 p.m. meeting.
The CGCA and Edgemont Community Council offered the Planning Board members a number of suggestions for improving the flow and speed of Planning Board sessions during an informal discussion on December 17, 1997. None of the suggestions were implemented.
SUPERVISOR'S GOALS
A brief discussion took place about Supervisor Feiner's November 8 letter to civic leaders regarding some of his goals for the year 2000. Chief among any goals that the CGCA would recommend for 2000 is that the Supervisor depoliticize cable TV access and halt the continuing deterioration of Cable television.
It was noted that the Supervisor requested our input last year and the CGCA supplied him with a list of goals - none of which were adopted. Many of his 1999 goals were vaguely worded but it is unlikely that the Town Board will vote to deny him very much of the $5000 that he placed in escrow. CGCA members called for a written report from the Town Board evaluating whether the Supervisor had accomplished his 1999 goals.
"NOB HILL" DEIS
As Deputy Town Supervisor, Danny Gold has previewed the Draft Environmental Impact Statement for the Avalon Green II "Nob Hill" proposal. Danny has expressed to Town officials that he is unsatisfied with the one-day traffic counts. The DEIS is still being reviewed by the Town's consultant and has not been accepted by the Town Board as ready for circulation.
MISCELLANEOUS
No "open" Town Board Work Sessions in November. The Town Board has held no public work sessions during the month of November. The 11/2/99 session was cancelled because of the election, and the 11/9/99 and 11/16/99 sessions were limited to "executive" sessions and closed to the public. In addition, no work session is planned prior to the November 22 public meeting. Since the year 2000 budget is likely to be adopted at the November 22 meeting, CGCA members questioned if or when Town Board members reviewed the budget.
CGCA members noted that the Town Board seems to have severely limited open work sessions since community members began videotaping the work sessions.
Salary Increase for Town Judges. It was noted with interest that the Town budgeted $10,000 additionally annually to be paid to each of the newly elected Town judges after the election. The judges had campaigned that they were willing to commit to an extra day each week at no cost to the taxpayers.
Supervisor's Letter to the Editor. In a "Letter to the Editor" of The Scarsdale Inquirer, printed November 12, Supervisor Feiner requested that the newspaper adopt a new policy allowing Town officials to preview any critical letter(s) to the Editor so officials could respond to the letter(s) in the same issue the letters are printed. CGCA members questioned this attack on First Amendment rights. Two subscribers have already written letters in response to Mr. Feiner's request.
9A Multiplex. Construction continues with its attendant noise, dust and fumes. Work takes place 7 days a week, 24 hours a day.
Adult Group Home. Commenting on the October 19 CGCA minutes, Madelon O'Shea noted that earlier this year the Amicus Healthcare group was interested in developing the horseshoe-shaped property on Dobbs Ferry Road home for Alzheimer patients - not the "farm" property. Madelon had accompanied Town Board members on a field trip to view another Amicus Healthcare site in Connecticut.
New Hotel in Village of Elmsford. A 7-story, 138-room extended stay hotel is currently under construction on Route 119 adjacent to the existing Hampton Inn.
Leaves, Leaves, Leaves. Piles of leaves remain uncollected and clogging roadways in most neighborhoods even though the weather has been the best we have had in many years.
CGCA Meeting Date Changed. Because of the holidays, a decision was made to move the date of the regular December CGCA meeting to the second Tuesday of the month - December 14 - provided that the Conference Room is available.