Sunday, April 3, 2022

Elmwood Preserve FEIS Public Hearing Still Open and Need Your Support

To all Unincorporated Town of Greenburgh Residents:
We are asking for your support (below) by writing letters, sending emails and making phone calls to the Town Board, the Zoning Board and Planning Board asking that they adhere to the Comprehensive Plan and not change the zoning for this project.

Re: ELMWOOD PRESERVE FEIS PUBLIC HEARING STILL OPEN

The Elmwood Preserve property should be developed within the existing Town Zoning Ordinance in accordance with the Greenburgh Comprehensive Plan adopted in 2016. We’re looking for Unincorporated Greenburgh residents to support this request by sending emails, letter and phone calls to the above mentioned Town Council and Commissioners.

Density:
The 2 requested zone changes for the 3 Multifamily Town House alternatives will result in a density increase between 34% and 55% more than the 2 Single Family Residence alternatives. The Town’s Comprehensive Plan, the Conservation Advisory Council and the Westchester County Planning Board do not support increased density in residential areas. On 3/3/22, the Council of Greenburgh Civic Associations representatives voted unanimously to support Single Family Residences on the Elmwood property.

Traffic:
This increased density will result in a substantial increase in traffic on Dobbs Ferry Road. Dobbs Ferry Rd. (State Rd - 100B) only has a single lane each way which accommodates 3 school districts (busses, private cars/vans) and the Westchester County # 6 bus line. In addition, there are the entrances and exits to the Sprain Brook Parkway.

Carlson’s Nursery (undergoing expansion to be developed into a Farmer’s Market), the Chelsea Assisted Living Facility, the Game On golf driving range, Landers Manor (9 SFRs), Westchester View Lane (24 SFRs) and another 15 SFRs, which are in the process of currently being built on Drago Way, are all across the street from the Elmwood property. On the corner of Dobbs Ferry Rd. and Worthington Rd. is the Fairview Fire Station #2 with E. Rumbrook Park on the other side of Elmwood. Also, there is a DaySchool /Camp on Dobbs Ferry Rd., right next to the Fire Station, which operates all year long. These properties are all within 8/10ths of a mile along Dobbs Ferry Rd..

Safety:
Fire Dept:
The number of Incident calls made by the Fairview Fire Station #2 in the last 4 years are as follows:
2018 - 1,171
2019 - 1,033
2020 - 1,110
2021 - 1,159

Police Dept:
The number of events responded to by the Police Dept. in this area for Police/EMT calls in the last 3 years are as follows:
2018 - 1,190
2019 - 1,225
2020 - 1,975
2021 - 1,730

The number of accidents on Dobbs Ferry Rd. between the Sprain Pkwy. and 9A are as follows:
2018 - 42
2019 - 41
2020 - 28
2021 - 33

These Fire Dept. and Police Dept. statistics will increase because of the Elmwood development and could result in more serious outcomes to all Greenburgh residents because of traffic jams.

Setting a Precedent:
By granting these 2 zone changes, a precedent will be set which will allow down-zoning to any large parcel of land, such as the 5 remaining golf courses in Greenburgh or any large camp property such as Mohawk or Hillard.

The Single Family Residences Alternatives (119 or 113) are zoning compliant (as of right) for this property of 106+ acres according to the Town Zoning Code.
According to the CAC’s SEQR Findings - FEIS (3/4/22), “the current zoning rules existed in the Zoning Code when the applicant bought the Elmwood property. Amending the Zoning Code is a legislative act. The Town Board has the unfettered right, in its discretion, to maintain the Town’s existing zoning, and is under no obligation to approve the application.”

– Dorrine Livson, President – Worthington Woodlands Civic Assoc.

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