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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WPCNR Common Council Chronicle-Examiner. By John F. Bailey. October 27, 2006, UPDATED 1:30 P.M. EDT: The Memorandum of Understanding between the city and New York Presbyterian inched closer to acceptance by the Common Council Thursday evening.  

The council demonstrated  no objections to the major effect of the MOU—relinquishing right of the Common Council approval of the project to The Planning Board. That happens once the Council accepts the MOU  which if executed in full, secures 5.5 acres or more of parkland from the hospital for the city.  In exchange the NYPH is given a  ready-to-go subdivision layout of 114 lots that will produce a 125-unit subdivision on 60 adjacent acres paralleling Bryant Avenue.  Mayor Joseph Delfino (back to camera) assured the Common Council that the hospital “has no plans at this time to develop the property.” Photo by WPCNR News

The council was informed by the city Planning Commissioner that the total budget for preparing the subdivision would be $635,500, with the city paying $60,000 out of pocket (for its 5.5 acre park portion of the subdivision) and the hospital reimbursing the city for the balance of the costs.  The Planning Commissioner said it was up to the council whether they required the reimbursement in cash or in extra land added to the 5.5 acres on the wetslopes and forested area descending from the 5.5. acre “park area.”

It was made clear that if the Common Council agrees to the Memorandum of Understanding (planned for as early as the November 6 Council Meeting), that the only opportunity for the Common Council to bail out of the deal would be when it comes time for the Common Council to remove the 65 acres from the Hospital Use Special Permit that now is attached to the targeted property. By refusing to remove the property from under the Special Permit, they violate the aggreement, in effect,  killing the park, and the property reverts to as of right.

WPCNR wants to point out that the Planning Board, by state law, is the agency charged with reviewing proposed subdivisions, however, by presenting the MOU to the Council, the council in effect has this one opportunity to either buy in or reject this concept of a subdivision on this property.

City Gets to Choose the Land with a Conservation Development

It was painstakingly pointed out by the Planning Commissioner that the Planning Board which under Zoning Law retains exclusive jurisdiction over “Conservation Developments”  would hold public hearings each step of the way as part of their series of steps to final approval of the subdivision.

Council President Rita Malmud told WPCNR after the meeting broke up that the Council can reject the park/subdivision plan and the 125 home development by either not signing the Memorandum of Understanding or by not approving the removal of the land from the Special permit.

The Planning Commissioner explained to the Council, by proposing the Conservation Development, the city is able to dictate where the parkland would be, while if a site plan were submitted, though the Common Council would have approval rights, the hospital could dictate where the parkland would be. Photo by WPCNR News

In contrast the Memorandum of Understanding gives New York Presbyterian Hospital the right to approve all access roads to the subdivision being designed for them by the city.

A troubled Dennis Power

Councilman Dennis Power expressed his desire to see a clause written in to the Memorandum of Understanding that if the New York Presbyterian Hospital were to entertain the sale of the land, that the Trust for Public Land be allowed to obtain it as a right of first refusal. Planning Commissioner Susan Habel said the Trust for Public Land did not buy land, that the organization was a negotiator only to try and bring two parties together. Asked what the value of the sixy-five acres now was, Paul Wood, Executive Officer said between 1.1 and $2 Million, but he did not know.

Mayor Delfino was adamant that he would not add any clause allowing the Trust for Public Land to attempt to broker a land deal. It was calculated by Councilman Thomas Roach that the land at 60 acres at $1.3 Million an acre would require an investment of $78.6 Million. Mayor Delfino said he did not think adding a right of refusal clause was legal. He said he might be able to get a separate letter from the New York Presbyterian Hospital to that effect.

Assessment Shot.

After the meeting, Wood  told WPCNR that upon approval of the Conservation Development plan, the city would obtain the 5.5 acres of park for immediate development into a park. He added on questioning that once the Conservation Development was approved by the Planning Board, (anticipated in August, 2007), the 60 acres would return to the assessment roles. He estimated that would add about a million dollars to the city budget (and WPCNR estimates $4 Million to the City School District coffers).   

The substance of the agreement was not challenged by the Council members accept in the matter of the length of the lease and its renewal, the terms and circumstances on how the city expenses (on the residential parcel) would be paid. The agreement binds both city and hospital to a strict 9-month timeline (in which Draft and Final Environmental Impact statements and Findings Statements would expect to be completed in time for an approval by next August) which the Commissioner of Planning was going to rework  

Councilman Arnold Bernstein made clear that the Council could refuse to renew the Proton Accelerator/biomedical facility Special Permit and use it as “a club” to enforce the agreement should the hospital refuse to pay city expenses if they violated or dragged their feet on the subdvision timetable.

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WPCNR PRESS BOX. By John F. Bailey. October 26, 2006: Why do WPHS Athletes earn scholarships year after year? Because the White Plains coaches and Guidance Counselors take a professional attitude towards helping their athletes find the schools where they can excel. Last night, the traditional appearance of Wayne Mazzoni of Sacred Heart University took the mystery out of getting athletic scholarship.

On the day after yet another White Plains High athlete, Liz Flooks of Tiger Basketball fame, had chosen to accept a 4 year athletic scholarship to Niagara University, Sacred Heart University baseball coach, Wayne Mazzoni addressed about 25 parents and student-athletes at WPHS on how to get an athletic scholarship. Photo, WPCNR Sports

His advice: evaluate your abilities, be realistic, and search out schools that will be a good fit for you, and sell yourself. Go after the coaches, the colleges and the programs you want to be a part.

 How do you do that? Mazzoni advises you to find first the kind of college you want for your aca in the location you desire.  How do you do that? He suggests using the website http://www.collegecoachesonline.com the parent and their athlete can locate 20,000 coaches from NCAA Division I,II, and III teams to isolate your sport and the colleges in the regions you want to go. Then Mazzoni says, it is up to the athlete and the parent to find from that list of some 20 to  50 schools – the handful of schools you want to target.

What is the right fit? Mazzoni says it’s at a school that has the academic disciplines you’re interested in, and where you will play, where the coach and his philosophy are right. He says with the right amount of pre-research you can control the recruiting process. Mazzoni made the point last night that the college coaches are not going to be knock-knock-knocking on your door – you as the student athelete and the parent have to knock on theirs.

To evaluate your own talent, you have to talk to college coaches, go to camps and get straightforward appraisals of whether you are Division III, II or I material and concentrate your efforts on the level that you can play. Start with your high school coach, he says. Once you deterimine the level of play you can collect a series of colleges where you can help their program and their program fits your expectations of college play.

The ideal time to start making your “playlist” is at the beginning of your Junior year.

Next, Mazzoni says you have to make a play on the coachof the sport at the schools you like. You can write them. (The NCAA rule is coaches cannot contact you – but you can contact the coach all you want.) You can send them videos. You can visit a campus on your own to see them play, and talk to the coach.  Mazzoni says do not be afraid to follow up and ask those “coaches of opportunity” what they think about how you can help their program. Remember, it is all about you. You have to be happy, because as Coach Mazzoni says transferring if you have misevaluated a program is a “hassle.”

The coach remarks that  you learn something by proselytizing yourself. Some coaches will tell you you are not good enough, and that is helpful. Others will express and interest and you are on your way. Then you take those schools (which presumably you have already determined you like academically) where coaches like you as a player and athlete and concentrate on them.

Mazzoni cautions against attending showcase camps unless you can be specifically assured that certain coaches you want to see you play are going to be present. He is more positive about personal communication with the coach on your development and achievements. If the coach likes what you say you offer, he or she will make an effort to watch you hit, run, catch, pass, tackle or skate. Another tactic is to call the coach or coaches you want to see you play and find what tournaments they regularly attend and play in those tournaments.

At the end of the Junior year, Mazzoni says you must register with the NCAA Clearinghouse with the guidance department or at NCAA.org. The site provides the grade requirements for you to participate in NCAA sports as a freshman. The

Mazzoni encourages you to make campus visits. He notes you may make one campus visit paid for by the college, but subsequent visits you pay for. He encourages you to interview the coach, players, players paents. Find out how the team travels (bus or van, Mazzoni prefers bus for safety). Ascertain the mix between academics and sports, what your academic requirements will be and how much the team will respect them.

Do not hesitate, if the coach is interested in you, to ask the coach to make his appreciation of you known to the Admissions Office. He encourages you to be proactive in asking if there is any aid available. However, he warns against being an over proactive parent.

Mazzoni advises against recruiting services, because he feels “they are a waste of time and money.”

In deciding where you will go should you be offered a scholarship or merely accepted, Mazzoni notes you have to consider the academics, the Coaching, the Recruiting (how many you will be competing against), the Philosophy (why you are wanted, your responsibilities), how the team is managed.

In closing, what I took from Mazzoni’s talk was that you have to treat acquiring a scholarship for athletics as competitively as you do an athletic contest. You have to prepare. You have to scout. You have to hone  your skills (academics and athletic). And you have to be better prepared. If you approach a coach knowing about his program, showing by doing so natural leadership qualities, you stand a much better chance with that coach – any coach – than the passive prospect. You will stand out, and be better informed in choosing which school to play at – scholarship or not.

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WPCNR COMMON COUNCIL CHRONICLE-EXAMINER. October 25, 2006: The Memorandum of Understanding that Mayor Joseph Delfino is encouraging the Common Council to approve, which would essentially put the city on record as endorsing city acceptance of a massive subdivision on the Bryant Avenue side of the New York Presbyterian Hospital property  with the city receiving 5.5 acres of hospital land for a park of two ballfields, which would be constructed and maintained at city expense will be discussed Thursday evening at a meeting of the Common Council at 6 P.M. Two routine public hearings are scheduled, as well as an Executive Session on “litigation” and “employment/promotion of an individual.” The Agenda:

1.                  Public Hearing on an application submitted on behalf of Heyman Properties, LLC for a proposed amendment to an “S Zone” Ordinance entitled, “An Ordinance amending the Zoning Ordinance of the City of White Plains in relation to a change of district of Lots 8, 8A, 9 and 10, Block 9, Ward 4 (“White Plains Plaza Zone Ordinance”).

2.                              Communications from          Deputy Commissioner of Building (2)

3.                                                                              Design Review Board (2)

4.                                                                              Commissioner of Public Safety

5.                                                                              Commissioner of Traffic

6.                                                                              Traffic Commission

7.                                                                              Commissioner of Parking

8.                                                                              Environmental Officer

9.                              Environmental Findings Resolution

10.                         Second Reading Ordinance amending an Ordinance entitled, “An Ordinance amending the Zoning Ordinance of the City of White Plains in relation to change of District of Lots 8, 8A, 9 and 10, Block 9, Ward 4. “

11.                         Resolution of the Common Council of the City of White Plains approving the application submitted on behalf of Heyman Properties, LLC, (“Applicant”), owner of the property known as One North Broadway and 445 Hamilton Avenue for an amendment to an approved site plan to permit alternations and minor ground level additions to the existing building known as One North Broadway (“White Plains Plaza LLC”) exclusive of signage approval.

12.             Public Hearing in relation to the application submitted on behalf of the Jefferson at White Plains, L.P. for an amendment to the site plan of its existing special permit/site plan for certain changes to the project known as The Jefferson, a 281 Unit Luxury Residential Apartment Development, located at 300 Mamaroneck Avenue (Section 130.28, Block 12, Lot 2.1) originally approved by the Common Council on June 4, 2001, and extended by resolution adopted February 3, 2003 and October 7, 2003, and amended by resolution adopted September 6, 2005, to permit (1) the reallocation of parking on the property as a result of changes in the City’s trash collection procedures; and (2) the authorization of the use of a model unit for residential use.       

13.                         Communications from          Deputy Commissioner of Building   

14.                                                                         Design Review Board   

15.                                                                         Commissioner of Public Safety

16.                                                                         Commissioner of Traffic

17.                                                                         Traffic Commission

18.                                                                         Commissioner of Parking

19.                                                                         Environmental Officer

20.                                     Environmental Findings Resolution

21.                                     Resolution of the Common Council of the City of White Plains approving the application submitted on behalf of The Jefferson At White Plains, L.P. (“Applicant”), formerly J.P.I. Apartment Development, L.P., for an amendment to the previously approved Special Permit/Site Plan for changes to the project known as The Jefferson, a 281 unit luxury residential apartment development, located at 300 Mamaroneck Avenue (Section 130.28, Block 12, Lot 2.1) originally approved by the Common Council on June 4, 2001, and extended by resolutions adopted February 3, 2003 and October 7, 23003, and amended by resolution adopted September 6, 2005, to (1) decrease the approved number of parking spaces by one (1) parking space to accommodate changes in the City’s trash collection procedures; and (2) to authorize the use of a model unit for residential use.

DISCUSSION:

22.             Proposed alterations to 1133 Westchester Avenue.

23.             New York Presbyterian Hospital Memorandum of Understanding.

24.             Inter-municipal Agreement Solid Waste.

25.             Agreement with N.Y.S. Department of Transportation to erect a decorative trowel at Hamilton Avenue and Tarrytown Road.

26.             Building Department Electric Inspection Fees.

27.             Entertainment of a motion to enter into Executive Session to discuss pending litigation, and matters related to the appointment, employment and/or promotion of a particular person. 

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WPCNR THE PARKING NEWS. October 25, 2006: The White Plains Department of Parking, acting on the suggestions of residents that long lines to purchase the annual TransCenter Resident Meter Parking Permits at the White Plains Metro North Station, force applicants to stand outside in cold inclement December weather has announced the coveted permits will go on sale November 15 at the TransCenter Office, beginning at 7:15 A.M.

The permits allow White Plains residents to park at metered slots in the TransCenter after 10 A.M., and are meant for residents who do not commute regularly on the Metro North line but find the need to park at the TransCenter to make infrequent trips by train. The permit costs $5.

Mounted P.E.O.’s On Bikes

In another innovation, the Department of Parking has confirmed, (after a Parking Enforcement Officer was reported to WPCNR as riding a bicyle this week on his rounds), that White Plains now has  mounted five Parking Enforcement Officers on Bikes

The new “mounted Parking Enforcement Officers,” charged with awarding $15 tickets to unfortunate motorists who lose track of the time, are patrolling  for parking violations in White Plains from 8 A.M. to 4 P.M. There is also one  P.E.O. who patrosl on bike from 4 P.M. to midnight. The bicylces have been purchased by the Department of Parking, according to a department spokesperson. Asked if this mounted innitiative had resulted in an increase in parking tickets, the Department of Parking spokesperson said it was too soon to tell, but that the bicycling ticket hawks liked the mobility; the bicycles did not block traffic in double-parks, as their white parking patrol vehicles do, and the bikes save their legs.

The P.E.O.s on Bikes are in radio communication with the Department of Public Safety and were trained in the operation of the bikes by the Department of Public Safety.

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WPCNR POLICE GAZETTE. October 24, 2006 GOOD NEWS UPDATE:  The pedestrian hit by a motor vehicle at Dr. Martin Luther King Boulevard and Main Street approximately 4:45 P.M. was not seriously injured and was transported to the hospital, according to Deputy Commissioner of Public Safety, Daniel Jackson.