The Edgemont Community Council, Inc. cordially invites you to attend its Annual Meeting on Wednesday, April 28, 1999 at 8:00 PM in the All Purpose Room of the Greenville School, Glendale Road, Scarsdale, NY. We will begin our 52nd year of service to the Edgemont Community.

On the agenda for the April 28th meeting are a review of the Council's achievements; a report from our Zoning and Planning Committee; the Treasurer's Annual Report; election of Officers and Directors of the Council for 1999-2000; a Guest Speaker; and the presentation of our 1999 Silver Box.

Edgemont works hard to maintain its particular quality of life. Over-development, lack of open space, and the huge border projects could irrevocably change what we have come to expect from life in Edgemont.

Steve Whitehouse, a principal with the Saratoga Associates will be this year's guest speaker. Saratoga was chosen by a broad based town wide committee to assess planning, land use, open space within Greenburgh and to recommend (see page 3) the most practical way to achieve specifically stated goals.

Saratoga Associates is a multi-disciplinary professional firm with 29 years of experience in land use and environmental planning. Their level of expertise in community comprehensive plans, greenways, by-ways and open space planning, community regulatory tools, design development standards and zoning ordinances, etc., is important to us if Edgemont is to agree with and understand its place in Greenburgh's Master Plan.

The Edgemont Community Council is entering its 52nd year as an advocate for the community. Council is an umbrella organization comprised of the 8 Civic Associations within the geographical boundaries of the Edgemont School District. ECC represents the entire community in matters which significantly affect our quality of life. We maintain a presence at Town Board, Planning Board and Zoning Board of Appeals meetings. To keep abreast of decisions which affect the Town as a whole and Edgemont in particular, we have representation on the Council of Greenburgh Civic Associations and on all Town citizen advisory committees.

Your dues support our annual newsletter and all expenses incurred by Council and by the School Board Nominating Committee. Council is always eager to have new volunteers on its committees. We look forward to adding your name to a committee of your choice.

Thank you for the confidence you have had in my Presidency this past year. Let us applaud our Directors and the Civic Association Presidents who also worked on your behalf. I am looking forward to personally greeting you at the Annual Meeting.

Madelon K. O'Shea

In accordance with the Council's by-laws, the election of Officers and Directors will take place at the Annual Meeting. The following names have been placed in nomination as Officers for 1 year terms; Directors for the terms indicated; and School Board Nominating Committee Representatives as indicated, by the Nominating Committee.

OFFICERS:

SCHOOL BOARD NOMINATING COMMITTEE REPRESENTATIVES:

COMMITTEE REPORTS

ECC, its Officers and Directors spend more time on planning, zoning and related issues than on any other single matter. Because town officials are reluctant to admit that over development costs more in services than is generated by taxes, civic associations increasingly find themselves lobbying the zoning and planning boards to approve smaller projects. Maintaining the quality of life we have come to enjoy takes vigilance. The investment we all have in our homes and schools are major priorities for most of us. This year the ECC spoke out on a number of issues both in Edgemont and on its borders, a summary of which is presented below.

Most of the residential building in Edgemont has taken place on the west side of Central Avenue. A six-house subdivision was approved off Fort Hill Road even though several of the homes will be cantilevered over a steep slope. In addition, a four-house subdivision was approved at the bend of Underhill Road, next to the Con Ed towers, and a two-house subdivision was granted off Fort Hill Road near Penny Lane.

The land behind Treasure Island and Archway Shopping Center will be developed. Believe it or not, ECC willingly suggested a commercial use for this land, a use also supported by the immediately adjacent civic association. However, the developer prefers to build approximately 40 two and three bedroom rental apartments. This could bring more children into the schools before expansion studies are completed; would most probably clog Northern Greenville's narrow streets with bike riding and roller blading children from the complex, and wouldn't give back to the community what it will cost in police, fire, sanitation and recreation.

Downtown Scarsdale appeared so close to fruition that the Town of Greenburgh retained counsel to protect the interests of Edgemont. The Garth Road Cooperative Council and The Scarsdale Responsible Citizens Committee are also participants. Visual pollution aside, the Environmental Studies done by Scarsdale's consultant are flawed. Traffic on Ardsley Road from Central Avenue to Post Road (Route 22), now, during construction, and forever after, is inadequately addressed, with no mitigation plan in place. Air quality is an issue that has not even been mentioned in the report.

Austin Avenue has become contentious again. As the mega-stores near completion, another access road is necessary. Without permission from the landowners, the NYS Thruway Authority, the developers cleared trees and widened the roadbed of Sprain Road. The curb cut for the project is in Greenburgh. When Greenburgh and the Thruway Authority went to court to prevent the construction of the "'only as an emergency access" road, the developer sued the Thruway Authority.

Suspiciously, the Saks Fifth Avenue property on Grassy Sprain Road (a third of Grassy Sprain Road is in Greenburgh) has been out of the spotlight lately. If Yonkers approves the site for a series of "Big Box" stores, the traffic generated by this development, coupled with the Austin Avenue project, will create traffic nightmares on Jackson Avenue and ultimately on Fort Hill Road and other community streets.

The "dental" office on the southwest comer of Fort Hill and Central Avenue is nearing completion. Northbound cars making a U-turn to enter the parking area will be turning directly into the state designated school crossing.

Built into Greenburgh's nationally recognized Antenna Code (we have a sitting representative) is the provision for yearly update, to coincide with the FCC legislative changes. These amendments occasioned contentious debates when it appeared that politics might be involved. The matter was finally laid to rest; the amendments were adopted; and, at least for the time being, apartments houses, areas within 350 feet of school, daycare centers, playgrounds remain off limits to cellular phone companies, unless a special permit is granted.

At our September meeting, Council had as its guests, representatives of Saratoga Associates, consultants to the Town Master Plan/Open Space committee. We expressed our concern on inadequate buffers between new and older homes; inappropriately large houses built on the small lots, the need to take topography into consideration when approving subdivisions or granting building permits. These issues have been added to those already on the agenda for exploration by the committee and the consultants.

Lastly, zoning code enforcement - the need for it the current lack of it, still haunts the ECC and every other civic association in the town. We have asked that no changes to the zoning code be considered until there is enforcement of what is now law.

The Edgemont Community Council will continue to be vigilant in monitoring development and code changes throughout Edgemont and the Town.

Traffic and safety throughout our community and the town has become an increasingly more important issue. The Harney Road Bridge replacement across the Bronx River Parkway has already begun. The Woodlands Viaduct of the Bronx River Parkway is under construction. We see an increase in traffic on Central Avenue from this project and from other highway revitalization projects.

Our narrow windy residential roads are not meant for high speed. To forcefully bring the message home, the Greenburgh police are continuing their aggressive anti-speeding campaign all over Town. Their goal is to avoid injuries or deaths, while maintaining reasonable speeds.

We have asked the Department of Public Works and the police to re-evaluate the allowable size and weight of trucks using Old Army Road from Yonkers to Central Avenue. Our main concern is the use of Old Army by trucks seeking to avoid the Ardsley Road hassle. Once the Harney Road Bridge is repaired, its carrying weight will be 45 tons. In the worst case scenario, large trucks will turn into Harney Road from Route 22, continue over the Harney Bridge, to Scarsdale Avenue and then to Old Army Road to Central Avenue at Underhill Road and on to points north!

OTHER ISSUES

Since becoming a very participatory Board member of the Council of Greenburgh Civic Associations some 8 or 9 years ago, the Edgemont Community Council has helped present a unified front on such town-wide issues as "Big Box" stores, mega-development proposals, cellular antennas, and special interest zoning changes. We have also supported individual Civic Associations across town as commercial developers have tried to infringe on residential areas. In turn, groups from across town have expressed concern on Edgemont's behalf in such matters as maintaining the strict Central Avenue zoning, signage and questionable sub-divisions.

We have been asked by many to critique potential amendments and additions to the zoning code. These issues deal with gas station canopies, casual dining (tables and chairs without the perceived need for additional parking) flood hazard permit and code (circumvented in practice for the large developer, strictly enforced for the mom and pop business) land fill regulations (the change to topography that occurs when tons of fill are brought in or taken out of a construction site).

0nly twice before in the 50 year history of the Silver Box has it been awarded to a couple. In 1979 it was awarded to Ruth and Ira Toff. Three years ago, in 1996, it was presented to Madelon and Rod O'Shea.

1999 marks just the third time that the Silver Box will be presented to a couple. The Edgemont Community Council is honored this year to present The Silver Box for Community Service to Helene and Kenneth Orce.

The Orces moved to Edgemont in July 1972. Their oldest son Ken, Jr. graduated from Edgemont High School in 1985. His sister, Kimberly followed him, in 1987. Their younger brother, Brian will follow them both, in 2000. Kimberly currently lives on Bretton Road with her husband John and their three sons. Their oldest will start kindergarten in Seely Place in September 2000.

Ken started his community activities slowly- coaching soccer when it was new to the elementary schools and working with the Boy Scouts. He quickly moved on to a directorship on the ECC (then named Greenville Community Council) Board. Council is an organization to recognize and celebrate a Director's strengths. During his six years as a director, Ken became Counsel to the School Board Nominating Committee; First Vice President; Chair of the Legal Committee; and a two year member of the study group on the School Board Nominating Committee Rules Revision.

After serving on the ECC Board, Ken went on to become a Director of the Edgemont Scholarship Council. He also became Director of the Scarsdale Edgemont Counseling Service where he was instrumental in having Edgemont included in the service's name.

Ken is a Senior Partner in the law firm of Cahill Gordon & Reindel. He is currently a member of the International Advisory Committee of Muhlenburg College; a member of the Board of Directors of Burlington Resources, Inc. and has served on the Board of The Louisiana Land & Exploration Company.

Annually, the Orces graciously open their home and grounds for the Edgemont School Foundation Fund Raiser. Both Ken and Helene are founders and directors of the Foundation, and Ken is a member of the Grants Committee.

Helene's activities have been diverse. She has been involved in our Schools, in our Civic Associations; she has represented Edgemont at various Town Boards and Committees. As a PTA/PTSA volunteer she was an adult coordinator for the Saferides program; class mother; fund raiser; and filled a host of other positions.

Helene served as a Board member and later as President of the Cotswold Association where she represented Cotswold at the Edgemont Community Council. From 1992 through 1998 she was a Member of the Edgemont Board of Education ultimately serving as its Vice President. Her Board activities included service on a Board committee that established the basis for the Financial Advisory Committee. She helped to set up the Tuition Student Program. She worked to establish the Chemical Awareness Task Force and was a member of the Superintendent's Committee to revise and implement a health program in our schools. She served as Board of Education representative on the High School Technology Committee.

She currently serves her Community as a member of the Board of Directors of the Fort Hill Association and starting this July, she will begin a second two-year term as a member of the School Board Nominating Committee.

For the past several years, Helene has been one of Edgemont's representatives on the Greenburgh Police Advisory Board.

Along with Ken, she is a member of the New York Council, Arts in Education Council of the Harvard Graduate School of Education.

We look forward to many more years of their service to our Community.

In accordance with the current School Board Nominating Committee By-Laws, Sections A.4(a&d), Designation of Members of the Committee "...The second announcement must include the dates and places of the meetings at which elections will be held and the names of all candidates previously submitted who will be considered for election. ... If an organization does not comply with the foregoing requirements, its designees shall not serve as a member of the Committee" Only the individuals named below from their sending organizations will be eligible for election and subsequent seating on the Committee. SBNC By-Laws provide for a March 1 deadline for submission of civic association's nominees

The Edgemont Community Council, Inc.

P.O. Box 1161

Scarsdale, NY 10583-9161

I am interested in furthering the activities of the Edgemont Community Council and would like to become a member. Enclosed are my family's dues for the 1999-2000 year

NAME: ________________________________________

ADDRESS: _____________________________________

o Regular Membership $10 o Sustaining Membership $20 o Supporting Membership $30

Your comments please:

The Board of Directors would like to take this opportunity to thank all of the Regular and Alternate Members of the School Board Nominating Committee for their diligence and hard work during this past nominating season.

The Candidates Open Forum will be held on Wednesday evening April 21nd at 8:00 PM in the All Purpose Room of the Greenville School on Glendale Road. Please come and hear what the Candidates have to say. If you have questions for the Candidates, please send them, in writing, to Committee Chair Dr. William J. Davis, 175 Underhill Road, Scarsdale, NY 10583. Questions must be able to be directed to all Candidates. Under the rules, questions for a specific candidate can not be used.

Council would also encourage all residents to give serious thought to participation on the School Board Nominating Committee and even to seek election to the Board of Education.

The School Board election and Budget vote is scheduled for Tuesday May 18th. If you have not already done so, please register to vote so that you will be able participate in this important election.

The STAR Program is a tax abatement program designed to help reduce each and every property owner's school tax burden. Under the program, using current and projected budget surpluses, the State of New York will fund certain portions of each School District's tax levy thereby reducing the amount that eachhomeowner has to pay.

Although the program is funded by the State, the State has left the administration of the program to the municipalities. In other words, the program will be administered for Edgemont by the Town of Greenburgh.

All residents of Edgemont who own and occupy homes, condos or co-ops were expected to file with the Greenburgh Assessor's Office by June 1, 1999 in order to receive the STAR school tax break for the 1999-2000 school year. If you have not already filed, it is not too late to file for the program's benefits for the 2000-2001 school year. The filing deadline is June 1, 1999.

All new residents are urged to apply for the STAR program at Greenburgh Town Hall as soon as possible.