Residents to Present Petition Calling for a Moratorium on Tear Downs and Subdivisions to Village Trustees
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- Written by Joanne Wallenstein
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Community organizers who launched a petition calling on the Mayor of Scarsdale and the Village Board to adopt a resolution requiring a moratorium on development and teardowns will present their petition with more than 300 signatures at Tuesday night's meeting of the Village Board at 8 pm at Village Hall.
Jim Detmer, who led a group of neighbors to save a home on Woods Lane from demolition said, "This strong outpouring of support of the petition from the community exceeded our expectations and is a mandate for change".
Former Scarsdale Village Trustee Jonathan Lewis added, "This is an extraordinarily level of engagement by the community. Even better, the steps our village board needs to take to move this forward are straightforward and simple to implement. With instructions from the Mayor and the board on Tuesday, the Village attorney could prepare a short resolution that could be approved within 2 weeks".
Detmer and Lewis call for their neighbors to join them at Village Hall Tuesday night October 24th at 8pm. And there is still time to add your name to the petition.
Residents Puzzled by the Sudden Departure of the Village Manager
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- Written by Joanne Wallenstein
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The Scarsdale Board of TrusteesThe sudden departure of Village Manager Rob Cole due to a change in his role in Village government has many wondering what was behind this parting of the ways. On Tuesday night September 26, 2023 we learned that Cole had resigned after Village attorneys redefined his working relationship with the Village Board. Later at that meeting a resolution was passed to terminate his employment without cause.
Cole had been with the Village since 2015 and was so well liked that he was elevated from Deputy Village Manager to Village Manager after a national search in 2021. What could cause this rift just two years later?
Was he liked and respected by the staff at Village Hall? No one seems to know.
Was he responsive to requests for studies and information from the Village Board? Again we don’t know.
Was there a specific incident or an issue that caused the Board to lose confidence in Cole? Again we don’t know.
What we do know is that this central leadership position is vacant at a critical time for the Village. The severe rainstorm on Friday highlighted the need for strong management of emergency services when many areas of the Village were flooding, people were stuck in their cars and there was even a house fire at the height of the downpour.
Without the presence of a Village Manager, who ran the show?
In addition, this year the Village faces many critical decisions and will need the guidance of a strong management team. The renovation of the Scarsdale pool tops the list as it is not clear how much longer the Village can keep it open without doing major work.
Robert Cole
The same can be said for Freightway Garage. The Village is set to spend $3 million repairing a structure that will ultimately be torn down. The sooner we can come up with a plan for the future development of the Freightway site, the more funds will be saved.
And as anyone can see, the issue of stormwater management and the need to control development could not be more evident. On Friday, with water flooding basements, streets and the schools, crippling transportation and even endangered lives, it became clearer than ever that the time to act is now.
So one wonders why it was so important to force the hand of the Village Manager - causing his immediate departure– before a plan was in place to secure his replacement?
I don’t know what you think, but I am all ears.
Meet Scarsdale's New Village Planner Kellan Cantrell
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- Written by Joanne Wallenstein
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Scarsdale's new Village Planner Kellan Cantrell joined the team at Village Hall in June, 2023. With land use laws, flooding, tree removals, affordable housigng and zoning top of mind, we asked Cantrell for his views on some complex issues. Here is what we learned:
Tell us about yourself – where were you educated and where did you work before coming to Scarsdale?
I mostly grew up in South Carolina and still have deep roots there. After graduating from Indiana University with a Bachelors of the Arts in Anthropology I received my Masters of Science in City and Regional Planning from Pratt Institute in Brooklyn. I was in the Town of New Castle Planning Department for over 5 years prior to coming to Scarsdale. My wife grew up in Edgemont and has really helped me understand the area and its’ history.
Explain the role of the Village Planner.
The Village Planner provides technical support on land use issues, conducts and facilitates planning studies and is the Environmental Review Officer for the Village of Scarsdale. I have never been accused of being artistic but being a Planner is like being a painter, you bring together other professionals into a project in order to paint the overall picture of that project.
How have you found the new position so far? Does Scarsdale do anything differently than other places you have worked?
I have really enjoyed Scarsdale and the work I am undertaking here. The residents really care about the Village and the staff have been very welcoming, it has been an easy transition.
What are some of the challenges posed by our topography (flood plain)?
Climate change is something communities across the nation are struggling with on multiple levels. The increased frequency and severity of storms presents many challenges. Municipalities can use their regulatory powers and infrastructure investments to reduce exposure to the impacts of flooding. However, we are confronted with the dual realities that stormwater can’t be effectively controlled within our boundaries, as it is a regional problem calling for regional action, and that historic land use patterns in Westchester County have translated into properties being developed in locations prone to flooding. The Village leverages each of the tools available to us to minimize local exposure to flooding, including coordination between Planning, Engineering, and the Building Department, though our ability to cultivate significant improvement is limited by the regional circumstances we are confronted with. We will continue to work aggressively toward implementing strategies determined locally feasible and prudent while also seeking to grow interest in and commitment to regional mitigation and resilience strategies.
Scarsdale recently amended the building code in regard to construction within the property buffer. Can you explain the new code and comment on how it affects those who are renovating or building new homes?
This is a one of the continuing efforts by the Village to identify opportunities to enhance stormwater control and reduce stormwater runoff. The Village Code, Chapter 254, was amended recently to regulate any land disturbance within the 30-foot rear yard setback and the side yard setbacks that are already regulated via Chapter 310 of the Village Code (Zoning). Essentially this law ensures that any proposed disturbance within those prescribed areas is minimized or eliminated to reduce stormwater runoff and mitigate future flooding conditions posed by future development.
What’s your view on Governor Hochul’s bid to build affordable housing along the Metro North route?
It is difficult to legislate land use policy without an understanding of local context, as one size does not fit all and collaborative problem solving is superior to mandates. Following national trends, housing in our region is not affordable for many. Transit-oriented development has demonstrated value in reducing the combined costs of transportation and housing, substantial portions of most household budgets, thereby helping to make life, generally, more affordable for individuals and families. I am confident that our region will make progress in this area through thoughtful consideration of alternatives, appropriate public engagement, and collaboration between state, county, and local officials.
The housing stock in many areas across the United States is low due to many factors including population shifts, supply shortages during the pandemic and more recently high interest rates. Housing, especially housing affordability, is a complex and complicated topic. I don’t have a crystal ball, but I am optimistic that this situation will ease in the coming years as more housing is built across our region and workers have more flexibility to work remotely.
In the past few years we have had very low housing inventory for prospective buyers, driving up demand and prices. How do you view this situation?
See the above answer.
We also have developers purchasing older homes at average value and replacing them with homes valued at $4 million plus. In some cases the lots are subdivided and two very high end homes go up in place of one average home. Do you have any views on the mix of housing stock? Is it important to maintain a balance?
See the above answer.
Would it be legal to ban additional subdivisions due to the lack of infrastructure for stormwater and power lines to support additionally housing?
The Village Board continues to work with staff and counsel to identify any needed regulatory changes as such opportunities arise. Any proposed solutions will also seek out community input in order to gauge community support. Residents should keep in mind that any proposed subdivision in the Village must comply with the current laws of the Village Zoning Code.
Scarsdale has had limited success with historic preservation. In fact, the few homes that were voted worthy of preservation are now being disputed in court. What can the Village do to strengthen our preservation laws?
See the above answer.
How does our building code regarding housing bulk and lot coverage compare with neighboring towns or other places you have worked? Do you think any changes are needed?
Local land use laws vary widely from one municipality to the next, especially in a home rule sate. Each municipality has its own regulatory framework that is often difficult to compare. I know working collaboratively with the Scarsdale community, the Village Board and my colleagues on any future regulatory changes that are needed to our land use regulations can be developed with the common goal of keeping Scarsdale a welcoming and vibrant Village.
Petition to Reopen the Hartsdale Train Station
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- Written by Joanne Wallenstein
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(Updated October 5, 2023)
Paul Feiner reports that Darren Gordon of Houlihan Lawrence (darrengordon@Houlihanlawrence.com) has advised him that he has an an agreement with CBRE to help them market and show space for Metro North to find a suitable tenant at Hartsdale Train Station for a 10 year lease. A sign has been placed on the Hartsdale train station advertising the fact that the building is available for tenants. Local businesses will receive a brochure and the space will also be listed with Costar and Loopnet.
Mr. Gordon can be reached at
O: 914-798-4900 x 36304
The Hartsdale Train Station remains closed. Greenburgh Town Supervisor Paul Feiner has set up a petition on Change.Org to ask Metro North to reopen the building. Sign it below:
(From Feiner) The Hartsdale Train Station waiting room has been closed to the public since Starbucks decided to stop renting space from Metro North. The beautiful train station is now not accessible to the public. Commuters have no access to the bathroom. They have no place to wait for a train on the ground level - a great inconvenience to commuters who are now paying more for the privilege of taking the train to and from NYC (fares have just gone up). During winter waiting for a train in the freezing weather is not pleasant.
Until Metro North finds a permanent new tenant to rent the space at the train station, Metro North should hire a security person on an hourly basis during rush hour commutes -and open the facility to their customers. The cost to Metro North would be minimal.
They should also consider allowing pop up businesses to temporarily open up at the train station.
Please sign this online petition urging Metro North to open up the Hartsdale train station to commuters. The station has been vacant since Starbucks vacated the property.
https://www.change.org/hartsdaletrain
PAUL FEINER
Greenburgh Town Supervisor
Former Mayor Jane Veron Appointed to SBA Committee
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Former Mayor of Scarsdale Jane Veron joins a new federal committee aimed at fostering the success of small businesses across the United States. The new Investment Capital Advisory Committee (ICAC) is now part of the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA), the leading advocate for America's 33 million small businesses. This committee will play a crucial role in enhancing access to investment capital for small businesses and startups across the nation.
Isabella Casillas Guzman, head of the SBA, appointed Jane Veron to the 14-member ICAC. Veron is the CEO and co-founder of The Acceleration Project (TAP), a nonprofit organization dedicated to empowering under-resourced small business owners and accelerating their success. TAP is creating a more equitable and inclusive economy by providing advisory services to under-resourced small business owners across the country. Since co-founding TAP in 2012, Veron has grown the organization to nearly 200 consultants who serve thousands of small business owners annually. TAP's areas of expertise include finance, operations, strategy, marketing and support throughout the entire capital lifecycle.
In addition to her leadership of TAP, Veron’s commitment to public service led her to serve as Mayor of Scarsdale, New York from March 2021 to March 2023. She is the President of EJA Industries, a holding company for middle market private equity investments. Previously, Veron worked in strategy and marketing at Bain & Company and American Express.
In announcing the formation of the new committee, Isabella Casillas Guzman wrote: "The launch of SBA’s inaugural Investment Capital Advisory Committee with its distinguished membership will serve as a critical resource to the Biden-Harris Administration as we strengthen our policies and programs to foster a more inclusive investment ecosystem," said Administrator Guzman. "ICAC's insights and recommendations will help the SBA expand access to investment capital, increase public awareness of SBA resources, and identify and fill capital gaps facing small businesses and the fund managers seeking to support them."
“I’m honored to serve on the ICAC and am committed to furthering the committee's goals,” Jane Veron remarked. “At TAP, we believe in the power of collaboration and innovation to drive change. I look forward to working with my fellow committee members to advance the interests of small businesses and startups across the nation."
The ICAC, composed of diverse experts with extensive backgrounds in the U.S. private investment industry, is dedicated to advancing the mission of promoting, expanding, and fortifying the ecosystem of private funds that finance U.S. small businesses and startups. By doing so, it aims to facilitate funding opportunities for entrepreneurs and small business owners in traditionally underserved communities, thereby contributing to a more inclusive and equitable economic landscape.
