Village Explores Future of Freightway Site
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- Written by Elizabeth Marrinan
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On May, 23, 2017 members of the Freightway Steering Committee (FSC) met to tour the Freightway site and the Village Center with Frank Fish and Jonathan Martin from BFJ Planning. The rain let up and the group walked from the Village Center, across the Popham Road Bridge to the "open lot" or the valet parking lot. Looking up at the bridge on one side and the aging parking structure on the other, the group discussed urban design issues, the opportunities presented by the site's topography, its current usage and future potential. The group then moved to the top of the Freightway garage for a birds-eye view of the entire 2.3 acre site and discussed access opportunities to the train station and the Village Center, integration to the existing neighborhood and potential development impacts.
The Walking Tour is one step in the Village's visioning study to guide potential redevelopment of the Freightway Site, the underutilized area adjacent to the Scarsdale Metro North Railroad Station. The purpose of the study is to provide a community-based vision to ensure future redevelopment enhances the Village Center and meets local needs. Over the past 30 years, numerous studies have focused on the site, due to its key location in the Village Center. The Village is renewing its planning efforts, given the current condition of the Freightway Garage and the anticipated need for repairs and improvements.
Toward that end, the Village Board appointed the FSC to create goals and objectives for the future development of an attractive, economically viable project on the site. BFJ Planning has been retained to provide technical support. The First Freightway Redevelopment Study Public Workshop will be held on Monday, June 12th, from 7-9 PM in Rutherford Hall at Village Hall, 1001 Post Road.
The FSC welcomes all interested residents, property owners, merchants and other stakeholders to attend and share their thoughts on the vision, goals and objectives for the site. Two additional workshops will be held in the fall to continue the conversation and provide opportunities for feedback on the vision. An online survey will also be launched over the summer. For further information visit the project web site: www.scarsdale.com/fw . Email comments to [email protected] or contact Elizabeth Marrinan at 722-1132.
Scarsdale Stands to Remember Our Fallen Heroes
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- Written by Jon Mark
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On May 29th in Scarsdale Village, a chilly rain could not stop Commander Thomas V. Adamo of Scarsdale Post 52 of the American Legion, Village officials and a core group of Village residents from honoring the brave men and women who have fallen in defense of our country. A somewhat shortened parade that included war veterans, members of the Scarsdale Police Department, the Scarsdale Fire Department, Scarsdale Volunteer Ambulance Corps, Girl Scouts, Boy Scouts and Cub Scouts circled the Village Center to the drum cadence of the Scarsdale High School band. In accordance with long standing Village tradition, a wreath was laid at Boniface Circle and taps was sounded. Dr. John F. M. Flynn, a history professor with a 29-year career in the United States Army Reserves during which he rose to the rank of Colonel addressed the crowd of more than 100 on-lookers who listened respectfully under a driving rain. Other speakers included Assemblywoman Amy Paulin, Mayor Dan Hochvert and U.S. Congressman Eliot Engel. Trustees Callaghan, Pekarek, Samwick and Veron were also in attendance. The ceremony also provided an opportunity for the Boy Scouts to announce 17 Eagle Scout Awards and the Girl Scouts to announce two Gold Awards.
Photos of the event were provided by Sam Blieden, article by former Mayor of Scarsdale Jon Mark.
Village Announcements: Freightway Committee Formed, Leaf Blowers Banned, and More
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The Village of Scarsdale is conducting a visioning study to guide potential redevelopment of the Freightway Site, an underutilized area adjacent to the Scarsdale Metro North Railroad Station.
The first Freightway Redevelopment Study public workshop will be held on Monday, June 12th, from 7-9 PM in Rutherford Hall at Village Hall, 1001 Post Road. The Freightway Steering Committee welcomes all interested residents, property owners, merchants and other stakeholders to attend and share their thoughts on the vision, goals and objectives for the site. Two additional workshops will be held in the fall to continue the conversation and provide opportunities for feedback on the vision. An online survey will also be launched over the summer.
The purpose of the study is to provide a community-based vision to ensure future redevelopment enhances the Village Center and meets local needs. As such, the study will incorporate a broad and meaningful public engagement process. More specifically, there will be numerous opportunities for public input including, three public workshops, an online survey, stakeholder interviews and focus groups.
The process will be guided by the Freightway Steering Committee and supported by technical planning and market professionals, who will help to define a set of realistic and publicly supported development goals and objectives. This will ensure that development alternatives adequately consider potential impacts and/or constraints, such as revenue generation, parking, traffic, infrastructure, school enrollment, other potential impacts on community facilities and services, and
potential demographic changes.
The site is a 2.38 acre Village owned property currently used for commuter and merchant parking with approximately 700 spaces in an aging five-story parking garage and two surface parking lots. For the past 30 years, numerous studies have focused on the site, due to its key location in the Village Center. The Village is renewing its planning efforts, given the current condition of the Freightway Garage and the anticipated need for repairs and improvements.
Toward that end, the Village Board has appointed the Freightway Steering Committee to create goals and objectives for the future development of an attractive, economically viable project on the site.
For more information, meeting notices and updates, visit this page. Comments can be sent to [email protected].
Leaf Blowers Banned:
Scarsdale Village is reminding residents that the use of leaf blowers is banned between June 1st and Sept. 30th. In addition, residents should trim their greenery located near roads. Here is what the Village has released:
Property owners are reminded of Village Code Chapter 205 restricting the use of gasoline powered leaf blowers from June 1 through September 30. Please refrain from using the blowers during this period and remind your gardeners as well.
Prune Your Trees:
The Village Engineering Department reminds property owners to prune trees, bushes and plantings located at or near any street curve, corner or intersection in accordance with Village Code Chapter 294. These plantings can result in traffic safety conditions by obstructing the view of motorists and pedestrians. Village Code Enforcement personnel will be inspecting streets in the Village for these hazards so please keep your plantings trimmed.
Trustees Declare National Gun Violence Awareness Day on June 2
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- Written by Joanne Wallenstein
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On Tuesday May 23 the Village Board considered a new measure to regulate the sale of guns and declared June 2 to be National Gun Violence Awareness Day in Scarsdale. The National Gun Violence Awareness Day initiative was championed by a group called Moms Demand Action for Gun Sense in America, Westchester Chapter, who attended the meeting wearing their orange shirts.
Representing the group, Pat Colella urged everyone to wear orange on June2 to raise awareness of gun violence. Last year 150,000 cities participated in the movement. Moms Demand Action for Gun Sense in America was formed in the wake of the tragedy at Sandy Hook. Gun violence kills 93 Americans each day and the group advocates for stronger laws and policies to effect change. The group will hang orange ribbons around lampposts in the Village in honor of National Gun Violence Awareness Day. Colella urged residents to advocate against proposed state legislation called "Concealed Carry Reciprocity," which would allow those with concealed firearm agreements from other states to carry concealed weapons into New York.
Prior to the Board of Trustees, the Law Committee, lead by Trustee Carl Finger, explored legislation that would restrict gun sales to a certain area of the Village. Their hope is that restricting zones where guns can be sold will discourage gun dealers from opening in Scarsdale. Rye Brook is considering similar legislation after a gun dealer opened in Harrison. A resolution will be drafted by Village staff and a public hearing on the matter will be held.
Scarsdale Library Renovation:
Several members of the Board of the Scarsdale Library were present along with Library Director Beth Bermel as the Board of Trustees voted on two major contracts that will move the plans to renovate and expand the library forward.
The Village agreed to a contract with Dattner Architects, who designed the building, for a fee of $1,298,000 for architectural design development and for construction documents and bid services.
In addition the Village approved a contract with Savin Engineers to provide construction management for the addition and renovation of the Scarsdale Library. The fee for construction management is $583,000.
At their May 15 meeting, the Library Board of Trustees, bearing the fiscal responsibility for library budget items, approved the terms of these contracts with Dattner Architects and Savin Engineers, as recommended by the Library Building Committee. Village Trustees authorized the Village Manager to execute the contracts. These contracts are funded in total by private funds. Updates on the progress of the Library's Capital Campaign are made quarterly by Beth Bermel, Library Director. The next update is at the June 13 meeting
The Village accepted gifts of $10,000 from Carol Stix in honor of her late husband Edgar Stix and $25,000 from Lindsay and Jordan Zaken for the library master plan improvement project.
Sale of Village-owned Property:
The Village agreed to sell a foreclosed property at 32 Ferncliff Road to the highest bidder, Dominic Marchese of 505 West Street Harrison, NY, for $956,300. The house sits on two tax lots totaling 10,454 square feet with 100 feet of road frontage.
Sidewalk Sale:
The Village Board approved the annual Sidewalk Sale in Scarsdale Village to be held from Thursday July 27 through Saturday July 29 from 10 am to 5pm each day.
Art Installation:
The Village Board authorized the Scarsdale Arts Council to sponsor two temporary art exhibits at Chase Park with works from Simone Kestelman. The works include "Pearl Necklace" and five painted boulders which will be on display from May 29 to September 4 in the park.
Development at Freightway Garage:
Trustee Marc Samwick announced that a meeting about development at the Freightway Garage site would be held on May 31 at 7 pm with a public workshop on June 12. Those who want to attend the public workshop should RSVP to [email protected]. There will be a public walking tour as well – including a trip to the top to see the view. Samwick said the Village is hoping to find a way to get this done.
Communications:
Trustee Jane Veron announced that the Village will soon start to send out community e-blasts and will also issue a survey about communications from the Village.
Salary Increases for 2017-18:
Salary increases of 2% were approved for Village department heads and non-union personnel for 2017-2018.
Here are the settlements by bargaining unit for 2017-18.
Police (PBA) – 3%
CSEA Village Hall: 2%
CSEA Library: 2.0%
IBT Public Works 2%
IBT Facilities Maintenance: 2.0%
IBT Crossing Guards: 2.0%
Appointments to Boards and Councils:
Jennifer Barrett was appointed to the Council on Parks and Recreation and Seema Jaggi was appointed to the Conservation Advisory Council.
Public Comments:
A moment of levity occurred during the public comments section when Bob Harrison complained that the Village Attorney would not let him use the legal books in his office so that Harrison could help residents file tax grievances to reduce their real estate taxes. He said, "They (the legal books) are paid for by Scarsdale taxpayers and should be available for Scarsdale residents to examine." Village Attorney Wayne Esannason refused, saying, "Mr. Harrison, there are boundaries. Just because you are a taxpayers does not mean you are entitled to utilize police cars, fire trucks or backhoes. You have to respect boundaries. You can't expect me to help you defend a determination that the Village has made!"
Bus Accident Simulation Tests EMS Capabilities
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- Written by Joanne Wallenstein
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What would happen in the event of a major vehicular accident in Scarsdale involving a school bus, a passenger car and a pedestrian? Are our emergency personnel up to the challenge? Is there sufficient equipment and coordination of services to insure that the victims are treated rapidly and with the best standards of care?
That's what David Raizen, President of the Scarsdale Volunteer Ambulance Corps sought to determine when he set up a simulation of a bus accident at the Secor Road sanitation yard on Monday night May 8. The drill involved a bus carrying 45 students hitting a passenger car containing three victims (one infant), resulting in a collision with a pedestrian who ended up under the bus.
The exercise brought together SVAC volunteers, police, firemen as well as EMS teams and ambulance corps from Eastchester, Mamaroneck, Larchmont, Harrison and Corlandt.
During the hour and half drill, emergency workers followed protocols to secure the scene and assess the nature of the injuries. Blocks were placed under the wheels of the bus and car to stabilize them. Victims were removed from the two vehicles and triaged according to the severity of their conditions. Those with minor wounds were treated at the scene, while others were placed on stretchers and ferried to the waiting ambulances. Fire personnel made sure that those doing the work and being treated were safe at the site and personnel at the command post tracked where each victim was going.
In addition to the 45 girl and boy scouts posing as the victims, the drill involved close to 50 emergency workers, all practicing their protocols.
Following the drill, Raizen said it went smoothly though there is still a lot to be learned. Current law requires SVAC to bring all victims of a bus accident to the hospital, even if they are not severely injured. Raizen is urging the Scarsdale Schools to assume loco parentis and pick up any uninjured students from the scene of an accident to relieve the burden on the ambulance corps.
Photos by Jon Thaler - see more here:
