Formation Shelbourne Case Adjourned By Zoning Board of Appeals

As seen on the Zoning Board of Appeals Agenda:
Case No. 16-06 – Formation Shelbourne Senior Living Services, LLC, for property located at 448 Underhill Rd., (P.O. Scarsdale, NY).  Applicant is requesting variances from Section 285-10(A)((4)(f)(1) of the Zoning Ordinance to decrease the minimum lot area from 4 acres (required) to 3.79 acres (proposed); and from  Section 285-10(A)(4)(f)(14) to allow the site to be more than 200 ft. from a state or county right-of-way, in order to permit development of an assisted living facility on the property.  The property is located in an R-40 One-Family Residence District and is designated on the Town Tax Map as Parcel ID: 8.330-242-9

As Chairwomen Eve Bunting opened the meeting, she explained that Formation Shelbourne was the first case on the agenda. She continued that because Formation Shelbourne has an Article 78 case challenging the decision of the Town Board's decision to rescind their original Negative Declaration ruling stating there would be no negative environmental impact to the area due to this project, that upon advice from Counsel, the Zoning Board of Appeals (ZBA) Board decided to postpone their case. She said they would adjourn this case to see what other actions might have to be taken by the Zoning Board of Appeals.

You'll recall we previously wrote about this case stating that the average taxpayer was unaware Formation Shelbourne initiated and then withdrew their original law suit against the Town, several civic associations and numerous residents who took positions against the project. What most would also not know was that Formation Shelbourne’s representative threatened Mr Feiner and the Town Board with another lawsuit at a Work Session if the Board rescinded their NegDec. Regardless of that threat, the Town Board rescinded it and soon afterwards, Formation Shelbourne's attorney, Mr Lino Sciarretta did in fact bring suit against the Town on August 18, 2016!

Ms Bunting asked if there was anyone in the audience who would be unable to return at a later date when she believed they might be hearing this case. Apparently only one audience member would be unable to attend but agreed to submit their point of view in writing to the ZBA. At that point Ms Bunting allowed Formation Shelbourne's attorney, Mr Lino Sciaretta to speak. He protested the fact that the ZBA refused to hear this case and that the owners of the Formation Shelbourne organization had flown here from Atlanta specifically for this meeting. Ms Bunting further explained that upon advice of Counsel, a decision was made in executive session by the ZBA members to postpone this case only prior to this meeting.

The ZBA postponement is constraining Formation Shelbourne from proceeding based on assurances made by Mr Feiner behind closed doors. The added difficulty for Mr Feiner and his Board was Formation Shelbourne’s admission that Greenburgh officials had secretly agreed to support the Formation Shelbourne application with the Town Board’s issuance of the NegDec as part of their agreement! These types of backroom deals were thought to be eliminated after the abolition of the Tammany Halls days of old. Apparently, not in Greenburgh. This latest setback for Formation Shelbourne was initiated by Formation Shelbourne when they chose to sue the Town. It remains unclear what their next move might be?

If Formation Shelbourne withdraws their suit against the Town Board, the ZBA may be in a better position to make a determination on the Formation Shelbourne case. If they proceed with the suit and it proceeds through the holidays, the Article 78 lawsuit may drag this out for months. Mr Feiner and his Board have tormented this Town again by not following the process, the rules that should apply to all or abide by an ethical and moral compass. Sadly, the Unincorporated Town taxpayers are the real victims. And yet, every election finds these same people running unopposed and getting re-elected. This is further proof of why we need term limits. It must end. Only then will we get A Better Greenburgh.

“If You Don’t Like What I’m Doing, Sue Me!”

On Saturday, July 2, 2016, ABG posted a story about Mr Feiner and his Town Board working, and we believed even then in secret, with Formation Shelbourne, a developer looking to build a 94-bed assisted living facility at the current Sprainbrook Nursery location. That article was titled:

Like A Good Neighbor, Formation Shelbourne Sues Everyone Hoping To Stop Free Speech, Then Realizes Their Blunder. This article explained that Formation Shelbourne decided to sue numerous groups, individuals and of course the Town for rescinding their NegDec ruling which would have easily opened the doors to “the process” for Formation Shelbourne to proceed with their project. After rescinding the NegDec, Formation Shelbourne would be forced to start the process over again. 

On Wednesday, July 6, 2016, in our article entitled:

Shelbourne Decides Not to Sue, we explained that after the furor we and others created, Formation Shelbourne issued a press release stating that their initiation of lawsuits against the citizens and civic groups questioning their project was a mistake and they would withdraw their lawsuit – without apology.

 

On July 9, 2016 we wrote another article entitled Embarrassed Town Leaders To Vote To Undo Scam, explaining the move being contemplated by Mr Feiner and the Town Board to reverse the NegDec vote that had foolishly made to push the Formation Shelbourne project forward as promised. You see, promising constituents and taxpayers something and then doing something else can usually be done with little or no consequence. But when you go up against a multi-million dollar entity whose resources are almost immeasurable, the consequences can be severe. 

On Saturday July 16, we posted yet another article entitled: Town Board Threatened, Delays "NegDec" Cancellation Vote and described how Mr Feiner and his Board had decided to reverse their NegDec ruling. While this was brought about by public pressure as well as websites such as this one and others, Mr Feiner cleverly decided to explain his improper actions as a mistake and that the Zoning Board of Appeals should be the one reviewing this, not he and the Town Board. 

Unbeknownst to the average taxpayers was that Formation Shelbourne initiated and then withdrew their law suit as we had written earlier. What most would also not know was that Formation Shelbourne’s representative, threatened Mr Feiner and the Town Board with another lawsuit at a Work Session if the Board rescinded their NegDec. They rescinded it and soon after Mr Lino Sciarretta did in fact bring suit against the Town on August 18, 2016! 

Not only did most residents and taxpayers not know another lawsuit was brought against the Town because of Mr Feiner and his Board’s (illegal?) actions, the Town officials intentionally kept it under wraps and did not inform the public of this action! Ironically, Town Attorney Tim Lewis had informed the Town officials that they had been warned there would be a lawsuit even after he explained to them that he believed they had acted improperly by rescinding the NegDec. Mr Feiner always says, "If you don't like what I'm doing, sue me." So they are; now for a second time!

In reviewing the lawsuit, the petitioners state numerous times when a NegDec can be reversed or withdrawn. Those would be a) substantive changes to the plans; b) newly discovered information, or, c) changed circumstances that the rescission could be based. Added difficulty for Mr Feiner and his Board was the Formation Shelbourne’s admission that they and Greenburgh officials had secretly agreed behind closed doors to support the Formation Shelbourne application, the Town Board’s issuance of the NegDec as part of their agreement!

Apparently, the ethically challenged Mr Feiner and his Board believe they can do whatever they want without consequence. Perhaps because they always seem to run unopposed at election time feel invincible? Perhaps they believe their own hype that they have the toughest ethics law on the books and revel that other communities want to emulate it? Perhaps it’s because Mr Feiner appoints and his Board approves all members of the various Boards, including the Ethics Board? Following the Town’s ethics law is a whole other story. Actions such as these prove of why we need term limits and engaged constituents. Only then will we see A Better Greenburgh.