WHATS NEW
May 2008

|WMPF EVENTS| |ENVIRONMENT|  |LAND USE & DEVELOPMENT|  |HOUSING|  |DESIGN|  |MUNICIPAL REFERRALS|

Westchester Municipal Planning Federation (WMPF)

April was an active month for WMPF, with the Land Use Training Institute spread over three sessions and three weeks, closely followed by a Brown Bag lunch on April 22.  All told, over 200 people registered for the training course which was held at a new venue, the Judicial Institute of Pace University on North Broadway in White Plains.  There were many favorable comments about the site as well as the content of the sessions, which offered participants the opportunity to acquire eight credit hours, double the necessary continuing education training now mandated by New York State for land use board members.

The Brown Bag Lunch played to a full house of 35 people in the Planning Department conference room and focused on “Climate Change and Its Effect on our Communities.”  Town of North Castle Supervisor Reese Berman and Adam Kaufman, North Castle Planner, presented the County’s Global Warming Task Force results.  Melissa Stults, Program Officer from ICLEI, discussed carbon footprints and how communities can measure and reduce their own.

WMPF will now concentrate on its Awards Program which culminates in the reception, dinner and awards presentation at the Trump National Golf Course in Briarcliff Manor on May 29.  go to WMPF page.

Environment

Thinking Beyond the STORM - Stormwater Workshop Slated for June 4

The Westchester County Soil and Water Conservation District and Department of Planning are presenting a one-day "technical" workshop on ways to manage stormwater runoff to both protect and improve water quality and lessen the degree of flooding by controlling excessive runoff.  "Thinking Beyond The STORM: A Workshop On The Storage And Treatment Of Runoff In Municipalities" will be held June 4, 2008 at the Westchester County Center in White Plains.  This workshop will benefit government- and private-sector planners, engineers, landscape architects, environmental scientists, and other professional staff.  Click here for registration flyer with workshop schedule and description

Stream Monitoring Volunteer Training Sessions in Full Swing

Over 40 residents have already registered for the Citizens Volunteer Monitoring Program training sessions, which began on April 26 at Hilltop Hanover Farm.  The day-long sessions begin at 9 a.m. and will be held on Saturdays through May 17 (at Rye Nature Center May 3, Ward Pound Ridge Reservation May 10 and Teatown Lake Reservation on May 17).  Department staff is looking forward to another exciting monitoring season.

Each spring, Planning staff conducts workshops throughout the county to train volunteers to test local streams as part of the Citizens Volunteer Monitoring Program.  The sessions consist of an entire day outdoors, learning and practicing how to use specialized water chemistry equipment, collecting and identifying river critters such as crawfish and insects, and measuring physical conditions such as the amount of sediment in a stream.

To sign up for a workshop, contact Susan Darling at the county Department of Planning at 995-6535 or by email at sad8@westchestergov.com  Registration is requested at least one week in advance so that directions and information on the training sessions can be mailed to participants.  For more information, visit the WCCVMP website at: http://cvmp.westchestergov.com/cvmp/  The program is funded in part by a grant from the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation.

Aquatic Habitat Restoration Signs Ready for Mounting

Six aquatic habitat restoration signs were delivered last week and will be installed at four locations near the Long Island Sound.  The recently completed salt marsh restoration at Harbor Island Park in Mamaroneck will receive three signs, each describing the benefits of salt marshes and aspects of the restoration.  One sign will be installed at Glen Island Park explaining the innovative stormwater management practices installed there in 2007.

Two signs, describing the value of stream buffers will be installed at restoration sites in Mamaroneck and at New Rochelle High School.  The signs were funded with a Long Island Sound Futures Fund grant and funds from the Westchester County  Soil and Water Conservation District.

New Stormwater Permit Requirements Released by State

The NYS Department of Environmental Conservation released the next permit under the State’s SPDES permit program for discharges from municipal separate storm sewer systems (MS4).  County staff will be reviewing the new requirements and holding discussions with the involved County departments about ways to facilitate new reporting and record keeping requirements. 

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Land Use & Development

County Planning Board Chair Cheryl Lewy Participates in Tappan Zee Bridge/I-287 Corridor Panel Held by LWV

The League of Women Voters held a Tappan Zee Bridge/ I-287 Corridor panel discussion on March 27 at the Kendall on Hudson senior housing facility in Sleepy Hollow.  Distinguished speakers included Marsha Gordon, President/CEO of the Business Council of Westchester; Mike Anderson, Tappan Zee Project Team Leader; Harriet Cornell, Chairwoman of the Rockland County Legislature; and Cheryl Lewy, Chair of the Westchester County Planning Board.

Ms. Lewy led off with a presentation on Westchester 2025, providing a unique Westchester perspective on the future of the Tappan Zee/I-287 corridor including the need for a transit option on the reconstructed bridge.  Ms. Cornell followed with the Rockland perspective and spoke about the need for an alternative that will provide a one-seat transit ride to New York City for Rockland residents. Mr. Anderson updated the group on the status of the Tappan Zee Bridge project and the decision to split the environmental review into two distinct phases to expedite the process.

Phase one analysis will include the selection of the preferred transit mode and replacement or rehabilitation of the river crossing.  Phase two will address the detailed transit location and stations.  Both the preferred transit mode and the preferred bridge rehabilitation or reconstruction scheme are scheduled to be announced in May.  The draft Environmental Impact Statement will be completed by July 2009.

Ms. Gordon wrapped up the evening with an inspirational presentation highlighting the potential for a modern bridge, a new east/west transportation that seamlessly connects to other transit systems and new transit oriented development along the I287 corridor.  Ms. Gordon concluded by noting that an efficient transportation system is critical to attracting and retaining businesses in the county.

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Housing

New Rochelle Senior Housing Nears Completion

Construction of the affordable senior citizen rental building of the West End housing development at 180 Union Avenue in New Rochelle is nearly complete.  The building will provide 102 rental units of senior housing with lifestyle services for income eligible seniors 62 years of age or older with incomes at or below 60% of area median income.  The facility, named “Garito Manor at Union Square,” will be one of Westchester’s first affordable ‘green’ buildings.”  It is built using modular construction and utilizes geo-thermal heating.  The West End project also includes 25 affordable town homes which are fully occupied.

The $40 million project has been made possible through a complex combination of financial sources and subsidies.  Westchester County provided $4.8 million for land acquisition through the New Homes Land Acquisition Program and $3 million for infrastructure improvements through the County Housing Implementation Fund Program.  Other grant sources included federal HOME Funds and a HUD Special Grant from the City of New Rochelle, McKinney Act Funds from two senior building refinancings and low income housing tax credits.  The project has abated the ongoing deterioration in this aged, blighted neighborhood and will stimulate its economic revitalization.

Ribbon-Cutting Scheduled for Lake Street Affordable Homes in White Plains

On May 7, a ribbon-cutting ceremony will take place for Lake Street Affordable Homes, located at 151 Lake Street in White Plains.  The event will mark the completion of 17 town homes for new homeowners with incomes at or below 80% of the Westchester County area median income (AMI).

The development is a collaborative effort of many public and private sector organizations.  The developer is Lake Street Partners, LLC, a joint venture of Trinity Development and Gotham North Consulting.  Funding for the project includes County Housing Implementation Funds of $800,000, New Homes Land Acquisition of $1,062,000 and HOME funds in the amount of $259,000.  The City of White Plains is providing $327,474 in construction subsidy from their Affordable Housing Assistance Fund, $250,000 in down payment assistance from the Community Housing Innovations NYS DHCR HOME Program fund and NYS Affordable Housing Corporation funds in the amount of $425,000, also for down payment assistance.  Construction financing is provided by Hudson Valley Bank

Symphony Knoll Groundbreaking Ceremony Scheduled

A groundbreaking ceremony for Symphony Knoll will be held in Croton on May 20 at 3 p.m.  The project, located at 15-25 Mount Airy Road, closed on its construction financing December 31 and some work has started.  The development consists of (11) age restricted (55+) rental units, with a targeted income group at or below 50% and up to 60% of area median income .  Nearly $1.3 million was contributed by the County, with a breakdown of $340,000 under NHLA, $319,440 in HIF assistance, and $635,000 in HOME funds.  Partners include Westchester County, Croton Housing Network, Westchester County IDA and funding under the federal Low-Income Housing Tax Credit Program provided by New York State.  The estimated date of completion is summer 2009.

Norma Drummond to be Recognized by Washingtonville Housing Alliance

Deputy Commissioner Norma Drummond will be named the Marzella Garland Affordable Housing Champion for 2008 by Washingtonville Housing Alliance.  Washingtonville is a not-for-profit housing agency dedicated to improving housing conditions for low and moderate income families in the Mamaroneck area.  Ms. Drummond will be recognized for her efforts in promoting affordable housing in Westchester County at Washingtonville’s 2^nd Annual Casino Night Fundraiser on May 12 at Whitby Castle, Rye.

Office Park Housing Study Released

“Office Park Housing: Adapting Underutilized Office Parks for Housing” has been released by the Department.  The concept of exploring development of affordable housing on under-utilized office park land was an initiative included in the County’s Housing Opportunities Commission’s “Affordable Housing Action Plan.”  The study was conducted and prepared by RH Consulting in collaboration with department staff.  The report includes a model zoning ordinance that would allow for the adaptive reuse of under-utilized office parks.

To make the report more than theoretical, the study identified potential sites in Westchester based on location, access to public transportation, high parking requirements and other factors indicating the potential to add housing.  The housing would be constructed on developed or reserve parking lots located far from the office buildings, resulting in the need for little, if any, new infrastructure.  Research performed for the study found that such lots are rarely if ever used by office workers.  An important finding of the study is that 15% of the proposed development could be affordable housing without the need for public subsidy.  More affordable units could be developed if the developers pursued subsidies.  The potential re-use of this land also fulfills other objectives including smart growth criteria and green development.  Residents of the housing may potentially work in the office buildings where they could walk to work.  Other benefits are the 24/7 use of the sites providing a mixed use, better security and accessory retail services for both office and housing tenants.

The study was recently presented at meetings in the two communities where the study sites are located: Tarrytown and Greenburgh.  Both the Village Board and the Town Board expressed interest in the concept, especially the provision of affordable housing, but stressed the importance of viewing such projects in the context of other development proposals.  The report is available online at http://www.westchestergov.com/housing_4045.htm

Funding Announcement for Eviction Prevention and Legal Services

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Design

Partnership Brings New Life to Richbell Park in the Town of Mamaroneck

Park space in the Town of Mamaroneck is scarce, and therefore the municipality must be creative in finding solutions to providing recreation opportunities to the residents.  The Town recognized that a playground located in a housing complex was underutilized and in desperate need for repairs, as clearly documented in this accompanying photograph. Working together, the Town and housing cooperative signed an agreement for a long term lease, in which the Town agrees to maintain a new playground at Richbell Park

Although the area is small, the Design Section was able to develop a plan to incorporate two play structures, one for older children and one for younger children into the existing space.  The existing swings will be replaced, and seating areas added to allow parents to relax while watching their children enjoy the new park.  Construction is expected to be completed by summer.

Revitalization Continues in Sleepy Hollow’s Barnhart Neighborhood and Park

In the late 1990s, the Village recognized that the once popular Barnhart Park was in need of a comprehensive renovation.  The Village acquired adjacent vacant land and applied for several grants to improve a larger park.  Design staff prepared a master plan based on the current needs of Sleepy Hollow residents, which included passive and active recreation areas.  In order to accomplish all of the goals of the plan, the Village split the project into three major phases:  parking lot, service buildings and site improvements.  The parking lot was completed last spring and a new comfort station and pavilion were just completed. The final phase of work will be completed by the end of June.  The state-of-the-art playground includes a custom designed themed play structure, complete with a panel of the headless horseman.  Just in time for summer, the spray park area has jets that can be manipulated by the children to spray in different directions.

 Recreational improvements include an asphalt-paved basketball court, artificial turf multi-purpose athletic field and an artificial turf “Equa” volleyball court.  Equa volleyball is a variation of the traditional volleyball team sport popular with immigrants from Ecuador.  The game is now played on make-shift courts.

In an effort to enhance the improved park, the neighborhood will also go through a facelift with new decorative lighting, sidewalks and curbing.  These improvements will begin during the summer and be completed by the fall.

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Municipal Referrals to the Planning Board

Between March 16 and April 15, 2008 the County Planning Board received 97 referrals of proposed planning and zoning actions from Westchester’s municipalities.  These referrals include notifications submitted pursuant to the NYS Environmental Quality Review Act (SEQR).  Of the referrals received, 65 were determined to be jurisdictional and 32 were determined to be non-jurisdictional.

Of the jurisdictional referrals, 47 were for actions pre-determined by the County Planning Board to be matters of local determination that require notification only; acknowledgements of receipt were sent back to the referring municipality.  No further action is required on these matters.

For the entire year 2008, the County Planning Board received a total of 156 referrals; 114 of these have been jurisdictional. Of the jurisdictional referrals, 65 (57 %) were for actions pre-determined by the County Planning Board to be matters of local determination that require notification only.

Planning Board action is needed at the May meeting to approve actions taken by staff in response to 11 referrals received with response letters dated from March 16 to April 15, 2008:

·        Comment (LWC) letters sent in response to 10 referrals.

·        Local Determination/No Comment (LDT) letter sent in response to 1 referral.

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