January 8, 2010
Update on Millwood and West End
Millwood Task Force Minutes for December 3, 2009
The monthly meeting of the Millwood Task Force was held on Thursday, December 3, 2009 at Millwood Firehouse #2, Route 134, Millwood. Present were the following MTF Members: Dianne Kleinmann, Chairperson; Phil Rice, Jordan Schiffman, Lou Russo, June Farnham and Michael Hafitz. Attending the meeting were Town Supervisor Barbara Gerrard, Town Administrator Jerry Faiella, Sara Brewster, Alan Schapiro, Hala Makowska, and Christine Yeres. The meeting was called to order by Chairperson Dianne Kleinmann.
MILLWOOD SITE PLAN: CREATING A VISION FOR DOWNTOWN
Chair Dianne Kleinmann began the meeting by informing the Task Force that the next joint meeting with the Town Planning Board and Joanne Meder to discuss the Millwood Site Plan is scheduled for Monday, December 14th at 7:00 p.m. at Town Hall and that tonight’s meeting will focus on a discussion and review of the planning issues which the MTF will present to the Planning Board. She then read aloud sections of notes digested from the July 7, 2009 joint meeting between the Planning Board and the Millwood Task Force. Task Force member June Farnham then read from the outline Don Weisstuch prepared entitled Millwood Hamlet Planning Study and dated August 6, 2009 which he had previously presented to the Task Force.
After some discussion, the Task Force agreed to present to the Planning Board the outline prepared by Don, together with the “Vision For Millwood” notes read by Dianne with the additional concept mentioned by Task Force Member Jordan Schiffman that we also look at future development along Route 100. Copies of these documents may be obtained from the Millwood Task Force.
Town Supervisor Barbara Gerrard stated that there are two candidates for Town Planner and that the Town would shortly be making a decision so that the position, vacant since the departure of Lincoln Daley, would be filled in early January, 2010. The Task Force again expressed its desire that the Town Planner would be deeply involved in the preparation of a questionnaire for Millwood residents and businesses to ascertain views of the community on the future of Millwood.
DISCUSSION REGARDING MEMBERS ATTENDING TOWN BOARD AND PLANNING BOARD MEETINGS
Sara Brewster stated that in the past, each Task Force member attended a Town Meeting and reported back to the full board. Christine Yeres said she covers these meetings for the online newspaper, NewcastleNOW.org. Sara responded that it is imperative that the Millwood perspective be presented at these meetings and that a person speak out on behalf of the Task Force (after getting a consensus) to read the position into the record. Dianne asked everyone to look at their respective schedules and to let her know what meetings they can attend.
MILLWOOD FIRE DISTRICT ELECTION AND PROPOSED FIREHOUSE
Fire Commissioner Hala Makowska distributed a document entitled Program Evaluation and Recommendation. The document showed the development of the size of the proposed firehouse building by date and based upon input by various consultants and architects. She presented a history of the sizing of certain elements of the building. She also mentioned that there have been two scoping sessions and that the Board of Fire Commissioners has received comments from the Town Planning Board and from the DEP. Finally, she stated that the DEIS will be accepted as final scope on December 9, 2009.
Hala informed the Task Force was that there will be an election of a Fire Commissioner on December 8, 2009 at Station 2 and that Tony Olenick is running unopposed.
Hala then described the present situation with Mr. Vesce who owns the property adjacent to the property recently purchased by the Fire Commissioners for construction of the new firehouse. Mr. Vesce had written a letter to the BOFC requesting certain protocols be followed when dealing with him. She stated that the BOFC has been open and transparent with all meetings properly noticed. It is public knowledge that the public is welcome to attend these meetings. The BOFC responded to Mr. Vesce by letter which was read aloud by Commissioner Alan Schapiro. According to Hala, the process of designing of the firehouse and where it will sit on the property is just beginning and the Vesce property may not be impacted at all if the alignment of Allen Road and Shuman Road is not part of the site plan. She stated that any difficulties with the adjacent property owners will be dealt with in due course and hopefully settled. She acknowledged that the property owners who enjoy a restrictive covenant will have to be paid something to settle any potential claims.
MTF Member Lou Russo stated that he believed that Mr. Vesce’s concern is that one possible outcome of building a new firehouse on the newly acquired land would be a taking of Mr. Vesce’s two-family house. Lou thought that perhaps Mr. Vesce was thinking he would lose that asset. Lou advised the MTF that at one time he was the managing agent of the property owned by Mr. Vesce, having been legally appointed when the property was in receivership. MTF Member Jordan Schiffman suggested that we invite Mr. Vesce to attend a future MTF meeting to hear his vision for Millwood as he has done nothing to improve his property in the last 15 years.
Hala then mentioned that the old firehouse would be put up for sale. Although there had been prior discussion concerning a restriction in the deed, according to the Fire Commissioners, no restriction is present which would prevent the sale of the firehouse for any legal use.
PROPOSED UPPER WESTCHESTER MUSLIM SOCIETY MOSQUE
It was reported that the Zoning Board of Appeals met on November 30, 2008 and discussed the Draft Environmental Impact Statement. It was resolved to consolidate several memos regarding inadequacy of parking, wetland issues, traffic issues and septic issues and to take a vote at the December meeting of the ZBA whether to accept the DEIS as submitted.
TAX INEQUITY IN WEST END OF NEW CASTLE
Town Supervisor Barbara Gerrard indicated to the MTF that the fee to be paid to the firm of Thomas Fry is $5,000 for a preliminary report which will indicate the overall effect of full revaluation on the Town of New Castle.
PINESBRIDGE ROAD REPAVING
Town Administrator Jerry Faiella indicated that road swales will be reconstituted in addition to the grinding down resurfacing and repaving of the road.
ROUTE 120/133 INTERSECTION IMPROVEMENT
No update.
A&P WALL RECONSTRUCTION AND PUBLIC NOTICE SIGN ON CORNER
Town Administrator Jerry Faiella reported that State DOT is now holding up the issuance of the required permit to commence work.
There is a meeting scheduled for the week of December 7th with the property owner with the hope being to obtain a license to build a new structure for public signage.
MISCELLANEOUS
* Town Supervisor Barbara Gerrard and Administrator Jerry Faiella notified the MTF that garbage collection will continue to be twice weekly instead of once per week as had been proposed.
* Town Supervisor Barbara Gerrard and Administrator Jerry Faiella notified the MTF that the Town is now looking at building a second field at Amsterdam but that it would not be built in 2010. Sara Brewster stated that the West End, which is part of the Ossining School District would bear the burden of this new field if it were to be built in that it only benefits the residents of the Chappaqua School District. She pointed out that only a very small percentage of Ossining school children make use of the New Castle recreational services. She urged the Town to be sensitive to the West End residents in that building a second field would have a negative impact on traffic and noise. With the proposed Mosque across the street, the proposed second field should be looked at very closely.
* Task Force Member Jordan Schiffman asked Barbara and Jerry whether in light of recent budget cuts there has been any discussion of shared services; i.e. services shared among communities which would lessen the total cost of providing a particular services. Barbara’s response was that the Town already does share services where appropriate. She gave examples of OVAC, DPW vehicles, Fire Districts, skateboard park, water filtration.
* The MTF approved the minutes of its November meeting.
Respectfully submitted,
Michael Hafitz
Member, MTF
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