Sent: Monday, May 11, 2009 6:47 PM
Subject: Fw: Village Land = Surplus?
The following is a copy of an e-mail sent to the Friends of the Scarsdale Parks Board Members last Friday. I am sending it out to all of you, so that we can all work together towards a most meaningful, common goal, which those before me have so eloquently documented as you will see below. - Lena Crandall
As many of you heard at last night's FOSP Annual Meeting, the Village Trustee Land Use Committee, which is chaired by Trustee Sharon Lindsay, who is also our Trustee Liaison and the Conservation Advisory Council's Liaison, will be meeting next week, Thursday night, at 6:45pm to discuss the sale of Village land in the vicinity of the Heathcote Bypass and the 2-4 Weaver Street Fish development site. The disposition of a stone staircase from Ridgecrest East to Post Rd is also on the docket as "surplus" village land.
Please click open the attachment to view the CAC Open Space Map. The Railroad ROW has already been sold by the Village. ( I read the paper back when the sale was being debated. It seemed to make sense, but now, it appears that we lost out on a potential "greenway" connection to White Plains.)
Quotes from the CAC Open Space Report (available on the Village Web Site), which provide further reasons to attend next week's Land Use meeting:
As residents, we should determine where growth and development take place based on our desire to protect our open spaces, rather than allowing the development process to lead the way.
2. Village in the Park: The Comprehensive Plan references maintenance of the “Village in a Park” atmosphere. The open space, trees, and landscaping all contribute to “Village in a Park” atmosphere. Thus, maintenance and governance of these open spaces are a significant goal of the Comprehensive Plan.
(We should)...encourage linkage of open spaces in the Village to promote their use and effectiveness.
A. Preserve and Increase Dedicated Open Space:
The preservation of Scarsdale’s character as a “Village in the Park,” must be a paramount goal of the Village. This requires the Village to recognize, maintain, and expand the open space which creates this “Village in the Park” environment. Unlike our neighbors in northern Westchester, most privately-held, “buildable” parcels in Scarsdale have already been developed. Because of the lack of open spaces available for preservation, the current inventory of undeveloped parcels and areas requires even greater care and consideration than in other communities. Even designated small open spaces remain significant to keeping the character of Scarsdale and its neighborhoods. A small playground, an undeveloped area along a well- traveled road, or a modest nature study area: each lends a sense of openness, provides an area for recreation, enhances the character of a neighborhood, and contributes to a sense of community pride and spirit. For this reason, the Village must identify and preserve its open spaces. (emphasis added)
H. Monitor Future Developments
There is a character to Scarsdale, often called the “Village in a Park”. Public and private properties contribute to this character, which has been developing for nearly a century. As pressure increases to develop all property in Scarsdale to its fullest potential, we must keep in mind that continued development can easily create a significant change in the character of the Village.
Monitoring proposed changes to the physical attributes of each property, as well as enforcing the Village laws on conservation, will help preserve the physical character of Scarsdale. Combining the current laws, creating an Open Space Plan, and continuing the vigilance of the Village’s Land Use Boards will help the Village monitor and, to some degree, control changes to the physical character of the town.
6. Special Recommendations, (B.) Special Acquisitions or Improvements
These properties have special attributes, making them attractive for purchase and/or improvements. The Open Space Committee (never created - how come?) should study:
3) Village Properties
RR Right-of-Way (already sold by the Village as noted above)
- Connect to White Plains Greenway
- Connect to possible Heathcote By-Pass Greenway (land now pending sale by V.)
- Improve & maintain area
Heathcote By-Pass (Village Land on the By-Pass next to potential development site now before the Law Committee as "surplus" Village Land)
- Consider new walkway from RR Right of Way to 5 Corners.
C. Other Acquisitions
Properties in this category are mostly privately- held lots and parts of lots, which may have important open space consequences. There is no definitive list at this time. The CAC recommends that the Village complete its improvements to its property database. These improvements include information gathered by the CAC in the process of creating the Open Space Inventory & Map. Once up and running, the database can be used as a tool to categorize:
1) Lots double the size of minimum building lots;
2) Adjacent lots that, when combined, produce enough area for sub-division;
3) Lots adjacent to existing open spaces;
4) Lots with connective walkway possibilities and/or adjacencies to schools; (Post Road stone staircase - also at risk - connects pedestrians to George Field Park)
5) Lots or parts of lots which may be used as buffers or focal points; (Weaver St / By Pass village land up for sale; and the above-noted stone stairs built in the '20's)
6) Lots with significant natural attributes.
FOSP BOARD OF DIRECTORS: Not only do we have to attend next week's Law Committee Meeting, we also have to figure out what's going on. Why is the Village selling land in a "down" market? Why not use the existing lease of the parking area as a bargaining tool? (I've listened in on many business deals - we do have leverage without selling the land forever.)
What's an "Environmental Impact Study" and don't we need one? How come the Open Space Report and the Village Comprehensive Plan are never brought up as considerations in land use discussions? I think it's because we have been too trusting. Hey, everyone means well, but it's time to stop and ask "What's going on?" Also, "What's the rush?" How can any Village-owned land be viewed as "surplus;" i.e.having no value to this community? The CAC Open Space Report calls for the purchase - not sale - of additional Village land.
How can we as the Friends of the Scarsdale Parks effectively advocate for the preservation and enhancement of our "Village-in-a-Park" as mandated by our By-Laws? If we don't, who will? The Open Space Committee was NEVER formed by our Village Trustees, past Mayors or Village Staff. The 1994 Comprehensive Plan, according to our very own Village Code, should have been updated every five years -- It's now 2009 -- Didn't the Village Center Planners tell us that "unlike other communities" there was "no rush" in Scarsdale? Huh? What's going on?
Let's work together to get back on track. The Land Use Committee meeting is Thursday, May 14th at 6:45pm.
Lena Crandall
President, Friends of the Scarsdale Parks, Inc.
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