Heathcote Resident Alerts FEMA to Local Flooding Issue
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Robert Reiffel of Cayuga Road and a group of his neighbors addressed the Scarsdale Board of Trustees at their August 9th meeting about flooding on Seneca, Oneida, Cayuga, Canterbury and Kelwynne Roads and urged the Village to prioritize this area for flood mitigation work. On behalf of the Murray Hill Middle Heathcote Neighborhood Association Reiffel sent the following letter, a week BEFORE Hurricane Irene, to the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA).
Ms. Lynn Gilmore Canton
FEMA Regional Administrator, Region II
Federal Emergency Management Agency
New Jersey and New York
Suite 1311
26 Federal Plaza
New York, NY 10278-0002
I would like to point out a serious situation to you, one that has already cost your agency millions of dollars and has the potential to cost millions more – all because of inaction.
The Sheldrake River runs through the town of Scarsdale, New York, and has flooded several times in the past decades because the headwaters of that river, in the region of Seneca, Oneida, Cayuga, Canterbury, Catherine Kelwynne, and other roads in Scarsdale, were developed in the 1960’s without adequate foresight in terms of floodwater drainage. Existing ponds were filled and streambeds were enclosed in small culverts under driveways and roadbeds. With increasing development, the infrastructure inadequacies have become stressed beyond their capacity, causing major flooding on several occasions, resulting in your having to pay out significant sums in flood damages. The last major flood was on April 15, 2007, and the current structural situation is substantially the same as it was then, or even worse, because of additional development and construction of impervious surfaces.
The Village of Scarsdale has been remiss in terms of not only allowing this excessive development beyond the capacity of the infrastructure to support it, but also has been negligent in not correcting the situation by performing necessary infrastructure improvements, despite numerous warnings, and despite having already commissioned a survey, which pointed out the significance of the danger in the above geographical area. However, the Village has chosen to ignore our area in favor of other areas where damage to personal property and injuries to individuals was less severe during the most recent flood. They have made a list of projects to perform and placed us at number 15 out of 16, despite the fact that our first project is estimated to cost only $260,000.00, whereas some of the others are projected to run in the millions of dollars.
Moreover, while blaming the existing problems on mistakes made 50 years ago, the management of the Village is ignoring legislation that was recently enacted, requiring that they supervise testing of groundwater measurements for current construction to prevent additional problems.
I am requesting that you investigate this inaction on the part of the Village of Scarsdale in order both to secure the safety of the residents of this area as well 
as to mitigate the possibility that you will be required to expend additional sums of money to reimburse flooded homeowners, which you would not have to do if the needed repairs were undertaken in a timely manner. I must reiterate that local homeowners have expended considerable personal funds to maintain the streambed of the Sheldrake River, but the major obstructions, under Village roadways, still exist and pose a real and imminent danger to the residents, as evidenced by the fact that two residents were injured during the flood of 2007 in an area that was inaccessible to ambulances because of the flooding.
Either funds will be spent to correct the structural problems that have been allowed to exist far too long or you will be forced to pay out additional flood related benefits to reimburse homeowners whose property, and personal, damages could have been prevented.
Yours Sincerely,
Robert S. Reiffel, M.D.
Chairman, Water Management Committee
Murray Hill Middle Heathcote Neighborhood Association
Cc: Mary Colvin, National Flood Insurance Program Contact
Scott Duell, Risk Analysis, Flood Hazard Mapping and Mitigation Planning Contact
New Sweet Spots Coming to Scarsdale Village
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Three new sweet spots will soon be opening in Scarsdale Village. Imagine Candy is in the works on Harwood Court, next to Yogo Joy and will offer every conceivable kind of candy to downtown shoppers - from penny candy to artisanal chocolates. Bill Vogel and his partner are now sourcing the best products out there -- and will sell unique products from all over the United States. Vogel says he searched Westchester for the right spot for the new store and landed in Scarsdale where the shop is currently under construction. In addition to candy dispensers and the chocolate display, the new store will feature a candy art wall, created with artwork from local residents. Imagine will have a party space so keep them in mind for your child’s next birthday bash. The current timetable plans for an opening in early October, well before the Halloween candy rush.
We also spoke to Diana of Martine’s Bakery, soon to open at 48 East Parkway. She reports that they plan to open at the beginning of September and will be selling their own breakfast pastries, fresh-baked artisanal breads and serving soups, salads and sandwiches at tables in the shop. In nice weather you will be able to sit outside and enjoy coffee, cappuccino and espresso.
Also opening in just a few weeks will be Patisserie Salzburg at Christie Place. The shop has been under construction for many months and the work is almost complete. Similar to Patisserie Salzburg in Rye, the Viennese pastry shop will offer sumptuous croissants, pain au chocolat, strudel, baguettes, breads, pastries, tarts and cakes -- all freshly baked. There will be a good selection of coffees, sandwiches and salads sold at lunchtime. For breakfast, lunch or a snack, there will be ample seating inside and out –weather permitting.
The Only Thing We Have to Fear About the Tax Cap is Fear of the Tax Cap Itself. Maybe.
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This is the last article I’m going to write about the tax cap for a while I think. Much has been written about how it may affect our schools, but not about how it will affect our town. This is the last article for a while about the matter, I promise.
If you have been following the issue, Albany has voted to limit property tax increases to 2% or the rate of inflation, whichever is lower. Some say this will help small businesses in suburban areas and assist residents who may be suffering from ballooning property taxes. Opponents say that the cap deprives local municipalities of the power to decide how they raise and spend their money. Those against the cap contend that it will not help businesses and residents, but just lead to cuts in services and education.
According to one recent study, if the 2% cap is in place, due to the costs of pensions and healthcare mandates, Westchester County is already $11 million over the property tax increase. In the current Scarsdale Village 2011-2012 budget, expenditures went up just over 6% mainly due to health insurance and pension costs, debt servicing and an increase in assessment appeals.
Local governments like Scarsdale will now have to rely heavily on revenues from sales tax, mortgage taxes and investment income. With the state of the economy as it is there is little reason to believe those receipts will be strong any time soon.
Scarsdale residents can vote to override the tax cap on the school budget with a 60% supermajority. However, for the village budget, monies for police, fire, maintenance and town services are voted on by the Board of Trustees. A supermajority of the board- meaning 4 votes out of 7- would be needed to override the tax cap as well.
If that override doesn’t happen, the town may have to cut jobs, including those of police? Fees could rise, services will go down. But, your property tax will only go up 2%. Big win, right?
Alfred Gatta, the Scarsdale Village manager, has heard all of these concerns, probably more than anyone else in this town:
"If we have to stay within the 2% cap on the tax levy we'd likely have to reduce services and reduce some employees." He notes that a supermajority of the board can vote for an override. But Gatta says fears over the tax cap are probably hurting not helping matters.
"I want to avoid the anxiety that is out there. Everyone is worried and wants to form committees and studies to analyze what to do if the tax cap override doesn't pass. Although I understand that is a fear for every police officer and resident in this time, we do not have the time or money to research everything and have it explored. Let's take a deep breath and see how things come out.”
And Gatta is right. Going on about these matters may be divisive. Individually, one can take issue with each budget line item in the school or Village budget --- from playgrounds to the Mandarin teacher to employee salaries. One by one we can make a case that an item is inessential or too expensive, but taken as a whole, these things add to the overall quality of our community and make Scarsdale what it is.
When it’s time to vote on this issue, think broadly and think long term. That’s it. That’s all I’m going to write about it. Probably.
Jen Geller is a freelance journalist who has covered the economy and markets for over a decade at a major financial news outlet. She lives in Scarsdale with her husband and 2 children. Jen has yet to bake a successful batch of cookies.
Trustees Explore Roundabout at Heathcote Five Corners
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On Monday August 8, the Scarsdale Village Municipal Services Committee met to review and discuss the results of the second phase of a study conducted by Creighton Manning Engineers on the feasibility of a roundabout at the Heathcote Five Corners.
During the first phase of this study, Creighton Manning engineers reviewed 5-legged roundabouts in New York State in order to show how intersections similar to the one at the Heathcote Five Corners benefit from a single-lane roundabout as opposed to traffic lights at each leg.
Phase two of this study, which was the focus of Monday’s meeting, culminated in a presentation given by Jeff Pangburn and Stephan Godlewski, consultants from the Creighton Manning firm. Their presentation included a detailed mapping of the existing intersection at the Heathcote Five Corners, a preliminary layout of what the roundabout might look like, statistics that suggest how a roundabout would improve the intersection, and an initial cost estimate of the project at large.
Pangburn began the presentation by explaining why a roundabout would be a more favorable type of intersection in the first place. He cited an improvement in pedestrian safety, a reduction in the severity of potential accidents, an increase in traffic flow, a decrease in vehicular speeds, and a decline in carbon emissions as potential benefits.
The presentation was particularly useful in providing a visual image of the roundabout. The key features of the roundabout would include a landscaped center island, truck aprons, raised pedestrian islands, roadway lighting, and additional signage. The virtual image created by the Creighton Manning firm certainly suggests that such a project would improve the existing intersection at least from an aesthetic standpoint.
In addition to providing a visual image, the consultants presented some hard facts collected from past studies. The results of these studies indicate a 35% reduction in automobile accidents and a 45% reduction in pedestrian accidents as a result of the implementation of a roundabout at intersections similar to the one that exists at the Heathcote Five Corners. In a study of a roundabout in Glens Falls, NY, which has the same characteristics as the Five Corners in terms of the type of intersection, traffic delay was cut by 20%, and traffic volumes decreased dramatically. The improvement was so remarkable that before the intersection was transformed, only 31% of Glens Falls residents were in favor of the roundabout, whereas after the transformation, 63% were in favor.
Unfortunately, the potential benefits of a roundabout at the Heathcote Five Corners come at a high price. The projected cost of creating this new intersection is estimated at $1.9 million before right of way acquisitions are even considered.
Beyond the monetary costs of the project, many residents at Monday’s meeting voiced their concerns about the physical price they and others would have to pay if the roundabout is in fact constructed. The roundabout is a successful form of intersection if drivers yield when they are signaled to yield. However, many residents alluded to the fact that Scarsdale drivers are not known to be the most considerate group of individuals on the road. To this extent, aggressive driving could result in an increase in number of accidents at this intersection, which would entirely defeat the purpose of creating a roundabout in the first place.
Of course, like any big decision, the Municipal Services Committee will have to weigh the pros and cons of creating a roundabout in order to determine whether or not it will be worth constructing. Monday’s meeting was the first of many future discussions regarding what could be one of the most monumental municipal changes the village of Scarsdale has seen in decades.
Shelby Rokito recently graduated Scarsdale High School, and will be attending Cornell University in the fall as a Communication major in the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences. She loves writing, cooking, and playing with her dog.
Planning Board Forwards Affordable Housing and Wetlands Code to the BOT
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The Planning Board of the Village of Scarsdale referred amendments to the village code on affordable housing and the freshwater wetlands map to the Board of Trustees at their meeting on Wednesday night July 27th. The recommended wording was the outcome of several work sessions and on both matters and the committee gave unanimous approval to forward the recommended code to the trustees.
Though the Board invited public comment on these issues, they did not make their revised copy available. Without drafts of the new language it was difficult to comment on these changes.
The adoption of the model code is a result of the Westchester County Housing Settlement that requires Westchester County to construct 750 units of affordable housing in 31 eligible communities by 2016. The Planning Board reviewed the code recommended by Federal Monitor James Johnson and made revisions appropriate for Scarsdale. Introducing the recommendation for the code Scarsdale, Planning Board Chair Jane Veron said that the board’s draft clarified the number of required units, integration and occupancy standards and addressed the marketing of the affordable units.
The changes to the Freshwater Wetlands map updates wetlands and controlled areas and expands wetlands requirements to areas that may not be on the map but meet the criteria for wetlands. The code strengthens the ability of the Village to protect these areas.
Village Planner Elizabeth Marrinan said drafts of both the affordable housing and wetlands code revisions would be made available by her office later this week.
Also on the agenda at the meeting:
Golden Horseshoe: Representatives for the owners of the Golden Horseshoe Shopping Center came before the Board to ask for a parking waiver. There are two vacant storefronts in the Scarsdale portion of the shopping center and they would like to rent these to restaurants. Under current code, restaurants require double the number of parking spaces as retail stores. The applicants retained an expert who studied parking at the shopping center at peak times and determined that there is already ample parking and that additional spaces would not be required to accommodate restaurant customers who frequent dining spots at night. Though the management of the shopping center does not have a specific tenants lined up, they wish to make these storefronts available to restaurants and therefore applied for a parking waiver for 23 spots.
They also discussed the possible construction of a third arm of the shopping center to be built to complete the horseshoe. These new stores would be built on the New Rochelle side of the property.
Oxford Road: The Planning Board discussed the assessment of a recreation fee to the purchasers of 39 Oxford Road. The property will be subdivided into two lots and in lieu of dedicating land to the Village, the buyer will be assessed a recreation fee of 5% of the assessed value of the property as shown on the 2006 tax role. At that time the property was valued at $1,850,000 so therefore, they will be assessed $92,500.
Roundabout: Last, the Scarsdale Board of Trustees met on Tuesday morning July 26th, and announced that there will be a presentation of a feasibility study for a roundabout at the Heathcote Five Corners at a Municipal Service Meeting at 6:30 pm on August 8th. The presentation will be given by engineers, Creighton Manning.
