Letter to the Editor: Town Plans for the Future
Monday, October 3, 2011
by Jason Chapin
We moved to New Castle because of the great schools, appealing neighborhoods and overall charm of the Town. But how did the Town get that way?
We probably don’t give much thought to the fact that our town development is guided by a Comprehensive Master Plan, Planning and Zoning boards (made up of dedicated and talented volunteers) and a professional Town Planner who works with the Town Board to make everyday decisions that affect the future of our town.
When I served on the Town Board from 2000-2003, we benefited from input from residents, businesses and consultants, including our professional Town Planner. Together, we were able to guide development in Town, in a manner that respected the legitimate rights of property owners to develop their properties but at the same time ensured that any development was consistent with, and did not overburden, the Town’s infrastructure or upset the characteristics that attract so many people to our town. A few of the projects we approved back then included renovating the Community Center, Senior Center, Town Hall and Train Station and adding sidewalks along Rt. 133 in Millwood and Rt. 120 in Chappaqua.
More recently, the Town Board established the Chappaqua Downtown Steering Committee, chaired by Deputy Supervisor Elise Mottel, to enhance the Town planning process as it related to downtown Chappaqua. To date, the Committee has assisted the Town in:
• Influencing the design and construction of the bridge over Route 120 (paid in full by New York State)
• Adding another pocket park next to Citibank in Chappaqua dedicated to former Supervisor Marion Sinek
• Rebuilding the Gazebo
• Redeveloping the South Greeley parking lot (to improve drainage, consolidate dumpsters and add parking spaces)
The Committee has been a major part of the next phase of development including new pedestrian-friendly crosswalks and sidewalks, street lights and sewers along Greeley Ave. in Chappaqua. The professional consultants who worked with the Committee on these projects, Projects for Public Spaces, have been hired by the Town to develop additional recommendations for Millwood.
Some critics say the Town lacks a coherent planning process and suffers from excessive taxes and regulations. Nothing could be farther from the truth. As previously discussed, we have a comprehensive and effective planning process. As for town taxes, increases have been minimal - and due mostly to contractually mandated salaries and benefits. The tax increase will be less than 2% next year, in accordance with the recently enacted New York State 2% tax cap. The economic realities cannot be ignored and here is where the Town has really shined. Our town has maintained a triple-A bond rating – the highest that can be achieved, and we are one of only seven towns in the state with this distinction.
Many residents may not appreciate that only 10% of their property tax bill goes to the town, with 71% going to the schools and library, 13% goes to Westchester County and the remaining 6% goes to special districts and fees for garbage and water.
We are excited that Petticoat Lane and Desires have significantly expanded their stores in downtown Chappaqua – and that Chappaqua’s newest stores (Aurora FT, Breeze and The King’s Scribe) have opened. A new restaurant will open later this fall in Grappolo’s old location and we expect more businesses to open in Chappaqua shortly after the bridge is completed this fall. At a meeting last week between Town officials and merchants in town there was talk about how they could work more closely together and local businesses are trying to re-establish a merchants’ association and chamber of commerce, which will facilitate the sharing of ideas and concerns between local businesspersons and the Town.
One reason that my wife and I are raising our three children here is because we think New Castle is the best town in Westchester. As a candidate for Town Board, I am committed to maintaining our planning process and using my M.B.A and experience on the Town Board, New Castle CARES and with other organizations to make it even better. My three initial goals related to planning are: tie more of the Chappaqua and Millwood development together; create a dedicated team and plan to retain and enhance our business base; and encourage more stakeholders to be involved in the process. At the same time, there needs to be more communication with residents and businesses to keep them apprised of all the activities. I hope residents and businesses will share their ideas and concerns with me. My email address is .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address).
Jason Chapin
Jason Chapin is a Democratic candidate for town board.
Very self serving, but i guess that is the point. I love town planning and I love the organization, but how about some good, effective and meaningful ideas that will funnel monies towards things that lower taxes too or better yet raise revenue.
You can be sure that I will be working my neighborhood against this type of candidate.
The gazebo? The gazebo? This is an accomplishment.
We need new ideas.
Your intentions and thoughts are in the right place, but your base understanding of what needs to now take place within the Municipality is totally missing. To talk about new merchants coming into Chappaqua filling existing vacant spaces or expanding into additional space shows that you just do not understand. New Castle needs to implement a Plan that keeps all existing downtown merchants in their place by providing additional parking, they also need to reduce property taxes on all commercial structures throughout the Municipality that house merchants and businesses; but more importantly, the Municipality needs to create new sources of property tax revenue that will help ease the property tax burden on both residential and commercial properties. The planning that takes place in Town Hall must become aware of all the connective issues. Your letter seems to show that when you dig deep into what you have expressed, you feel the policy and the planning procedures of the Municipality are just fine; when in fact they are not! Why? Should a 5000 sqt home on 2 acres be paying $75,000 a year in property taxes? Should a 1950’s 2200 sqft home be paying $22,000 in property taxes? Town Hall needs to collect many new sources of property tax to pay for all mandates that you describe. We certainly have areas of the Municipality that can be approved, developed, or re-worked, to dilute the cost of such escalating taxes that you have described. The question is do people like you support such measures that make economical and financial sense?
Mr. Chapin,
This a disappointing letter.
The Comprehensive Master Plan is woefully out of date. What you should have said is that it needs updating.
The results of the Steering Committee’s efforts in the downtown Chappaqua Hamlet are not something to brag about.
The CitiBank pocket park is to say the least, not attractive, however “green” it may be.
Enlarging the tax base thru commercial expansion should be a major part of any candidate’s platform. While I am firmly against Kirkwood’s idea of doing away with the second floor housing mandate because we should be supporting more reasonably priced apartments in the downtown, his business outreach is right on.
When people complain about the ever increasing taxes surely you must realize that they are referring to the school taxes.
The only good result of the People for Public Spaces was the interest and large turnout by the residents to the initial meetings that they ran. Then, instead of encouraging the continued involvement of the community, a small committee was formed and people were discouraged from attending their meetings.
I was dismayed to learn that the town was again hiring them again for the Millwood Hamlet. A waste of
money.
While there is a coherent planning process, there is no vision for the Town’s development. The PPS are not the people to provide the Town with a vision. That should come from the updated Comprehensive Plan. As someone has already said, you are clearly coming from the right place, but I hope that you will go back to the drawing board and come up with a better platform.
I was pleased to learn that Supervisor Gerard had hired a Town Planner, isn’t he the one to do any studies that may be needed and to advise the Town on sensible and lawful zoning.
I love the new gazebo and the renovations of the Community Center, the Senior Center, the Train Station. These are projects to be proud of.
Good luck. This is going to be a very competitive race.
Town Hall has been out of touch for a while, but like most of the Community, no one really seems to care!
The problem continues when we elect, hire, or pass Town Laws that continue on with the past and existing traditions of Town Hall that no one can seem to tolerate anymore or want!
Do we really need a Tree Ordinance affecting private property?
Do we really need to be fined for placing plastic bottles in our garbage?
What matters at Town Hall can we simplify and not just for token reasons to satisfy campaign promises?
Can we help the downtown merchants of Chappaqua by providing 3 hour meter parking?
Can we do away with meter parking all together and hand out stickers that identify downtown employees and cars being parked for metro north reasons that should not be parked where they are found.
My friends don’t shop in Chappaqua; sneeze and you get a parking ticket!
It does not matter on a local level if you are Democat, Republican, or Independent.
People are fed up with business as usual!
This is a better person than Wolfensohn? Seems like it will be politics as usual in New Castle with the New Castle Dems going back to old school thinking
After reading Rob Greenstein’s letter, I may switch my vote to Mr. Chapin. He seems more in touch with the quality of life in this town and its history.
We are wondering whether Greenstein is too radical and overreaching in his approach.
This candidate may be the safer bet of the two. He is more respectful of the town’s history and character.
We are reassured by his statements that: “We moved to New Castle because of the great schools, appealing neighborhoods and overall charm of the Town.” and “We were able to guide development in Town, in a manner that respected the legitimate rights of property owners to develop their properties but at the same time ensured that any development was consistent with, and did not overburden, the Town’s infrastructure or upset the characteristics that attract so many people to our town.”
Given these statments,could you, Mr. Chapin, be more specific and respond to certain items on Mr. Greenstein’s agenda, such as the multi-structured parking garage, etc.? Are you in favor or not?
Thank you.
Where was Mr. Chapin when our community faced the biggest threat to our charm & character. He was silent. And besides this letter written by the local Democratic committee, he has been silent throughout this election. Personally, I’d rather vote for Mr. Greenstein - he isn’t afraid to give his opinion & has a proven record of fighting for our community.
