Tuesday, November 18, 2014
by Nancy Huehnergarth

As a weekly shopper at the Chappaqua Farmers Market, I was deeply dismayed to learn that the Chappaqua Central School District (CCSD) has refused to host the indoor winter farmers market at the Bell School.

Monday, September 29
by Christine Yeres

Supervisor Rob Greenstein is eager to show that his hands are off the master plan review, but last week he demonstrated again that his hands have never been off it.  Operating through the town planner, Sabrina Charney, he continues to make decisions without either informing his other TB members or consulting the Master Plan Steering Committee, whose members were appointed by the Town Board to run the master plan review. 

When asked in last week’s TB meeting whether the members of the Master Plan Steering Committee had given their input on the RFP for a professional consultant to help with the master plan review process, no TB member or its counsel seemed to know.  Yet Greenstein was prepared to issue the RFP that night.

Monday, July 28, 2014
by Michael Shapiro

Dear Supervisor Greenstein:

As I have mentioned to several people in town government over many years, The Chappaqua Orchestra is in favor of the renovation of the Wallace Auditorium at Chappaqua Crossing, and the auditorium thereafter being run by the Town or a not-for-profit corporation.  Properly renovated, the Wallace Auditorium could become the long desired home of the The Chappaqua Orchestra and other performing arts organizations.  Due to the very busy schedule at the high school, Greeley is not readily available for us.  Having a performing arts center at Chappaqua Crossing would also enliven the development by giving Chappaqua a priceless cultural resource, and the Chappaqua Orchestra a home.

May 30, 2014
by P. Cullen

This is an accident, or worse, a law suit waiting to happen.  For quite some time, professional dog walkers have been taking over the town parks.  There is the possibility that if one of these dog walkers causes an accident (if one of their charges bites a resident/visitor), the town could be sued.  When bite incidents have happened in the past, the Town Board has considered the possibility of banning all dogs from town parks.

Applicants for train station lease gravely disappointed in the process and final decision
Monday, May 19, 2014
by Peter and Erin Chase

Dear Mr. Greenstein & Town Board:

Our family moved to Chappaqua because we fell in love with the small town feel and sense of a strong community.  We immediately knew we wanted to open a small restaurant and be a part of this community.  For almost a year we have been working with a local broker trying to find a space to lease.  In February we were made aware, by our broker, that the train station was possibly available, as negotiations were breaking down on the lease.

Monday, May 19, 2014
by Robin Murphy

Dear Editor:

Although I voted for Rob Greenstein as well as the other Team New Castle candidates, Adam Brodsky and Lisa Katz, I have been disappointed that their promises to bring “small business mindset” and “a new approach” to New Castle town government have so far been empty.  The appointment of Jill Shapiro as Town Administrator—with no attempt to invite other candidates to apply—raises serious questions.

April 11, 2014
by Bill Kuebler

Take It Or Leave It fans rejoice. The Take It Or Leave It Shop will reopen bigger and better than ever. I had a very nice talk with Supervisor Greenstein yesterday afternoon. The passionate letters to this site and the wonderful speakers at the town board meeting Tuesday showed how vital and popular our little community is. Thank you all.

This is how I understand the situation—and keep in mind things will certainly evolve.

April 8, 2014
by Robin Murphy

Dear Adam, Elise, Jason & Lisa,

Yesterday, someone mentioned on the Chappaqua Moms facebook page about the changes in Take It Or Leave It.  When pressed for an explanation, Rob Greenstein responded as follows:

April 4, 2014
by Suzanne Chazin

I know there has been a lot of talk about creating a commercial center in the former Reader’s Digest property and also moving the town offices up to Chappaqua Crossing. I think this is not a good idea over the long term for the health of our community.

Monday, March 31, 2014

Editor’s Note: In 2013 Steve Coyle, an investor in commercial real estate for the past 25 years, wrote several letters to the editor in NCNOW stating his reasons for opposing proposed retail zoning for Chappaqua Crossing.  Last week he wrote again to NCNOW stating his reasons for believing that “this is a bad project that will be bad for our town.  I don’t know how to say it any more clearly than that.” 

A Town Board with three new members is again fast-tracking the application for a zoning change at Chappaqua Crossing to permit a 40,000-square-foot Whole Foods and 80,000 square feet of additional retail, which Supervisor Rob Greenstein has stated he intends to approve regardless.  But this rezoning now makes up only half of Greenstein’s plan.  The other half is to move Town Hall to the cupola building at Chappaqua Crossing and develop (or have Summit Greenfield develop) the town hall site with “transit-oriented” residential. 

Because 1) a Master Plan review process is only just getting started, 2) Adam Brodsky’s volunteer Downtown Business Development Advisory Committee (meant to advise the TB on viability of the two-part plan and on its implementation) will not meet until late April, and 3) the details of Supervisor Greenstein’s plan have not been released nor its ramifications studied in any detail, NCNOW asked Coyle what he thought about the two-part plan. First, Coyle’s letter of last week:

March 18, 2014
by June and Roger Blanc

To the Zoning Board of Appeals
Ladies and Gentlemen:

We live in close proximity to the site covered by the above-captioned applications (together, the “Applications”) and we respectfully recommend that the Zoning Board of Appeals and the Planning Board (together, the “Boards”) deny the Applications for the reasons set forth below and other reasons the Boards may find appropriate.

March 14, 2014
by Jeffrey Kay

I am happy to hear the Town Board has put into motion the update of the 1989 Town Development Plan, and that on March 18 the Steering Committee will meet with the Town Board and Pace consultants to discuss details of the community outreach. Town Supervisor Robert Greenstein stated “the overall purpose of the Master Plan is to provide a “roadmap” for development in the Town of New Castle over the next twenty years.” However, given how contrary the proposal for “The Spa at New Castle” is to the Master Plan, it is unfair both to the residents of our town and even to the developer to proceed with the application, the environmental (SEQR) review and the consideration of rezoning a residential neighborhood into a new commercial district concurrently with the update of the Master Plan.

Planning Board conducts informal hearing for tower proposal at 7:00 p.m. on Monday, January 6

View from a driveway directly across the road; red dot in center of photo (just above phone wires) is balloon marking height of proposed cell tower
Monday, December 16, 2013
by Tej Anand

Verizon/Homeland has filed an application for installing a 150-foot cell tower on 620 Armonk Road (NY Route 128) in New Castle. The proposed cell tower will be directly behind the tennis courts of the Twin Oaks Swim & Tennis Club (See the map below).  The Homeowners Association of Whippoorwill Lake Road has put together a petition asking the New Castle Planning Board to deny Verizon’s application.  We have put forward ten reasons why constructing a cell tower at this location is incompatible with its historical and natural surroundings, and will impact the quality of life and the property values of surrounding neighborhoods.

December 13, 2013
Written by Rob Greenstein with William R. Spade, Architect – AIA, Co-founder of Chappaqua for Responsible Affordable Housing

In early January of this year, Rob Astorino came to New Castle Town Hall on for his “Ask Astorino” session.  I asked him “What is your opinion of the affordable housing proposal at Hunts Place?” “What do you think of that location?”  Astorino responded: “One of the biggest things I’m fighting for is local control,” he said.

You heard the milk cartons!  Now talk!

Here.  Now.
With 76 comments since publication
November 22, 2013

Editor’s Note:  Here’s NCNOW’s temporary tent, à la De Blasio (his is at Canal and Sixth Avenue) , set up to hear ideas, suggestions or complaints from residents over the next month, between holidays.  What issues should Rob Greenstein, Lisa Katz and Adam Brodsky pay attention to?  Come into the tent by clicking “Read more….”—and leave a comment.

November 1, 2013
by Elise K. Mottel

I am writing in support of Penny Paderewski for Town Supervisor and John Buckley and Mike Wolfensohn for Town Board. As a sitting town board member and an active Democrat, my endorsement will surprise few, if any. I feel that the reasons I am supporting the Democratic slate are important to share before the election.

November 1, 2013
by Roger Klepper

I have given much thought to the proposed Conifer affordable housing project.  At first glance, it appears to be not unlike many other matters currently before the town, with a long list of positive and negative considerations.  Much like Chappaqua Crossing, this can serve as ample fodder for lively debate among the town’s residents.  But Conifer is in fact different.

November 1, 2013
by Janet L. Wells

Putting aside the drama and emotion of the election season, the Town of New Castle needs a Supervisor who is knowledgeable and steady, knowledgeable about the many and varied parts of town government and steady while solving current and future problems.  Penny Paderewski is that person.

November 1, 2013
by Mark Mutkowski

The unfunded mandates Gregg Bresner writes about have been a clear issue now for at least a decade and the solution to the problem will require sacrifice from all constituents, but we are not even in a conversation at this point, we are just kicking the can.  Any town board absolutely does need to have a strategy for dealing with the New York State, not just throwing its hands up.

November 1, 2013
by Mark Goodman

My wife and I moved to Chappaqua in 1985.  Her birthday is Halloween and when we were house hunting, we happened to be in Chappaqua on the day of the Ragamuffin Parade.  My wife and I decided that any town that celebrated her birthday in such grand fashion was a place we wanted to live.

November 1, 2013
by Robin Murphy

I started attending Town Board meetings and work sessions on a regular basis a few years ago and, based on the information gleaned there and in town, I feel strongly that the Democrats’ one-party control has caused problems for our town.