Monday, February 24, 2020

PETITION to Keep Greenburgh Green and Residential


Unincorporated Greenburgh officials are currently considering an application by a developer to build senior housing pursuant to a zoning technique known as a Floating Zone. In essence, this allows commercial buildings in residential areas, as well as density bonuses to maximize developers’ profits. Adoption of Floating Zone legislation would be the most significant change to our Zoning Ordinance in decades. The impacts on the integrity of our neighborhoods and the overall character of our community, including the environment, traffic, demographics, and schools have not been considered adequately. 
Residents, not developers, should decide the future of our Town. To achieve this goal, we the undersigned residents of Unincorporated Greenburgh ask the Town Board to take the following steps: 
1) Reject the concept of Floating Zones and immediately adopt a moratorium on accepting applications for developments pursuant to Floating Zones, including but not limited to housing for seniors, solar farms and self-storage facilities. 
2) Appoint a Land Use Committee consisting of residents who will study how to implement the goals and policies of the Comprehensive Plan that pertain to providing adequate housing for the Town’s senior population. The Committee should determine the need and recommend appropriate locations and criteria for such facilities. 
3) Refrain from considering any changes to the Zoning Ordinance until the above issues have been thoroughly studied, the Land Use Committee has issued its report, and the public has had an opportunity to weigh in on the matter. 
We want the Town to follow the 2016 Comprehensive Plan: protect our residential and green spaces, encourage community-friendly commercial development in areas already designated for such use. 
Dora T. Ashley 
Carol Allen 
Elaine Taylor-Gordon 
Christopher Henry 
Aparna Rao 
Please join us and sign the petition online: https://www.change.org/Keep_Greenburgh_Green_and_Residential

Thursday, February 20, 2020

Another Pedestrian Seriously Injured in Greenburgh Hit & Run

The topic du jour in the Town of Greenburgh lately seems to be about pedestrians being struck by cars throughout the Town. Sure, there are other hot topics, but another pedestrian was struck near the Hartsdale four corners area last weekend. This elderly gentleman sustained serious injuries with what we were told included a possible fractured skull. Using video evidence, police saw the victim walk on Central Avenue and turn onto East Hartsdale Avenue, where he walked past the crosswalk and was hit in the middle of the left turning lane, police said. The car didn't stop, according to police. Greenburgh police located the car, a 2018 Honda CRV that was driven by an 87-year-old Hartsdale man. No charges have been filed.

This is significant not only because someone was struck and seriously injured by a car, but that it was another hit and run accident as well. While it's a bad thing that has happened, it seems that more and more of the accidents are hit and runs, with drivers not staying at the scene. We also seem to have lost common sense when it comes to either walking in or crossing the streets. In fact, on Saturday afternoon two staffers mentioned that they were waiting at a traffic light in Hartsdale when a young millennial couple walked from between two cars to cross the street roughly 20 feet from the raised crosswalk. The guy was looking at his girlfriend and she was texting on her cell phone. Both were oblivious to their surroundings. Situational awareness: missing. Accident waiting to happen: probable.

In the Saturday local daily paper, there was a headline for an article stating that "Greenburgh Strives to Improve Pedestrian Safety After Series of Serious Accidents." Interesting perspective describing that the Town residents and officials are exasperated and grasping for solutions. And yet, at every turn, the same points are highlighted with the same non-solution solutions. Truth be told, part of the blame falls squarely in Mr Feiner and his Town Board's lap. After all, they have been allowing all kinds of construction and development to happen throughout the Town for both residential and business structures, inherently increasing traffic without redeveloping the infrastructure to handle the increased traffic, flooding, water usage and power needs. The excuse given at every project's hearings is that the traffic study doesn't prove that changes are necessary, only that it'll be a minimal increase in traffic, etc. Flooding is reduced to catch-basin usage. No one ever discusses what happens when they're full.

The Fulton Park Civic Association has been requesting sidewalks on Old Kensico Road, commonly referred to as Old Kensico Speedway, but Mr Feiner chose to place the burden of the request onto one resident and seek to have him seemingly offend his neighbors. While that backfired for Mr Feiner, Fulton Park is still without a sidewalk and two people were seriously injured when they were recently struck by cars on it. At least one was a hit and run with the young man driving leaving the scene only to be arrested by police about two weeks later. The same community had complained to the police department for not enforcing the speed limits on Old Kensico Speedway. This is a heavily walked roadway with minimal lighting. They were told unofficially by several officers that the police department were no longer doing traffic enforcement in various neighborhoods. 

A traffic enforcement expert we spoke to explained that during his police department career, speed always played a factor in accidents involving pedestrians. Given the speed we see many drivers operating their vehicles, including distracted drivers, van, truck and tractor trailer drivers with limited visibility, it's almost surprising we don't have even more accidents. But some of this is not the fault of the drivers as pedestrians dart out from between cars, don't cross at the crosswalk or traffic lights and others simply ignore it all and just arrogantly walk into traffic expecting the vehicles to just stop for them since "pedestrians have the right of way." It's a recipe for disaster.

So who is responsible for everyone's safety? Frankly, everyone. Some say it's the police department, fire department and EMS organizations. We respectfully disagree. First and foremost, it is up to everyone but this time it's the Town administrations responsibility. Had they been governing in a responsible manner for all these years, many of the roadways might have been adjusted and configured to better handle traffic. We've watched Mr Feiner urinate away funds to appease the Hartsdale community into believing he is sincerely looking out for their well-being. In the meantime, unless there is a grant or efforts by others to acquire sidewalks, not much is originating from Town Hall. We have a triple A bond rating and rates are currently as low as ever. NOW is the time to start taking advantage of that bond rating!

Next, we believe it is the Police Department responsibility. Under Chief McNerney's short tenure, he wasn't allowed to hire police officers as Mr Feiner played Russian Roulette with the Edgemont Incorporation, stating he might not be able to afford those officers should the incorporation go through and the tax revenue needed to pay for them suddenly disappear. As an appointee to the Police Chiefs position, he's beholden to Mr Feiner for his job. While we understand and disagree with this approach, you cannot operate based on "what ifs". The first thing is to hire the cops you need and the second thing is start enforcing the laws. Those include speeding, commercial traffic going through residential neighborhoods and jaywalking to mention a few. We don't believe this falls on the fire or EMS agencies as their role is reactive by the nature of what they do. But I'm sure they would all be willing to participate if asked.

One thing Mr Feiner stated is correct when he said, "I think education is probably the most important thing." In general, yes. The easy part is getting to the kids in school as they are in a captive environment and this information can be distributed and hopefully shared at home with family members. It's those not in school that will be the toughest to reach. Plus, since Greenburgh is a sanctuary Town, many of those in the shadows are not easily reachable and yet are part of the crowd they need to reach as many regularly walk to and from their destinations.

By our count, we're up to 10 pedestrians struck by automobiles within the Town. We can keep pointing fingers but the fact is there has been an increased traffic buildup for years without much done to alleviate it except for politicians to urge using buses, bikes and walking. Therein is the rub. The same stale (lack of) ideas and finger-pointing continues to take place. Since the minimal public reelected Mr Feiner and he helped get us into this dangerous situation, we're guessing that many find these odds acceptable. We don't. It needs to change. Once it does, we'll see A Better Greenburgh.

Monday, February 17, 2020

Legalizing Spot Zoning in “Grayburgh”

There’s a push throughout Westchester County (White Plains, Armonk, Mt Kisco, Croton) and specifically in the Town of Greenburgh by developers to push legalized spot zoning by creating what is known as “Floating Zones.” Spot zoning is the illegal changing of zoning to benefit someone or some group. This has been done repeatedly by Mr Feiner and his various boards during his lifetime tenure as Supervisor for the betterment of, not a neighborhood or a residential taxpayer, but for the many developers who have cozy relationships with Mr Feiner. There are other things he does as well that if not illegal, are at least unethical. But for now, we’ll focus on Floating Zones.

There are many projects underway in Greenburgh. The Floating Zone concept wasn’t created by Greenburgh developers but is certainly embraced and pushed by attorneys for the numerous proposed assisted living facilities they seek to build, flip, and go on to the next one. Floating Zones also legalize (and legitimizes) all of Mr Feiner’s past spot zoning and that is why he endorses it, as do his Town Board and his Planning Board. Keep in mind that Town Board members are required to play along with whatever he wants or be jettisoned, also known as being “Sonya’d.”  Former Councilwoman Sonya Brown was dropped from the Feiner ticket once she stopped drinking the Feiner Kool-Aid and began actually representing the residents and not going along with what Mr Feiner wanted. The Planning Board, Zoning Board of  Appeals, Ethics Board, Recreation Board and all other Board’s members are hand-picked by Mr Feiner and ratified by his Town Board. 

These projects are designed to keep the public off-balance by having multiple conflicting meetings and no ability to have input, allowing these Boards to operate with veritable anonymity. Recently, Planning Board Chair Walter Simon told residents at a property walk-through for the proposed Maplewood Assisted Living Facility property on West Hartsdale Avenue that this was an informational meeting for the Planning Board members and not for the public. So the public was not allowed to ask questions! This is part and parcel with how the Feiner administration is choosing to work now that they’ve been emboldened by winning the last election. They are doing more and more to silence the public. It’s apparently working. The last Town Board meeting found five or six residents in attendance.

Now the Maplewood project developer is requesting a variance to lengthen their proposed building, hot on the heels of the Elmwood Country Club mega-housing development. Elmwood developers are looking to down-zone the former country club from R30 to R20. This would allow them to get a second zone change to create a Planned Unit Development (PUD), so they can build 175 Condominium Town Houses for seniors. That’s the only way for the developer to build Town Houses in a residentially zoned property. They are also looking to donate 14 unusable for housing acres in lieu of having to contribute into the recreational fund as required. But they want the entire acreage to be counted so they can develop more units on the property than they should, basing it on the total 106 acres, not the 92 it would actually be.

The next Assisted Living facility has been proposed once again by the Brightview Corporation and will be built roughly opposite the main entrance to Westchester Community College on Grasslands Road in Mt Pleasant. This is also across from The Grove and the Hebrew Home. This will be another 55-year old or older residential facility. This is important because the developers use senior housing as a major selling point. By housing seniors, there will be little if any kids going into or affecting the school system. The last facility Brightview built in Greenburgh was stuffed into an undersized lot in Glenville on Rt 119 and Benedict Avenue, completely overwhelming that neighborhood. Brightview attorneys also crafted the Town’s Assisted Living Facilities law, crafted around their above mentioned facility. Quid pro quo? Unethical behavior? Not at all -- this is the norm in Greenburgh.

Mired in a legal quagmire is the Dromore Road proposal(s) which has been said to have morphed through many iterations starting from luxury apartments to currently affordable housing. It is, in some small part, the project highlighting the Edgemont Community’s desire to incorporate and break away from the mismanagement grips of the Feiner administration since all other previous attempts have failed. And yet, while all efforts to incorporate have been thwarted by Mr Feiner, accentuating the Edgemont Community’s rationale in seeking incorporation, the Dromore Road project has dragged on and on in the courts. To date, the Town has spent $2.9 million dollars in legal fees in defense of their mismanagement!

Okay, getting back to why spot zoning is so critical to the Town and in particular, these developers. First, no one living in their home, which they purchased with the understanding that their residential neighborhood would remain just that, residential, ever thought that the Town would randomly change their neighborhood’s zoning at the whim of a developer. Second, the 7-years-in-the-making Comprehensive Plan, a document that many believe falls short of truly mapping out a future vision for the Town, had quite a bit of resident input which asked for more green space, less large buildings, more walking ability (10 pedestrian accidents so far this year in Greenburgh) and biking ability. Third, not being held hostage by developers who come in after their private meeting with Mr Feiner and announce that if the Town and the neighborhoods have demands that they will leave. Fourth, we have a zoning code and a Zoning Review Board of Appeals for a reason. By changing over to Floating Zones, we effectually negate any Zoning Code and Comprehensive Plan.

In fact, the Conservation Advisory Council (CAC) believes that the Metropolis Country Club proposal for a Continuum of Care Facility (CCF) “impairs the integrity of the Town’s Comprehensive Plan, and has serious adverse consequences on residents’ expectations regarding zoning in their neighborhood. Moreover, the proposed criteria for CCF’s is totally out-of-keeping with the criteria for Continuing Care Retirement Communities, a similar type of senior housing. With respect to siting a CCF at the Metropolis site, the application can proceed without adopting a floating zone. It may be able to proceed without any Zoning Code amendment at all or only a simple definitional amendment.”

Mr Feiner, his assorted Town Boards are caving in to the developers and special interest groups looking to build their Assisted Living facilities, hand them off to a management company and then disappear until the next postage stamp parcel becomes available for them to over-develop. Should this be allowed to continue? Of course not. But this is Mr Feiner’s modus operandi. Meet with the developers, tell them what they need to do and once completed get record-setting and speedy approvals. Does Greenburgh need this many assisted living facilities? Doubtful. Will you be able to afford to live there? The minimum costs we’ve all seen so far has been around $7,000 per month. Once you run out of money, then what? Mr Feiner is all but turning Greenburgh into “Grayburgh.” This is not a good transformation for our Town and has to change. It’s the only way we’ll get A Better Greenburgh.

Saturday, February 8, 2020

February Break 2020 Fun


The Ardsley Public Library & 
Village of Elmsford
Presents

February Break 2020 Fun
Join us at the Library for these great activities.

Tuesday, February 18

Building Bonanza - 2pm
Join us as we use Legos, Gears and Keva planks to build contraptions and skyscrapers.
Open to kids ages 5 years and up.


Wednesday, February 19

Two’s Company Storytime 10:30am
Ages 2 – 3 ½ years
Caregivers and toddlers are treated to stories, songs, rhymes, and movement.

Pre-School  Storytime 1pm
Ages 3 ½ to 5 years
The “big guys” enjoy stories, songs, and other special activities. Older siblings welcome today.


Thursday, February 20

A Circle of Drums 6:30pm
Join us for a cultural and learning experience.
This one hour program will allow our diverse community to come together to celebrate life
through drumming in a communal setting with West African Djembe and Djun Drums of various sizes.
Drums will be provided so children and adults alike can get in on the fun!


Friday, February 21

Bouncing Babies with Nora 10:45am
Ages 6 months – 2 years
Nora Maher introduces babies to fun at the library.  Enjoy stories, rhymes, songs, instruments and other great fun!

Game Day! 2pm
Join us to play classic board games, cards and games
of strategy.  All ages welcome


Registration Required
Please see a librarian or call 693-6636 to register