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. | WHITE PLAINS WESTCHESTER DAILY NEWS SERVICE VISITS SINCE 2000 A.D. 25TH YEARl REPORTING THE NEWS YOU NEED TO KNOW News Service Since 2000 A.D. 2026 WILL BE OUR 26TH YEAR OF COVERING WHITE PLAINS NEW YORK USA . John F. Bailey, Editor (914) 997-1607 wpcnr@aol.com Cell: 914-673-4054. News Politics Personalities Neighborhoods Schools Finance Real Estate Commentary Reviews Policy Correspondence Poetry Philosophy Photojournalism Arts. The WHITE PLAINS CITIZENETREPORTER. TELEVISION: "White Plains Week" News Roundup, 7:30 EDT FRI, 7 EDT MON & the incisive "People to Be Heard" Interview Program 8PM EDT THURS, 7 PM EDT SAT on FIOS CH 45 THROUGHOUT WESTCHESTER AND, ALTICE OPTIMUM WHITE PLAINS CH 1300 Fighting for Truth, Justice and the American Way. TOP 10 VISITORS FROM AROUND THE WORLD :1. USA. 2.BRAZIL3.VIET NAM 4. CHINA 5. JAPAN 6.UK. 7.CANADA. 8.INDIA. 9.AUSTRALIA 10.IRELAND 11.GERMANY 12..ARGENTINA 13.BANGLADESH 14.RUSSIA. 15.NEWZEALAND. 16. FRANCE. 17.MEXICO. 18.UKRAINE. 19.SOUTH AFVRICA. 20. IRAQ.

SCHOOL DISTRICT INTERVIEWING FOR NEW INTERIM SUPERINTENDENT OF SCHOOLS. CONNORS, CURRENT INTERIM, WILL LEAVE DISTRICT AT END OF SEPTEMBER.

Posted on September 7, 2016 by John Bailey

WPCNR SCHOOL DAYS. Special to WPCNR from the White Plains City School District. SEPTEMBER 7, 2016:

TIMOTHY CONN0RS (left) to Depart end of September. A new Interim Superintendent of Schools is being searched for to continue to substitute for Dr. Paul Fried, who continues on sick leave, the School District announced today.

MICHELE SCHOENFELD SAID THAT TIMOTHY CONNORS, WHO HAS BEEN THE INTERIM SUPERINTENDENT SINCE JUNE, WILL NO LONGER BE INTERIM SUPERINTENDENT.

CONNORS HAS BEEN REPLACING DR. PAUL FRIED WHO MS. SCHOENFELD SAID IS ON SICK LEAVE.

SCHOENFELD TOLD WPCNR THAT THE BOARD IS NOW ACTIVELY INTERVIEWING FOR A NEW INTERIM SUPERINTENDENT WHILE DR. FRIED CONTINUES ON SICK LEAVE, WHILE STILL UNDER CONTRACT TO THE DISTRICT.

Common Council Twice Refuses to Table Consideration of Settlement of FASNY suit, then approves it by 4-3 vote.

Posted on September 6, 2016 by John Bailey

THE COMMON COUNCIL VOTED TO APPROVE A TEMPORARY SETTLEMENT OF THE FASNY LAWSUIT AGAINST THE CITY OF WHITE PLAINS IN ORDER THAT THEY MAY REVIEW THIS ALTERNATIVE SITE PLAN AND SPECIAL PERMIT APPLICATION. THE SITE IS EXPLAINED IN DETAIL IN THE WPCNR PHOTOGRAPHS OF THE DAY IF YOU SCROLL DOWN THIS COLUMN

WPCNR COMMON COUNCIL CHRONICLE-EXAMINER. Special to WPCNR from Peter Katz on the Scene. With Released Comments Provided by the French American School of New York. September 6, 2016:

Peter Katz reporting for WPCNR this evening, reports the Common Council approved the settlement of a lawsuit filed by the French American School of New York against the city, before an overflow crowd of persons attending the council meeting tonight at City Hall.

“Citizens to be Heard” the pre-council meeting feature was packed with speakers mostly against approving the settlement, Mr. Katz said.

Katz said the ordinances 76 and 77 items approving the settlement with the school were taken out of order and put at the top of the proceeding. Councilman Dennis Krolian proposed a motion to table Ordinance 76 and the Council voted 4 to 3 not to table. Krolian next proposed to table Ordinance 77, the Stipulation of Settlement, and again the Council voted 4 to 3 not to table.

Then the Council voted 4 to 3 approving the Settlement.

Voting to approve the Statement of Settlement were Mayor Roach, and Councilpersons John Kilpatrick, John Martin and Beth Smayda.

Councilpersons Nadine Hunt-Robinson, Dennis Krolian and Milagros Lecuona voted against approving settlement.

Mr. Katz said Mayor Thomas Roach, casting the deciding vote, said the settlement was not approving the amended site plan, that it was just putting the lawsuit “on hold,” while the new plan was considered. Mayor Roach, Katz reports, said that FASNY could have filed a new site plan at any time. Mr.Katz reports that the Mayor emphasized he had not made up his mind on the new plan FASNY will be submitting.

9 Weeks to the new plan

That new plan will be officially in about 9 weeks, if you go by the Stipulation of Settlement text, to wit:

After Judge Lefkowitz signs the Statement of Settlement, the city will have 14 days, to provide “an itemized list of documents and submissions necessary to make the Alternative Site Plan Application complete…FASNY will file its Alternative Site Plan Application for the site plan approval and a special permit within seven (7) weeks after this order is approved by the court.”

Next, Judge Joan Lefkowitz has to sign the Stipulation of Settlement. Mr. Katz there is no schedule as to when Judge Lefkowitz will sign the order, but Katz says the city has regular morning meetings with the judge.

Andrea Colombel, Board Chairperson of FASNY in a 10 PM news release from FASNY said, “We expect the judge to sign the agreement in the next few days which will give the Court authority to oversee the review process. We expect a timely and fair review and look forward to putting a shovel in the ground. FASNY is a wonderful school with a vibrant community which will contribute to the City of White Plains and its residents for many years to come,” she added.

Katz interviewed John Botti of the French American School who told him the school as a gesture of “good faith” has already filed in court a conservation easement that will guarantee public access to the lands reserved for the nature conservancy.

In a statement issued at 10 PM this evening, The French American School Chairperson of the Board, Ms. Andrea Columbel had these comments on the conservancy:

“As a matter of good faith to resolve the dispute, FASNY has already recorded and created a 51-acre publically accessible Conservancy on part of its land with plans to create east-west and north-south pedestrian and bicycle paths for neighborhood residents, as previously proposed. Known as “Parcel D,” the land has frontage on Bryant Avenue, North Street and Hathaway Lane.

“It has just become the largest private conservation easement in Westchester south of Interstate 287, and the first in the City of White Plains. The conservation easement assures that the property cannot be developed, and will ultimately be open to the public. The conservation easement, which is the largest in White Plains, will include miles of bike/pedestrian trails safely connecting the neighborhood.

“The reduction in conservation easement from the 78 acres offered by FASNY in the original plan reflects the 35 percent reduction in the size of the school buildings and the 33 percent reduction in the student population under the Alternative Plan.

“We are deeply appreciative for the continued and growing support we have received from thousands of residents and businesses across White Plains. We look forward to moving forward and putting this unfortunate delay behind us,” Colombel said.

The terms of the proposed Stipulation of Settlement, according to the FASNY news release include that:

The Upper School (grades 6-12) will be built on the already developed portion of the site (“Parcel A”) where the clubhouse and other facilities of the former Ridgeway Country Club now stand.
Hathaway Lane will remain open.
No environmentally sensitive features on the site will be impacted.
The Lower School (Nursery through 5^th grade) is eliminated from the application reducing student population by 33 percent from 950 to 640, reducing building square footage by 35 per cent, and significantly reducing traffic by another 42 percent.

Under the proposed Stipulation of Settlement, the Common Council would agree that this plan presents a potentially reasonable alternative for resolving and settling the outstanding litigation. The Council would also agree to provide the Alternative Plan a diligent and fair review in compliance with all applicable laws and regulations, mutually agreed to milestones, Court-ordered oversight for the review process, and the staying of all litigation until the Alternative Plan is determined by the city under its normal public review procedures.

“We are gratified that the Common Council has approved the settlement agreement. Tonight’s vote is long overdue and represents a win-win for the City and the FASNY community. All parties can now put aside costly litigation and concentrate on obtaining final approvals for a compromise school plan,” said Andrea Colombel, Board Chairperson of FASNY.

THE MAYOR AND COMMON COUNCIL GET LETTERS LOTS AND LOTS OF LETTERS

Posted on September 6, 2016 by John Bailey

WPCNR THE LETTER TICKER. From The Gedney Association September 7, 2016:

The Gedney Association has shared a sampling of letters questioning why the city is considering settling the FASNY lawsuit tonight

Dear Representatives of the People of White Plains,

Wondering why there has been such a faux pas made on your part not to notify your constituents in an timely and fair manner of the above cited meeting…
I respectfully and firmly request that you postpone your vote on this action in order to give your White Plains constituents enough time to review and challenge the ongoing threat to their community from FASNY.

As you all know, the citizens of the city of White Plains are notified by the mayor of any changes to our garbage/recycling pick up due to holiday or storm. This is done in a timely fashion in order to keep us informed.

No such courtesy of keeping us, your constituents, informed has been extended to us, the citizens of White Plains, about this important meeting tonight to vote on this incredibly inappropriate project.

No notification until the last minute about a crucial meeting is also inappropriate and unfair to your constituents. The decisions made at this meeting will impact hundreds of White Plains families, their livelihood and the living conditions for their families for many many years, no, more accurately, indefinitely.
Many people from FASNY who will not be personally impacted by this inappropriate development obviously have known, in advance, that this meeting would address this issue and vote. They will be prepared. What about your neighbors and fellow White Plains taxpayers? Not so much… This might be called an unfair advantage.

I truly question how you, my representatives, in good conscience, can proceed with this meeting.

My other question to you, my representatives, is who are you supporting and protecting during this never ending nightmare? If you, in good conscience, can enumerate a strong list of positive benefits that would out weigh the multiple negative effects of this inappropriate project, please let us, your constituents, know what they are. We can find no redeeming features at all. Not one…

Most sincerely,
Your constituent,
Joanne T. Dunphy

————————————————

Settlement?

Dear friends:

(Briefly, because your inboxes must be inundated – though with good reason.)

I am at a loss to understand:

1 – How the City is ready to give up on a case it could have won.

2 – How the small vocal pro-FASNY minority had advance knowledge.

3 – How this was kept from the public until just a few days ago.

4 – How you are now entertaining a plan in many ways worse.

5 – How you can believe that they will stop at 650, and not add the rest later.

And I still don’t understand:

6 – How any one of you believes that this project would benefit the City.

My take-away lesson – and I’m not a lawyer, but this must be in a first-year law-school class – is that in any litigation there should be one attorney on each side, not both on one side. From where the public sits, it would appear that, to put it politely, the City has not been well served by its corporation counsel.

I hope that in this hasty vote and in the proceedings which inevitably follow, at least one more member of the Council will come to his or her senses and represent the interests of the citizens of White Plains.

Paul Schwarz

________________________________________________

To the Mayor and Common Council

Please tell us that the article in White Plains Patch quoting a Gedney resident: David Kohl? Who he? — I’ve lived in Gedney farms for 13 years and never heard of him prior to his efforts as a paid media consultant for FASNY or met him at any community function — was just an inflammatory PR ploy and speculation.
What is white Plains Neighbors ACT if not an active publicity arm created for FASNY? It was formed in Dec 2015 by FASNY to advocate for them; it does NOT REPRESENT this community! Just Google it for the true picture!
,
Nothing has changed about the situation that led to a defeat to the plan to close an important thoroughfare and destroy a neighborhood — the street is still a main artery, the property is still heavily wetland, the greater Gedney, North Ave, Havilands, Highlands, Hillair Circle, Carhart, community is opposed. A slightly smaller FASNY doesn’t mitigate any of these issues!

You are our elected representatives. JUST SAY NO!

Elaine Taylor Gordon

______________________________________________________

What a Tangled Web…

To the mayor and council:

We are at a loss to understand your lack of transparency regarding the “Stipulation of Settlement” and what appears to be our city government caving to intimidation while totally ignoring so many of the long time residents/taxpayers of White Plains and working behind our backs with a small but obviously influential pro-FASNY minority.

Those of you supporting the “Stipulation of Settlement” are the city’s own worst enemies.

You had a winning case and now it appears some of you are betraying those of us you were elected to represent.

The situation is a disgrace and the way in which it was done is totally distasteful.

At the very least please have the decency to table any vote on this so-called “Stipulation of Settlement” due to inadequate notice to the majority of the public whom you were elected to serve.

Frances & George Jones

————————————————

Dear Mayor Roach and members of the White Plains Common Council,

Over this holiday weekend I received word that on the Tuesday following Labor Day the Common Council will consider a proposal made by the French American School of New York to stipulate to discontinue, without prejudice, its lawsuit against the City of White Plains. According to published sources, the proposed stipulation was provided to members of the Common Council on Thursday evening, September 1, 2016.

I urge you to table any vote that might come before the Common Council on this matter on September 6th.

The residents of White Plains elected you to serve the City.The City of White Plains gains nothing by rushing this proposal to vote on such short notice. There is something rotten in the City of White Plains when a vote related to a development project that could affect thousands of White Plains resident gets placed on the agenda for a meeting of the Common Council with only one business day’s notice to the constituents you were elected to serve.

The appearance of impropriety is staggering.

Claudia G. Jaffe, Esq.

_____________________________________

Dear Mayor Roach and Members of the Common Council,

We are writing to each of you about the proposed Stipulation of Settlement with The French American School of New York.

We find it hard to understand that after more than 5 years of evaluating this proposal, much of it with public discussion and input you would hold this most important meeting tonight without ample time for the public to comment.

The entire SEQRA process is predicated on comments from the public.

Please allow time for public input by the people who would be most affected by this project and who should be able to review the Stipulation in a more through manner.

Residents should be afforded the same courtesy FASNY was clearly afforded.

Thank you.
Garry & Donna Klein

————————————————

Dear Mayor Roach and Members of the Common Council,

We are writing to each of you about the proposed Stipulation of Settlement with The French American School of New York.

We have learned that you will vote on this proposal tonight at the monthly Council meeting. This time frame does not give the public adequate time to review the proposal, as well as prepare remarks although FASNY has had more time to do so.

Each of you was voted into office with the presumption that you would work on behalf of White Plains residents.

By not supporting the residents of the City you are violating your oath of office.

Please allow time for public input by the people who would be most affected by this project and who should be able to review the Stipulation in more than a perfunctory manner.

Residents should be afforded the same courtesy FASNY was clearly afforded.

Midge and Richard Sanchez

_____________________________

Dear Mayor Roach and members of the Common Council-
Once again, we are faced with yet another ridiculous plan by FASNY to undermine the quality of life of the people of this city. Their attempts to shove their plans for the Ridgeway Country Club site before our city government indicate their complete disregard for the laws of and concerns for the citizens of this city who elected you to serve our best interests and safety. Please vote against any
New plans for their use of the site for their school campus.
Be assured, we the citizens of White Plains and residents of the south end of the city will not stand idly by if Fasny attempts to undermine the quality of our neighborhood because you failed to act in our interest.

Laurie Kimmelstiel

______

________________________________________

Dear Mayor Roach and members of the White Plains Common Council,

I am disappointed that once again you are planning to vote on a critical step on this longstanding issue announced at the last minute over a Labor Day Weekend.

This matter is a major step, which seems to your constituents like an agreement that isn’t supported by the facts in the case.
1.There is a high likelihood that the City will prevail in the lawsuit. Why settle now?
2.There is no justification for declaring the parcel they want to build on not environmentally sensitive. In fact, there are indications that they have covered up wetlands on that parcel.
3.There is no justification for agreeing to address and complete voting on their “new proposal” next year. They took a number of years to complete their part of the process on their last proposal, and they still, in my opinion, did not complete the required work to support their plan. The process should proceed at the pace demanded by the required process and the facts, not based on some unsupported agreement before the process has even begun.

At a minimum, this proposal should be tabled tomorrow so that it can be studied thoroughly before you act on it. Fairness to the City and your constituents demands this step.

Albert Dold

________________________________________

To the Mayor and Common Council:

POSTPONE ANY action on the FASNY agenda item. It is the least you can do, as elected officials and representatives of the residents of White Plains, after springing this on the public
ONE day before the Labor Day weekend.

It is a disgrace for the mayor and his staff to be negotiating all summer behind closed doors with the litigating party and then picking the worst possible time – the Labor Day weekend – to announce it and bring it before the Common Council and the public.

Where is the open government and transparency promised to the residents and voters at election time?

Carry Kyzivat

WHY SETTLE?

Posted on September 6, 2016 by John Bailey

WPCNR THE LETTER TICKER. SEPTEMBER 6, 2016:

Dear Mayor and Common Council,

If FASNY wants to drop their lawsuit and submit a another revised development plan. . .FASNY should just do it.

And both can be done at the same time with minimum cost to the City with the legal brief having already being filed with the Appellate Court, where apparently there is already a considerable backlog in hearing cases.

And doing both at the same time forces FASNY to come up with a realistic and workable plan for their property. . .which FASNY has never been able to do for the past 5 years or so.

Let’s review why the FASNY review process has dragged on for more than 5 years:

→ FASNY purchased the wrong property for their planned massive development. Then compounded their own problem by not doing enough due diligence on the old golf course property. And ever since FASNY has been trying to force feed a massive development into the middle of a residential area where it doesn’t fit with the City’s Comprehensive Plan, Zoning and neighborhood Character.

→ The City wasn’t responsible for delaying the approval process as FASNY claimed in its lawsuit. . .FASNY never presented a realistic and workable plan for the property. Each of the multiple plan submissions by FASNY had the common theme of being misleading, inaccurate and incomplete. Not a good report card on FASNY’s ability to present a good project development plan to the City.

→ For some reason the City Staff appeared to be intimidated and out-maneuvered by the FASNY lawyers every step of the way to the extent that Staff was incapable or uninterested in asking the right questions and thoroughly investigating each of FASNY’s plan submissions. Not a good report card on the City Staff’s ability or interest in asking the right questions of FASNY. . .or being able to thoroughly evaluate a revised FASNY plan submission.

→ Your own White Plains residents were left with the task of uncovering the flaws and inadequacies in each of FASNY’s incomplete plan submissions and City Staff inadequate reviews. On all of the major problem issues in FASNY’s submissions such as massive Traffic, the Closure of Hathaway Lane, the North Street Entrance. 10-year Construction, Water, Environmentally Sensitive Wetlands, Zoning, the Dumping of Pesticides in the Conservancy, etc. and etc. . .

— it was left to residents to clean up FASNY’s and the City Staff’s lack of thorough due diligence. This work was never the intended responsibility of residents. . .however to protect the City and residents’ own personal property values. . .residents had to step in and try to fix the mess left by FASNY and the City Staff.

The challenge for FASNY or any other future developer of the old golf course property is that it is not 130 acres of contiguous space. The property consists of 4 separate parcels of land each surrounded by City streets. . .and way back 100 years or so when the original golf course was built it was constructed by piling on dirt and creating underground streams.

So there are existing Water issues today and more will come up with any planned building foundations. . .and the old golf course’s steep slopes and wetlands also create challenges for any future development. All of these unique elements were recognized in the City’s Comprehensive Plan which recommended that. . .if the golf course went out of business that residential housing would be the preferred alternative.

We understand that FASNY has apparently now come up with another revised plan. Please forgive us for having lost count of the number of plan revisions that FASNY has already submitted to the City! If FASNY’s new plan is one calling for 640 students with changed Traffic patterns. . .this is a significant and material change from FASNY’s last Site Plan submission and the City’s own prior SEQR Findings Approval document. FASNY should be treated just like any other large developer and be required to restart the SEQR approval process.

Just on the issue of Traffic in White Plains a lot has changed over the past 5 years with normal population growth, the impact of new construction and more vehicles exiting parkways to take shortcuts through our City. . .particularly on Ridgeway and North Street.

And with all the analyses of FASNY Traffic, please stop with all of the PR comparisons with prior FASNY plans which were flawed and were never approved anyway.

Do answer in FASNY’s revised plan the million-dollar question that FASNY and their City Enablers don’t want to hear. How many additional cars and buses, including ins and outs, will FASNY be adding to our current neighborhood Traffic. . .and what other WP streets will this convoy of FASNY vehicles be traveling through to get to their campus?

We’re getting ahead of ourselves critiquing FASNY’s new plan before it has even been submitted. . .however if the FASNY property is 4 separate parcels of land and FASNY is concentrating all its building on Parcel A. . .aren’t there density restrictions on the percentage of how much can be constructed on each parcel of land that residents and developers have to adhere to, particularly in a R1-30 low-density zoned residential area?

It looks to us like FASNY is trying to build the largest ever McMansion type project right in the middle of residential homes!

SEQR regulations also specifically require that all future development plans for a property must be disclosed upfront. . .so if FASNY’s new school population is for 640. . .then according to SEQR the school population has to stay at 640 “in perpetuity”.

And also according to SEQR if any possible future land sales are planned. . .this also has to be disclosed upfront. FASNY can’t come back and try to increase school population before the Construction phase is even competed. . .as FASNY tried to do in some of their recent plans. It’s the Common Council’s fiduciary responsibility to insure that SEQR regulations are followed to the letter of the law.

We ask the Common Council to ignore the FASNY behind-the-scenes intimidations. . .and to follow SEQR regulations, the City’s Comprehensive Plan and our local laws as written. . .and with this latest significant and material FASNY development plan change. . . treat FASNY the same as any other large developer. . .and have FASNY once-and-for-all prepare a complete and accurate SEQR submission as required by law.

In our opinion the settlement agreement FASNY now wants the City to agree to may actually encourage FASNY to continue to prepare more incomplete and inaccurate plans. . .because with the approval timetables FASNY wants the City to adhere to there is significant danger of another City rushed and inadequate reviewed FASNY plan.

Why put the pressure on the City? The pressure should be on the developer FASNY. If the City receives an accurate and well-thought out development plan from FASNY. . .follows normal review procedures. . .completing the review in a timely fashion would not be a problem.

However, the experience to date of all of the FASNY plan submissions is that they have been misleading, inaccurate and incomplete. . . with the added complication that these FASNY lawyers and consultants don’t like to answer direct questions about their development project. . .as other outside developers must do in White Plains. So it would be a disaster for the City to commit to review-time-tables if the City continues to receive bad plans from FASNY. . .which based on our experience with FASNY is more than likely to happen.

The City has to take whatever time it needs to do its due diligence. . .anything less than a timely and thorough review of a project would be a disaster. How is the City being protected with these review time limits considering FASNY’s history of submitting incomplete and inaccurate plans?

We urge our Common Council not to settle. And also urge the Common Council to leave the City’s current appeal with the Appellate Court in place. . .it’s the right thing to do to protect the future of White Plains and its citizens.

Thanks for your consideration,

Your Truth Police

Marie and Ron Rhodes

P.S. We would be remiss in our comments if we didn’t mention the following:

Shame on the FASNY lawyers and consultants who initially didn’t do enough due diligence on the property they themselves bought. . .and then dragged out the City’s approval process by submitting incomplete and misleading plans. . .and shame on those in our City government who behind-the-scenes have tried to help these FASNY lawyers and consultants circumvent the City’s approval process.

And also shame on the City Bureaucrats responsible for the last minute pre-Labor Day notification of a Tuesday, September 6th agenda item for a vote on settling FASNY’s lawsuit.

As long-time residents of White Plains we expect our elected officials to partner and protect citizens with forward thinking as well as innovative and transparent government.

We’re shocked that some of our elected officials, who we voted for, turned into “Benedict Arnolds” and also participated in backroom politics and vindictive last minute document dumps. We’ll be more informed for the next election.

NEIGHBORHOOD ACT GROUP ENDORSES PASSAGE OF SETTLEMENT WITH FRENCH AMERICAN SCHOOL OF NEW YORK

Posted on September 6, 2016 by John Bailey

WPCNR LETTER TICKER. September 6, 2016:

FASNY’s alternative compromise plan, announced last (Thursday) evening, is an opportunity for an enormous win-win for the entire City of White Plains — including the Gedney Farms neighborhood where I live.

It’s a plan that gives our City leadership the chance to represent thousands who have voiced their strong support for the creation of a publically-accessible park and top-notch school, while concurrently addressing the objections of the small minority of vocal opponents.

White Plains just got an enormous nature conservancy: With the 51-acre conservation easement filed earlier this week that includes miles of bicycle and pedestrian paths, FASNY has made official its promise to create the largest privately held nature conservancy in South Central Westchester. This is an incredible asset for everyone in White Plains.
Families get more safety: For children who want to walk or ride to school, the pathways through the park will provide safe passage to and from White Plains High School, eliminating the dangers of Ridgeway and Bryant Avenue.
Taxpayers stop footing the bill for wasteful litigation: This plan immediately eliminates litigation costs – already exceeding $100,000 — and the enormous financial risk to our City’s residents of a multi-million dollar damages suit.
We gain an excellent school: The international school community will add to the cultural richness of our already diverse City, and bring economic benefits to our downtown businesses.

FASNY’s plan leaves sensitive environmental areas untouched, reduces by 42% the number of students (and associated traffic), scales back development to only 28 acres, and immediately opens 51 acres of parkland and trails. The compromise plan addresses the entirety of the Gedney Farms Association’s stated objections. Any further opposition would be nothing short of selfish, “NIMBY” (Not In My Backyard”) behavior.

As a member of the vast majority of Gedney Farms residents that support FASNY, we’re thrilled to be on the cusp of this major win-win for all of White Plains: an incredible asset with none of the perceived risks. My neighbors and I urged the City Council to finally vote on Tuesday to represent the ever-growing number of White Plains residents who are squarely in favor of this beautiful, publicly-accessible park and respected international school.

Optimistically,

David Kohl on behalf of White Plains Neighbors ACT

COUNTY POLICE ARREST SUSPECT IN SAW MILL PARKWAY HIT AND RUN FATAL ACCIDENT.

Posted on September 6, 2016 by John Bailey

WPCNR POLICE GAZETTE. From Kieran O’Leary, Westchester County Police. September 6, 2016

Westchester County Police arrested a Yonkers man last night and charged him with a felony in connection to a fatal hit-and-run accident that occurred earlier Monday on the Saw Mill River Parkway.

Junior Silverio-Ventura, 19, of Groshon Avenue is charged with Leaving the Scene of a Fatal Motor Vehicle Accident, a felony. He was held overnight at county police headquarters in Hawthorne and will be arraigned this morning in Yonkers City Court.

The accident occurred about 2:50 a.m. Monday on the northbound Saw Mill River Parkway near McLean Avenue in Yonkers. A Nissan Sentra that had a flat tire and was stopped in the roadway was rear-ended by an Acura TSX. The occupants of the Acura abandoned that vehicle and got into another car, also an Acura TSX, and fled the scene.

Westchester County Police detectives were able to identify the persons involved in the incident and charged Silverio-Ventura last night with being the driver of the Acura that rear-ended the Nissan Sentra. The Yonkers Police Department assisted in the investigation.

Zachary Dunn, 18, of Yonkers, the driver of the Sentra, was fatally injured in the collision. His passenger suffered non-life-threatening injuries.

Commissioner George N. Longworth said the investigation was continuing and additional charges were possible. He thanked the Yonkers police for its assistance.

Anyone who has information about the incident is asked to call Westchester County Police at 914-864-7701. All calls are confidential.

PHOTOGRAPHS OF THE DAY: ANATOMY OF THE NEW FASNY PROPOSAL IN THE SETTLEMENT WITH THE CITY, SUSPENDING LEGAL ACTION FOR TIME BEING IF COUNCIL APPROVES SETTLEMENT

Posted on September 4, 2016 by John Bailey

THE PRELIMINARY PROPOSAL

“A” DEVELOPMENT LIMITED TO PARCEL “A”

“B” HATHAWAY LANE MAINTAINED AS A PUBLIC ROADWAY “B”

“C” PROPOSED UPPER SCHOOL, GREENHOUSE, GYMNASIUM, AND PERFORMING ARTS CENTER BUILDINGS REMAIN AS ORIGINALLY PROPOSED at “C” LOCATIONS

D–BLACK BOX THEATRE (6,000 SQ FT) PREVIOUSLY AT BUS LOOP LOCATION IS ELIMINATED FROM PARCEL A

“E” –ATHLETIC FIELD CONFIGURATION REMAINS AS ORIGINALLY PROPOSED

“F”–VEHICULAR STUDENT DROPOFF LOOP REMAINS AS ORIGINALLY PROPOSED

“G” –BUS DROP OFF LOOP HAS BEEN REDESIGNED TO BE LOCATED ENTIRELY ON PARCEL “A”. 750 FEET OF DROP OFF DISTANCE IS PROPOSED

“H” — VEHICULAR ACCESS TO CAMPUS IS PROVIDED VIA A DRIVEWAY OFF HATHAWAY LANE WITH A GATE HOUSE

“I” –75 FOOT OPEN GREEN SETBACK ADJACENT TO RESIDENTIAL LOT LINES HAS BEEN MAINTAINED

“J” TOTAL PROPOSED BUILDING SQUARE FOOTAGE HAS BEEN REDUCED FROM 243,000 SQUARE FEET TO 158,000 SQUARE FEET (35% REDUCTION) TOTAL PROPOSED PARKING HAS BEEN REDUCED FROM 348 SPACES TO 248 (29% REDUCTION)

“K” TOTAL STUDENT ENROLLMENT HAS BEEN REDUCED FROM 950 TO 640 STUDENTS (33% REDUCTION)

“L” MAXIMUM NUMBER OF VEHICLE TRIPS DURING “PEAK AM AND PM HOUR” HAS BEEN REDUCED FROM 530 TRIPS TO 415 TRIPS (22% REDUCTION). MAXIMUM VEHICLE TRIPS ON RIDGEWAY FROM 7 AM TO 9 AM FROM 715 TO 415 (42% REDUCTION)

“M” PROPOSED PEDESTRIAN BIKE PATH

In answer to WPCNR’s queries about the plan that were unclear, Geoff Thompson, spokesperson for the French American School issued this statement to WPCNR Sunday morning:

“The City submitted the settlement, not FASNY.

No changes to Hathaway Lane are planned. (Editor’s Note: WPCNR had asked if Hathaway Lane would be widened to accommodate traffic.)

FASNY owns and will maintain all of the land (the Conservancy) as it does now. Only Parcel A is part of the Alternative Site Plan application.

FASNY will have to prepare a valid, updated Environmental Assessment Form to support the new plan.

The plan provides for 640 students only.

There is no North Street driveway as part of our revised application. 51 acres on parcel D have already been recorded into a conservation easement.

We have no comment with regard to the Litigation Settlement discussions.”(WPCNR has asked who participated in the negotiation sessions.)

Common Council First Received Copy of Stipulation of Settlement of FASNY-WP LAWSUIT, Monday, August 29

Posted on September 3, 2016 by John Bailey

WPCNR COMMON COUNCIL CLARION-LEDGER. By John F. Bailey. Septermber 3, 2016:

The Stipulation of Settlement reached by The French American School of New York and the City of White Plains was first presented to the Common Council in a confidential, unnoticed meeting Monday, August 29, WPCNR has learned. that the council also was unaware such negotiations between The French American School and the city had been going on.

Councilwoman Milagros Lecuona, told WPCNR Saturday morning, “When did the Council get a copy of the settlement? This was in a confidential meeting last Monday and we never before had any conversation on the subject matter. This was not given to me or any others on the Common Council until Monday.”

Councilman Dennis Krolian said the first time he learned of the agreement was also last Monday, August 29.

As of Saturday afternoon at 5 PM the Stipulation of Agreement text has not been posted on the White Plains Agenda section.

However, WPCNR suggests you can see the Stipulation at this link:

SEPTEMBER 11 REMEMBRANCE IN WHITE PLAINS

Posted on September 3, 2016 by John Bailey

September 11 Tribute

On Sunday, September 11, six American flags will fly from City Hall as homage to the residents of White Plains who gave their lives. A Remembrance service will be held at 9:00 a.m. at Liberty Park on Lake Street, the permanent memorial site for these residents. The ceremony will include a flag raising, utilizing an operation freedom flag, wreath laying, prayer, and reflections on this historic day.

On Wednesday, September 14 the City of White Plains Personnel Department and the American Red Cross will provide residents an opportunity to roll up their sleeves and give blood. The Blood Drive will be held at City Hall, 255 Main Street in White Plains, from 10:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. Donating just one pint of blood can save up to three lives and is a wonderful way to give back. Pre-registration is available at www.redcrossblood.org Sponsor code WPCITYHALL.