Say No to the Scarsdale Community Center
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Dear Scarsdale10583: I think the citizens of Scarsdale should wake up and see this proposal for what it is: a small group of well organized, very vocal individuals who are orchestrating a staged and well planned campaign to build a private club backed by the full faith and credit of the Village of Scarsdale. They want to build this facility on Village owned property and sustain its operation by ongoing revenue which may never materialize. The taxpayers of this community may be forced to bear the burden of maintaining the facility and possibly face the ruination of a fantastic asset of Scarsdale already in operation, namely the outdoor pool and its environs. The Mayor has stated the belief of the Board of Trustees of Scarsdale that “we don’t want residents who don’t use it to pay for it” and I am quite fearful that is exactly what will happen.
The cost of this proposed facility is $24 million, $8 million from private donations and $16 million by general obligation of the Village of Scarsdale. In addition to that amount being completely obscene for the village to even consider spending in the current economic climate, the SCC co-president himself stated, “We are asking the whole village to assume the financial responsibility for this project.” It is time for the great silent majority, the taxpayers of the Village of Scarsdale to speak up with a unified voice and tell them “NO!” The few spearheading the SCC have been trying to get this project built for years and they will not go away until we finally put this issue to rest for good. Stop spending our money. Stop ruining our open spaces. Stop adding to the debt of this Village. What part of NO don’t they understand?
Jimmy Fink
Speeding Jeep
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Dear Editor: There have been several instances when a teenage boy driving a navy blue Jeep Liberty has been speeding along Brite Avenue. It is extremely disconcerting to be walking your small children to school and having to hustle them up onto someone's lawn for safety. It would seem he lives in Greenacres and is traveling to and from the High School. I would like to remind all parents and teenage drivers that a car is not a toy and excessive speed can and does kill people in the event of an accident. Thank You
Slow Traffic
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Dear Scarsdale10583: I am writing about the traffic light at the intersection of Fenimore and Fox Meadow Roads. It appears that the traffic light now has a pedestrian walk signal every cycle. I have been walking to the train for 12 years and have noticed that traffic is worse now since the light changed. Do you have any information about this?
Regards,
Fred Horwood
Say Yes to the Scarsdale Community Center
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I am in favor of the current Scarsdale Community Center proposal to build the indoor pool at the Scarsdale outdoor pool site, because the underground design will have the following unique advantages: the preservation of open space in our fully developed community, lower maintenance costs as compared to conventional buildings, wind, fire and earthquake proof public space that could shelter residents during an emergency; and energy efficiency.
Yes, I am concerned about the financial impact on our community, but I trust the SCC Board of Directors and this Village Board to find a way to continue to invest in Scarsdale. We need to keep our village as the place to live, not only for our excellent schools, but also for our Village amenities.
Here is my research on this topic:
Advantages of Building Underground
Underground houses have many advantages over conventional housing. Unlike conventional homes, they can be built on steep surfaces and can maximize space in small areas by going below the ground. In addition the materials excavated in construction can be used in the building process.
Underground houses have less surface area so fewer building materials are used, and maintenance costs are lower. They are also wind, fire and earthquake resistant, providing a secure and safe environment in extreme weather.
One of the greatest benefits of underground living is energy efficiency. The earth's subsurface temperature remains stable, so underground dwellings benefit from geothermal mass and heat exchange, staying cool in the summer and warm in the winter. This saves around 80% in energy costs. By incorporating solar design this energy bill can be reduced to zero, providing hot water and heat to the home all year round. An additional benefit of the surrounding earth is noise insulation. Underground homes are exceptionally quiet places to live.
Finally, underground houses blend with the natural landscape, and have minimum impact on the local ecology. This is not only aesthetically pleasing but ensures that the maximum habitat is left alone for wildlife.
Designing Down for a Sustainable Future
Underground construction is not a new industry, but it is often overlooked as a design strategy for sustainable building. A well-designed underground home can be a stylish, comfortable, secure, bright and inspiring place to live. More than that it is an excellent example of the eco-home ideal, demonstrating energy efficiency, low-impact design and harmony with its natural surroundings. With the increasing demand for more development sites and ever-diminishing green spaces, along with the enforcement of stricter regulations for greener homes, building underground seems the obvious way down. http://www.sustainablebuild.co.uk/ConstructionUnderground.html
Very truly yours,
Lena Crandall
227 Fox Meadow Road
Scarsdale, New York 10583
Village Residents Ask Planning Board to Redirect Downtown Traffic
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Not everyone is happy about easing parking restrictions in the village to accommodate more restaurants. Residents of the Old Scarsdale Neighborhood Association who live in the village are concerned that increased traffic downtown will pose safety concerns for pedestrians who live in the area. Here is a letter from the association to the Scarsdale Planning Board proposing a solution to potential traffic issues:
Dear Madam Chairperson and Members of the Planning Board,
The Old Scarsdale Neighborhood Association (“OSNA”) has significant concerns about the current proposal to relax the off-street parking regulations for restaurants in the Village Center. Before inviting more restaurants to Scarsdale, the Planning Board must address protecting the safety of our families from the increasing number of cars using our neighborhood as a thoroughfare.
The proposal concerns Village Code Article X, Section 310-70 (4), and creates an exception for restaurants specifically in the Village Center area. The current requirement for the entire Village is “one space for each three seats, plus one space for each employee, but no less than one space for each 75 square feet or a major fraction thereof of gross leasable floor area.” The proposal would change the requirement for restaurants in the Village Center to “one space for each 150 square feet or a major fraction thereof of gross leasable floor area.” (11/5/2010 Memo to Planning Board from Village Planner)
Ours is the only residential neighborhood onto whose streets traffic directly flows as cars are exiting the Village Center. The appropriate route is for them to drive out of the Village on Woodland Place or Chase Road, where they can access major roads and highways. Unfortunately, many cars leaving the Post Office/ Chat intersection drive north on Woodland Place and veer up towards the right, heading up into the Oakwood Place and Woodland Place triangle. This traffic triangle creates a dangerous and confusing confluence of cars and pedestrians. This is a blind curve where the road changes from one-way to two-way. Some drivers speed up as they think they are leaving town, unwittingly finding themselves in a residential block with 15 young children. In addition, many drivers use this route as a short-cut to avoid the traffic light at Popham and Chase Roads.
The recent 2010 Update to the Village Center Component of the Comprehensive Plan indicates that many residents would like to enliven the Village Center with more restaurants. We have no objection to restaurants but ask you to also recognize the Update’s Goal 2: Attend to traffic congestion, and enhance walk-ability and pedestrian safety and amenities…”
The Executive Summary of the Update specifies: “In the future, improved green space and park connections will reinforce the village-in-a park character and bring residents and workers closer to the charm and natural beauty of the Village Center. These connections will also reinforce the possibility and the desirability of walking and bicycling, reducing the reliance on automobiles for daily needs and trips within the Village Center area, and will provide a pleasant buffer between surrounding neighborhoods and the Village Center.”
It is this buffer that we would like to see maintained as the Village becomes more active. As a solution to these challenges, we propose enlarging the current green space at the Oakwood/Woodland triangle to create a pedestrian-only green space. (Please see Study Area 1 on the attached photographic map exhibit.) This proposal maintains the Woodland Place exit from the Village, but would prevent cars exiting the village from using Oakwood Place and Autenreith Road as a thoroughfare. This would greatly facilitate stormwater control, encourage walking and biking into the Village, and keep our neighborhood from bearing the burden of increased non-local traffic leaving the Village Center that additional restaurants will create. We also propose examining the Autenreith/Oakwood traffic triangle in order to clarify traffic flow. (Please see Study Area 2 on the attached photographic map.)
Several neighbors have noticed an increase in traffic on our residential streets since the lovely Chat Bistro opened. Many patrons are unfamiliar with Scarsdale roads and find themselves in our neighborhood. It is even more important to direct this traffic away from the confusing traffic triangle and our residential streets because it has a bar and serves alcohol.
As a community we are striving towards more sustainable lifestyles. Parents and Grandparents walk strollers around the curve on Oakwood heading to the Montesorri school, St. James the Less’s nursery school and Hoff Barthelson Music School. The Middle School bus stops here. Train commuters walk and bike down to the train station through this triangle.
We applaud your efforts to improve the Village Center and the vital role it plays in the life of our community. We request further study of our recommendations and look forward to working with you to facilitate improvements while maintaining our village in a park.
We appreciate your concern and thank you for your attention.
Respectfully Submitted,
Old Scarsdale Neighborhood Association (OSNA)
By OSNA Secretary, Emily Kronenberg
