Letter to the Town Board: Questions about second field at Amsterdam
June 25, 2010
by Sara Brewster
Comments for Town Board Meeting June 22, 2010.
Sara Brewster, West End resident
I was one of many Millwood and West End residents who attended the Planning Board meeting on Monday, June 14th, 2010.
The local residents were unanimous in their opposition to the construction of a regulation soccer field at Amsterdam Park.
Before making comments about the Amsterdam site plan, I would like you to know unexpected that this unexpected change in site plan and the way it has been handled is a communications disaster. Unmitigatable. Sadly, my trust in local government is at an all time low and I never thought I would say that about New Castle.
I believed and trusted that the site plan adopted in 2007 was reasonable and well thought through and therefore would not be amended. The location of new trees alongside the proposed second field site also led to my reasonable assumption that the all -purpose field was the choice so again I trusted our elected officials to keep their word. Consequently, I am sure you can appreciate how I and other Millwood and West End residents felt when this new alternative was slipped in at the May 4th Planning Board meeting. Or maybe you can’t. Let’s say we we are not amused. Given the hours and months of work that went into developing and finally adopting the 2007 site plan I think we deserve answers to a number of questions as to how this change came about. For example:
1. When did this change in plan occur? Why wasn’t the Planning Board informed about this alternative?
2. Who was responsible for this change?
3. As this is not a minor change, does it not require a site plan amendment? If not, why not?
At the continued public hearing on June 14th, 2010, arguments were made pro and con the larger field. Members of CYSC and AYSO and the Recreational Department lamented the shortage of regulation fields. Millwood and West Enders commented on the environmental issues brought about by the proposed regulation field.
The lament, about field shortage raises a number of issues about recreational planning:
How many usable regulation fields exist – either town owned or school owned?
What is the arrangement between school and town for use of fields? Does tax income pay the rent for usage?
Is the renovated field at Gedney a regulation? When will that go on line?
What new field sites are being considered? Is the Reader’s Digest site a possibility? Others?
Are the school fields well cared for?
I understand CYSC is a privately funded organization. What is its relationship with the Recreation Department?
Does CYSC pay for use of fields? Is membership in CYSC open to all New Castle residents or is it confined to the Chappaqua School District? Is AYSO also a ‘private’ club?
How will the new field be funded?
What is the cost differential between the all-purpose field and this regulation proposal that requires significantly greater disturbance and mitigation?
I am sure there are many other serious questions that need to be answered before this process is concluded. Thank you.
Sara Brewster
thank you sara for your letter. i was also at the meeting and am totally confused at this change. it was interesting that they did not have specific measurements of distances from the road and neighboring properties.
following the meeting, i emailed the town supervisor & rec department. to date, i have not received an email answering my questions or even acknowledging my 6/15 inquiry. will there now be buses delivering kids to the “regulation” sized field? how would the “approval process” been changed had this regulations sized field been included in the 2007 proposal?
as a frequent hoags cross “walker” i asked the rec department where i could find a usage schedule of the amsterdam field . . . as i want to avoid this road, both by foot & car, during these times. this road is no longer safe.
as an aside, i never heard the answer as to whether ossining sports practices will also be allowed on these fields.
As a resident of the area who knows that parents across New Castle are happy for this field, I ask Town Hall to use their discretion, keep expenses down, and move forward with the construction of this field. Let’s all think about the kids, and the memories this needed field will create. I ask the Town, please do not get bogged down in being compelled to respond to all those that want to throw hurdles in your path. However, Reader’s Digest would be a great place for a couple of new fields, an olympic size swimming pool, hockey rink, tennis courts, dedicated lacross field, open space, baseball field. Any grant money available for the Town of New Castle to purchase Reader’s Digest from the Developer and make it a Government owned property?
