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Written by Joanne Wallenstein

Published: 23 April 2023

Created: 23 April 2023

Last Updated: 24 April 2023

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Governor Kathy Hochul’s much feared housing compact has been abandoned. The plan, which was a part of the NYS budget, was a major thorn in the budget negotiations and fell apart due to opposition from many quarters.

In Scarsdale and other suburban locations along the Metro North and Long Island Railroad lines, the plan would have cleared the way for large scale development within a half mile of the train stations by allowing builders to override local zoning code. Protections for the environment, stormwater, parking, and density would have been ignored to facilitate multifamily housing on what is now zoned as single home lots.

But it turns out that suburban legislators were not the only ones objecting to the plan.

According to reports, advocates for tenants were vying for protection from eviction and the plan failed to address their pleas. They were seeking a provision called “good cause eviction,” protection which would require landlords to show good cause before evicting tenants as well as limitations on rent increases, similar to rent control. Another proposed program would have provided rental assistance vouchers for homeless New Yorkers and tenants at risk of eviction.

The building unions were also opposed to the plan as it did not include fair wage and labor standards into the housing expansion.

Legislators from more densely populated portions of Manhattan, Brooklyn and Queens also opposed the provision in the bill that would have lifted the floor area ratio (FAR) requirement that requires residential buildings to be up to 12 times the size of their lot in what’s known as the density cap. This would have allowed developers to vastly increase the size of their projects and further crowd already packed areas.

Here are some comments from local leaders on the news.

Susan Douglass, President of the Scarsdale Forum who wrote a detailed position paper on the possible effects of the legislation on Scarsdale said, “ Governor Hochul has "shelved" the Housing Compact for now, in a strategy to get the already delayed State budget passed. According to published information from news sources, State Assembly and Senate leaders have been unwilling in budget negotiations to support part of Governor Hochul’s plan that would allow the State to override local zoning laws for new housing developments.

However, Governor Hochul and state lawmakers could still negotiate a housing deal in the legislative session, outside of the budget process. Therefore, it is incumbent upon Scarsdale to closely follow the process and be prepared to study and weigh in on any new proposals. Moreover, it may be prudent for Scarsdale officials, civic organizations such as the Scarsdale Forum and others, along with concerned citizens, to study and perhaps propose options to create new housing in Scarsdale, a portion of which might be affordable. This would put us in a position of being proactive rather than reactive.

State Assemblymember Amy Paulin who represents Scarsdale in Albany and fought against the compact said, “Thankfully, the Governor’s housing compact proposal was struck. I respect the Governor’s commitment and agree with her goal to increase housing in New York State. It is something we need. That being said I felt her proposal was untenable for our area, and for many areas throughout the state which could not withstand the proposed density and pace of housing development.”

State Senator Shelley Mayer said, "It is clear to me for some time that Westchester needs - and must have - more affordable housing if it is to continue to be a diverse, thriving county that supports a path to the middle class. That being said, I made it abundantly clear to my colleagues and our Senate Leader that the Governor's proposed Housing Compact, with its 3% growth target, transit-oriented development requirements, and overriding of local zoning, was the wrong approach to the issues we face. I felt strongly it was a top-down, one size fits all approach that failed to incorporate the views of local elected officials and homeowners and failed to acknowledge that many suburban communities in Westchester have been and stand ready to find ways to provide affordable housing in their communities. I spoke out and am pleased that the Governor ultimately withdrew her plans. I look forward to working with my legislative colleagues, Governor Hochul and our county and local leaders, to find constructive ways to increase the supply of affordable housing in Westchester."

And Melanie Spivak, who is on the Board of the Scarsdale’s Neighborhood Associations and rallied residents to write letters opposing the housing compact said, “Although there is a definite need for more housing, especially affordable housing, Governor Hochul’s proposal was an unrealistic solution. As always, one size solutions don’t fit all size communities. Increased housing density must be built in areas where the infrastructure can handle it, where municipalities can assure it can be built in the proper place, in a safe and environmentally proper location, without a time clock, and in a way that enhances the uniqueness of each community. Local control of our zoning laws and building requirements are imperative to protecting our unique village. I am grateful for the hard work and perseverance of Amy Paulin, who understands our community and represented Scarsdale in helping to defeat the Governor’s short- sighted housing proposal. I look forward to building housing in our community that enhances its qualities, not hurt it.”

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Written by Joanne Wallenstein

Published: 04 May 2023

Created: 04 May 2023

Last Updated: 05 May 2023

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This article was submitted by Madelaine Eppenstein President of the Friends of Scarsdale Parks

English ivy, an aggressively invasive, non-native evergreen vine, is literally engulfing and destroying Scarsdale’s majestic shade trees and evergreen conifers. While some consider an evergreen cover on tree trunks to be attractive, allowing vines to grow on trees is dangerous and potentially fatal to even the largest mature tree. English ivy is considered an “invasive species” in New York State, defined as “non-native to the ecosystem under consideration. . . whose introduction causes or is likely to cause economic or environmental harm or harm to human health.” Ivy blocks sunlight from reaching a tree’s own leaves, which weakens the tree by impeding photosynthesis. Ivy usurps nutrients and water from soil, depleting a tree’s resources. Adding significant weight to tree branches, ivy makes them more susceptible to damage from high winds, heavy ice, and snow.

We urge Scarsdale’s homeowners, landscapers, and government to take action to protect village trees from English ivy vine damage. Besides the enormous cost of removing dead or dying trees, losing trees means losing the significant environmental services that trees provide to filter air by capturing carbon and releasing oxygen, slow and absorb runoff and flooding, cool homes in summer, and provide food and shelter for songbirds and other wildlife.

To save our trees residents can help remove destructive ivy and other invasive vines and prevent further injury. This is the technique favored by Friends of Scarsdale Parks, Inc. (FOSP), the environmental nonprofit active in Scarsdale since 1957, and practiced by other local groups including the Bronx River Parkway Reservation Conservancy.

Using pruners, loppers, and hand saws to cut the vines, remove and discard a section approximately 12-24 inches long on the lower part of the trunk, taking care not to damage the tree’s bark. Do not pull the remaining ivy off the trunk, as this may damage the tree or cause upper tree branches to fall. While some experts have recommended painting the cut ends of ivy with pesticide, this should be done only by professionals and avoided due to the health and safety dangers of pesticides as acknowledged in the recently codified Village policy banning most uses of pesticides on public property.

Before tackling the ivy, make sure you can distinguish English ivy and avoid contact with poison ivy. Wear long sleeves, pants, socks, and gloves to protect yourself from poison ivy and ticks. Or instruct your landscaper to emancipate your trees now as part of spring clean-up, or any time after the tree leaves have fallen in fall or winter.

Vine cutting session at the Harwood Park wetland restoration site along Brewster Road, attended by FOSP board members and student liaison, Scarsdale HS Garden Club members, and two former Scarsdale mayors. Photos by Cynthia Roberts.

We invite the community to participate in the effort to save Scarsdale’s trees beginning with the trees on your own residential properties. Please contact us at [email protected] or 914-262-6656 if you have any questions, or would like to join in an organized community effort to save our trees from harmful vines. Learn more about English ivy and other invasive species, and find useful how-to information here and here. Join Pollinator Pathway by removing invasives, planting natives, and avoiding pesticides at https://www.pollinator-pathway.org/.

Madelaine Eppenstein, FOSP President
Cynthia Roberts, FOSP Vice President
Dr. Darlene LeFrancois Haber, Scarsdale Forum Inc. Sustainability Committee Chair

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Written by Joanne Wallenstein

Published: 14 April 2023

Created: 14 April 2023

Last Updated: 14 April 2023

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Scarsdale’s Neighborhood Presidents are alerting residents to proposed legislation that would challenge Scarsdale’s zoning code and permit mass development within a half mile of the Metro North train stations in Scarsdale and Hartsdale.

Below find an email from Melanie Spivak and signed by all of Scarsdale’s Neighborhood Association Presidents, urging you to send letters to Governor Kathy Hochul and State Senator Andrea Stewart Cousins this weekend:

(From Ms. Spivak)

It is urgent that you educate yourselves on what is going on in Albany these last few weeks. Governor Hochul has included a bill in her budget called "The New Homes Target Act". This is a bill that will have a tremendous effect on every individual in Westchester, Orange, Putnam, Dutchess, Rockland and Nassau counties. It will affect every one of us in Scarsdale.

The budget is currently stalled in Albany in negotiations with the Governor and is currently scheduled for a vote this Monday April 17.

Please read the following statement, created and endorsed by SNAP (Scarsdale Neighborhood Association Presidents), which gives a very quick overview of some of the alarming requirements in the bill.

At the request of our representative in Albany Amy Paulin, she has asked everyone to reach out to Senator Andrea Stuart-Cousins and Governor Hochul directly to make your voices heard. We have included a sample letter to help talking points for a phone call, email or letter, along with the contact information for each representative.

Please take the time to read the statement and contact the Governor and Senator. But, please act fast!

I am happy to answer any questions or share the bill with you.

Thank you for your immediate attention.
Melanie Spivak

URGENT
SNAP Statement on Governor Hochul’s New Homes Target Act 4/13/23Governor Kathy Hochul

Governor Hochul has proposed a new law that would require Scarsdale to add approximately 180 new housing units to Scarsdale over the next three years. The New Homes Act has the potential to permanently change suburban New York. The Act is currently advancing through the budget process and is scheduled for a vote on April 17 - in 4 days.

Scarsdale homeowners must be aware that the Act would *require* the following:

First: A 3% increase in housing stock every three years - which amounts to approximately 180 new units in Scarsdale in the first three-year cycle and a greater number in each cycle thereafter; a percentage of these units must be low-income housing as defined in the Act.
Second: High-density housing (eg multi-family homes and apartment buildings). In its current form, the Act requires housing be located within a half-mile radius of a transportation hub. This provision is still being negotiated and could be changed to permit building anywhere within a town, village, or city; with no recourse for a municipalities’ inability to comply.
Third: A severe penalty for failure to comply. If a municipality fails to produce the required number of new housing units per year, the Governor will remove “home rule” (an individual municipality’s right to determine zoning), a right afforded to municipalities in our New York State Constitution.

What does this mean for Scarsdale and what does it mean for you?
• Infrastructure: Our 100+ year old infrastructure - which is already beyond its lifespan - would be stretched even further beyond its capacity.
• Flooding: The addition of high-density housing would further exacerbate Scarsdale’s poor drainage, causing additional flooding.
• Building Limits: The Scarsdale Board of Architectural Review and Engineering department will have to require further building limitations to account for the environmental impact of the increased housing density.
• Schools: Our schools could face an influx of students which might require redistricting of all the elementary schools.
• Loss of local control: Scarsdale has the potential to lose local control of our town.

Governor Hochul’s New Homes Act will totally overwhelm Scarsdale's century-old infrastructure and especially strain our water, sewer and school systems as well as police and fire service, road maintenance and Village center parking and amenities. As a result, the New Homes Act has the potential to lower the value of our homes and take away the unique qualities of small towns.

State Senator Andrea Stewart-CousinsSNAP is urging all the residents to learn more about the potential impact Governor Hochul’s New Homes Act could have on our community. The time to speak up is now - the budget vote is April 17.

Please call, send an email or letter to Governor Hochul and Senator Andrea Stuart-Cousins (see attached) and tell them this is the wrong approach because one size does not fit all. If high density housing is needed, it must be thoughtfully planned and include objective review and recourse which takes environmental, infrastructure and capacity of local services into consideration. Forcing the same high density housing requirements onto small towns and villages is not the answer.

Here's a sample letter that you can complete and email to state leaders:

Sample Letter

The Honorable Kathy Hochul
Governor of the State of New York
New York State Capitol Building
Albany, New York 12224
Phone: (518) 474-8390
Email (fill out the form located here): www.Governor.ny.gov

Senator Andrea Stewart-Cousins
28 Wells Avenue, Building #3, 5th Floor Yonkers, NY 10701
Phone: (914) 423-4031
Email: [email protected]

Speaker Carl Heastie

Dear (Governor Hochul) (Senator Stewart-Cousins):
My name is ____________________.

I am a New York resident and I OPPOSE the New Homes Target Act proposed in the 2023 Budget.

The Act forces high density housing onto municipalities that are not equipped to handle a sudden large influx of building and residents - with no recourse for damage to our infrastructure or environment. The requirements of the Act are short-sighted. Your proposal usurps our constitutional right of “home rule” (zoning autonomy). The building requirements promulgated by this Act are unacceptable and will have the chilling effect of eliminating the suburban landscape of our state.

High density housing should be built in areas that can handle the additional stress on local infrastructure and the environment.

Municipalities must have the ability to provide all residents with a sustainable quality of life free from unnecessary flooding, sewage and overcrowding.

One size does not fit all; high density housing is not appropriate for all communities. New York residents must be able to retain local control of their homes and communities.

This proposal should not be allowed to move forward.
Sincerely,

Your Name:
Your Address:
Your Email: