WHITE PLAINS CITIZENETREPORTER SETS RECORD VISITS FOR YEAR 7,017,658 VISITS! 2,098,003 VISITORS MADE 6 VISITS A DAY EVERY DAY. 63,330 UNIQUE VISITORS MADE 133,730 VISITS IN DECEMBER. WPCNR AVERAGED 17,284 VISITORS A WEEK, VISITING 31,270 TIMES.

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The FASNY Hearing Monday Evening as of 9:45 P.M. Crowd had dwindled by half.

The Common Council listened to speaker after speaker. Here the always passionate Dan Seidel beseeches the Council to vote the proposal down.

WPCNR SOUTH END TIMES. By John F. Bailey. September 8, 2014 UPDATED SEPTEMBER 9, 2014 UPDATED 12:45 P.M. UPDATED  2:20 P.M. E.D.T. :

The FASNY SPECIAL PERMIT HEARING on the French American School of New York site plan for a 5-building campus on the Ridgeway Country Club was held open by the Mayor and the Common Council because thirty or more persons still had not gotten the opportunity to speak by midnight last night.

The Office of the City Clerk confirmed to WPCNR the hearing will be continued Wednesday evening at 6:30 P.M. However, the City Clerk office also said when WPCNR asked if more could speak, that  no additional persons may sign up to speak other than those who did not get to speak Monday evening. The Special Permit/Site Plan hearing was suspended at 12:30 A.M. this morning.

Those who were on the list to speak are invited back to White Plains High School at 6:30 P.M. Wednesday to resume the action.

The hearing on the closing of Hathaway Lane was closed approximately 9: 45 P.M, and the site Plan hearing resumed approximately 10 P.M.

The French American School of New York Special Permit/Closure of Hathaway Lane hearings began approximately at 6:30 PM Monday evening with about  700 in attendance. Observers said the hall appeared full which would mean approximately 900 people were in the building. (WPCNR arrived about 9:30 P.M.). Ron Rhodes, one of the speakers told WPCNR  that at the outset of the Hathaway Lane hearing, the Mayor said the process would next include the Common Council coming up with questions that want the French American School of New York  to answer, and FASNY coming back to the Council with answers.

Rhodes also pointed out that Anne Bobroff-Hajal representing EcoNeighbors,  speaking about 11: 20 raised the issue that the Army Corps of Engineers has indicated to her that FASNY had not been as clear as they should have been in explaining the project. She pointed out that the Army Corps of Engineers should have analyzed the site to see where foundations could be put for the project buildings or homes taking into consideration the underground tributaries of the Mamaroneck River.

WPCNR spoke with Anne Bobroff-Hajal this morning who explained: she said FASNY wrote the Army Corps of Engineers three years ago, inquiring whether or not the Army Corps had jurisiction over the property. However they had not sent their plans. Since then, FASNY has not been in contract with the Corps, according to Bobroff-Hajal’s contact at the Army Corps of Engineers Steve Ryba.

In July, she told WPCNR the Army Corps thanked her for drawing their attention to FASNY’S project, and proceeded to request the plans from the French American School.  Bobroff-Hajal reports to WPCNR that the Army Corps cannot determine whether they have do have jurisdiction without doing a study of the property.

(UPDATE, 1:40 P.M.:)First, she told me, the Army Corps does a “desk study” of the project plans then a “site study.”

That process of gathering material to determine jurisdiction, according to material just received from the Corps of Engineers by Ms. Bobroff-Hajal, is now underway.

According to Ms. Bobroff-Hajal, the Army Corps of Engineers does have jurisdiction over the property and “is very interested” in the project plans because the corps is now doing a detailed study of the Mamaroneck River and Sheldrake River water basins. Bobroff-Hajal said that the Army Corps of Engineers map shows underground streams heading out southwest from the pond on the previous golf corse property, which run right across where FASNY plans its construction. One of those streams is not shown on the FASNY public plans.

Bobroff-Hajal told WPCNR she had contacted the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation and they were not interested in looking into the project.

However the Army Corps was very interested when she contacted them in July, because, she said, the Corps told her the Army Corps “relies on citizens to inform them of projects that are planned in their cities. Otherwise,” she said,  “they have no way of knowing whether developers proceed with a project or not.”

A letter from Zarin & Steinmetz, FASNY attorneys,  provided by Ms. Bobroff-Hajal dated August 25 (last month) acknowledges Army Corps of Engineers efforts to collect information for the Corps study of jurisiction, FASNY attorneys to the Army Corps of Engineers in response to the Army Corps requests for the FASNY Plans, cited the reason why FASNY feels the former golf course is not subject to Army Corps jurisdiction, saying that streams that have been covered over (in this case by creation of the golf course), are not subject to ACE jurisdiction. Though that regulation has expired.

WPCNR has asked for a statement from the French American School of New York on why they did not explore invoving the Army Corps of Engineers in analyzing the water sensitivity of the property, and whether the Corps feels a study is needed.

WPCNR has asked for a statement from the City of White Plains press office as to why the city’s battery of environmental consultants had not pointed out to FASNY that the Army Corps of Engineers does have jurisdiction over the property three years ago before the process began.

Approximately  70 speakers  were scheduled to speak throughout the evening. The crowd had dwindled to 125 by  11:30 P.M., when the Special Permit hearing was still going on. Applause greeted statements pro and con, reminiscent of a congressional State of the Union message.

This was the largest gathering observed over a land-use issue in the city since the New York Presbyterian Hospital  hearings in the three years 2000 to 2002. That land use controversy resulted in an Article 78 proceeding against the city which the hospital won on the grounds that the city had refused to refer the project for review to departments. That Article 78 decision forced the city to review the Hospital’s proton accelerator project which was eventually approved but the hospital abandoned the plan.

Old grounds for rejecting the current FASNY proposal under review for the last 3 and a half years were repeated by opponents with the majority of comments advising the Common Council of White Plains to reject the school proposal to build a 5-building campus on the former Ridgeway Country Club.

Objections previously raised were that increased traffic would overwhelm North Street and the Gedney Farms  Neighborhood; real estate values would decline;  the project did not fit in  with the neighborhood.

New objections were also raised by Ron Rhodes that the project violated a number of sections of the Comprehensive Plan of the city, and called for the Council to reject the project. Rhodes concluded his statement, saying, “If you follow the (city) law and reject FASNY…you would show you can’t be pressured by outside influences.”

Robert Stackpole, noted that the alternative posibility of building 45 homes did not conform to the usual standards for viable subdivisions. Mr. Stackpole also stated that there was a “billinonaire owner” who was ready to purchase the former Ridgeway Country Club again and “bail the French American School” out.

A realtor in the hearing of the Special Permit suggested the French American School could purchase or rent the Good Counsel property as a way of moving to White Plains without occupying the Gedney Farms neighborhood and continuing to lower the neighborhood  real estate value. She warned the city that Gedney neighborhood home prices had declined some 20% since the school had announced its intentions, and would continue to lower. She said if the city voted in favor of the project it would face certain tax assessment challenges from those homeowners who remained.

One fourth of the crowd was clad in green “YES” shirts supporting The French American School Proposal.

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WPCNR SOUTH END TIMES. September 8, 2014:

Geof Thompson, spokesperson for the French American School of New York, after confirming  to WPCNR, that FASNY allowed their postage permit indicia to be used to send a Pro-FASNY mailing brought to them by a group of neighbors in Gedney Farms, has issued a statement this afternoon on reimbursement of the postage, in response to a WPCNR query.

Mr. Thompson wrote WPCNR:

“Mailing cost was under $3000 and FASNY will pay it.  

As I explained in my earlier email and when we spoke, a core group of neighbors drafted and revised the letter which was then sent to supporters who joined the letter. FASNY mailed it for them. Since it arrived in mailboxes Friday an additional 21 neighbors have joined the letter bringing it to 62 neighborhood co-signers.  Each one of them approved the letter and then added their name.  There likely will be more. “

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WPCNR SCHOOL DAYS. From Archbishop Stepinac High School, White Plains, NY September 8, 2014:

 Classes for the new school year began today for Archbishop Stepinac High School’s Freshman Class consisting of 213 students, representing yet another spike in enrollment that the 66-year-old, all boys school has experienced in recent years.

Since the 2008-2009 school year when the freshman class consisted of 139 students, enrollment has soared 53%.

“Equally significant is that over the same five-year period, the percentage of prospective students who indicated that Stepinac was their first choice also jumped sharply,” said Father Thomas Collins, (Pictured above appearing last September on WHITE PLAINS WEEK, the White Plains TV City News Roundup Show) President. He added, “Back then, 139 students put Stepinac first. This year, 242 made Stepinac number one, representing an astonishing 74% gain.”

The impact of soaring enrollment forced Stepinac this summer to create a wait list for the freshman class as well as hire eight new faculty members.

In explaining the striking difference that five years has made at Stepinac, Father Collins pointed out that today’s freshman class will enjoy several advanced educational and extracurricular features and capabilities that were not available to freshmen in 2008-2009.

They include an all digital textbook library, the first of its kind in the nation; a state-of-the-art computer lab and physics lab; a synthetic turf athletic complex as well as significant enhancements to the school’s Major Bowes Theater and notable building façade, parking lot and grounds improvements.

“As these became a reality, we showcased them at our Open Houses. Over time, word-of mouth—combined with our marketing efforts—sparked increased interest among our target audience of middle-school boys and their parents,” Father Collins explained. “Given our school’s tremendous progress and consistent record of shaping future leaders by providing an outstanding academic education grounded on strong Roman Catholic values and traditions, it comes as no surprise why so many more prospective students and their parents are knocking on our doors.”

Geographically, each of the key areas where Stepinac draws enrollment—the Bronx, lower and Central Westchester— have shown increases over the past five years. But, the school has also been steadily attracting students from northern Westchester, a trend which is expected to continue in the years ahead.

The catalyst that sparked Stepinac’s seemingly overnight enrollment success story was the decision that the Archdiocese of New York made five years ago for 10 of its high schools including Stepinac to become independently chartered. In so doing, each school would be responsible for budgeting, fund raising, marketing and other governance functions associated with running a successful educational institution.

As part of its new independent status, Stepinac created a Board of Trustees comprising prominent alumni and other leaders who have been committed to chart the school’s new future. In 2011, it appointed Father Collins, a Stepinac alum (Class of 1979) as its ninth leader. Previously, he served as Stepinac’s Associate Dean of Students.

“The key to Stepinac’s success has been the tremendous generosity and support of our alumni who have made it possible to raise and invest several millions of dollars to help keep our school at the forefront of secondary education in the region,” Father Collins related. “I cannot imagine how this remarkable story can be told without their fierce loyalty and commitment.”

Sometime later this fall, the school’s new video conference center, located adjacent to the library, will open. It will not only enhance Stepinac’s ability to communicate with its core constituents but it will be used by students to interface with their counterparts in foreign countries, a likely outcome from Stepinac’s recent hosting of students from China.  “A new and exciting chapter in education is happening and Stepinac is proud to help lead the way,” Father Collins stated.

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TONIGHT ON

PEOPLE TO BE HEARD

WESTCHESTER COUNTY’S MOST RELEVANT INTERVIEW PROGRAM

DR. JACK STERN

NEUROSURGEON 

WHITE PLAINS HOSPITAL MEDICAL CENTER

DR, MIRIAM LEAVITT-FLISSER

PEDIATRICIAN, BRONXVILLE

ON

AFFORDABLE CARE ACT IN ACTION IN WESTCHESTER

HOW IT’S CHANGING HEALTH CARE

HOW IT IS AFFECTING PATIENT CARE

HOW IT IS CHANGING DOCTORS’ PRACTICE

HOW TO TREAT A VISIT TO THE DOCTOR

HOW HOSPITALS ARE CHANGING.

IS IT BETTER, IS IT WORSE?

THEIR ANSWERS WILL LIFT YOU RIGHT OUT OF YOUR CHAIR

INTERVIEWED BY JOHN BAILEY AND JIM BENEROFE ON

PEOPLE TO BE HEARD

“WHERE PEOPLE WHO HAVE SOMETHING TO SAY, HAVE THEIR SAY.”

YOU CAN DOWNLOAD THE PROGRAM AT

www.whitepainsweek.com

and see

THIS WEEK’S WHITE PLAINS WEEK OF SEPTEMBER 5 SHOW:

PETER KATZ, JOHN BAILEY AND JIM BENEROFE 

ON THE PRESIDENT’S VISIT TO WESTCHESTER

BUSINESS AS USUAL AT WHITE PLAINS HIGH SCHOOL.

LCOR’S 55 BANK STREET 17 STORY RENTALS/RETAIL APPROVED

THE $10 MILLION DAM FIX DECREED BY THE STATE

JOE DILLON ANNOUNCES HE’S RUNNING AGAINST GEORGE LATIMER

THE PLAYLAND STALL BY THE COUNTY EXEC AND BOARD OF LEGISLATORS CONTINUES. NO DEALS IN SIGHT

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WPCNR SOUTHEND TIMES. September 6, 2014:

Two days before perhaps the penultimate French American School of New York public hearing at White Plains High auditorium Monday night, a single page letter signed by 41 residents around the former country club property urges  neighbors accept “that a change in use (of the country club property) is inevitable.”

The letter states, “the time has come to accept that there will be a change and to move forward.”

The letter debunks the notion that the property should be used for housing:

“We have carefuly considered that and have concluded that this would result in losing virtually all of the property other than wetlands and steep slopes to development. It (housing) would add to traffic, burden the local public schools with many more children and would bring no tangible benefit to the community. Whatever taxes would be generated by the residential properties would be more than offset by the increased demands for municipa and school services.”

The letter supports the site plan for the following reasons:

“reduction in the number of students who will attend the school, most of the traffic has been removed from Ridgeway (Avenue), the school buildings have been pulled back from Ridgeway and other property lines, landscaping and buffering have been substantially enhanced, and the overall impacts have been significantly reduced. The plan today is better and far less impactful on the neighborhood thanks to those who have stood up and made their case.”

The letter supports the final open space the site plan provides:

“there is a bit less open space than FASNY had first proposed, but it’s still 78 acres. That’s more than half the property and a lot of that land is very buildable…FASNY says it will put a permanent conservation easement on the open space and maintain and operate it as part of the School, solely at their cost.”

Closing of Hathaway Laner is dismissed  as a casualty of the new site plan, because of the traffic mitigation the closing provides:

“As long as emergency access is maintained, and the City makes sure it will be, we think this actually will lessen the potential for traffic cutting through the adjoining neighborhood streets…any inconvenience it causes is relatively minor while the benefits to lessening cut-through traffic on the adjoining streets is a real plus.”

The letter closes, “We are urging the Mayor and the Common Council to approve the (FASNY application for a )Special Permit: We thank them and the City’s staff and consultants for giving so much time and attention to the future of the Ridgeway CC property, for listening and responsing to the concerns of the surrounding community and for helping to shape the plan into something that should be workable for all. We appreciate the views of all our neighbors and welcome those who so wish to join us in signing this letter or otherwise letting the Mayor and Council know that it’s time to move on and move forward…”