Letter to the Editor

November 14, 2008

What is going on at the Reader’s Digest property?
Lee Bowen

“I waited for the public comment period and asked question one: Do you know how many tenants are currently renting at this property and who they are? The board members, town counsel, town administrator, town clerk, no one in attendance could answer.”

Letter to the Editor: What is going on at the Reader’s Digest property?

Dear Editor:

On Wednesday evening, I attended the town board’s work session as well as the regular board meeting which followed in order to ask two questions of the board regarding the current use of the former Reader’s Digest property.

I waited for the public comment period and asked question one: Do you know how many tenants are currently renting at this property and who they are? The board members, town counsel, town administrator, town clerk, no one in attendance could answer.

The second question I asked was: When are the personnel from Northern Westchester Hospital going to begin parking there and shuttling to Mt. Kisco. Again, no one knew the answer.

Several years ago the developers, Summit/Greenfield, were “caught” renting to more than one tenant before our zoning and town boards had granted permission for a zoning change that would allow additional tenants. The developers did not suffer any consequences for bending our rules. Because of their previous actions I am relying on our town board to be ever vigilant of their actions. I urge our town board members to be informed, to know how many tenants are renting currently, who they are and who may be in the pipeline. Under the current zoning rules, only four tenants are permitted.

I also expect our town to be prepared for the traffic changes that may occur with the hospital personnel parking there and shuttling to and from Mt. Kisco. As you prepare to read the enormous amount of material in the Draft Environmental Impact Statement (DEIS) recently submitted to the town board for review, I urge you not to lose sight of the fact that the developers are trying to rent as much commercial space as possible while their plans for an enormous residential development are being pushed through. 

Lee Bowen

Lee Bowen lives on Roaring Brook Road near the Reader’s Digest property.