City Hall: Resolution to buy or Not to Buy Ridgeway Is Not on Monday Agenda

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WPCNR CITY CIRCUIT. By John F. Bailey. October 28, 2010:


City Chief of Staff and Corporation Counsel, John Callahan assured WPCNR a resolution to buy Ridgeway Country Club is not going to be on the Monday evening Common Council Agenda.


Callahan, asked what’s next in the Ridgeway saga, said what’s next is that Mayor Adam Bradley will call a Special Meeting of the Common Council to call the question, but when that will happen is not certain.


Callahan described the Common Council as being “in a period of consideration” at this time.


Asked if the city would possibly consider purchasing Westchester Hills Golf Club across the street from Ridgeway should that club membership be hurt by the city operation of Ridgeway across the street, Callahan said he would have no idea.


Westchester Hills is described by keen observers of the development potential of commercial properties as much more attractive for development than Ridgeway Country Club because there are less wetlands and 3/4 of an acre lot zoning, making for large $1 Million plus homes, townhouse or condominium development.

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Fire Department Knocks Down Blaze at White Plains Furniture. Contains Fire.

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WPCNR POLICE GAZETTE. October 28, 2010 UPDATED OCTOBER 31,2010:


The White Plains Fire Department confined a blaze at White Plains Furniture reported via 911 at 2 A.M. this morning, to the one store, thanks to “an aggressive effort,” according to Commissioner of Public Safety David Chong.


Chong said the cause of the blaze that broke out was unknown at this time. Chong said every apparatus in the city responded. The White Plains Furniture store front, to the right in the above picture appeared gutted but the stores next door still had lights and appeared undamaged to WPCNR. Fire personnel were inspecting the roof at 2:30 A.M. The smell of lingering smoke filled the humid air.  Chong is seen at left with Fire Chief Richard Lyman observing completion of the operation.


Commissioner Chong told WPCNR “the fire was spotted by two Narcotics Crime Unit  Police Officers on Patrol who smelled fire and noticed fire. PO Feliciano + PO MCclean’s  quick actions brought FD to scene.”

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200 Turn Out to Oppose Charter School for Arts. Including Major Westchester Dist

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WPCNR SCHOOL DAYS. By John F. Bailey. October 27, 2010. UPDATED October 28, 1:13 A.M. WITH MUSIC CONSERVATORY STATEMENT: 


The proposed Hudson Valley Charter School for the Art and Global Awareness ran into an indignant throng of local opposition Wednesday night from two hundred residents, including anti-charter school administrators from four school districts last night.



Thirty seven persons addressed the issue.  Two persons spoke in favor of the possibility the school could be a benefit, and the other person in favor was Seth Davis,  a representative of SAGA, the proposed school. Thirty-four others lauded the wonderful White Plains schools dedication to the arts, and achievements and expressed fears that the charter school would take dollars away from White Plains programs. They saw no need for the school in White Plains or the county in general.



The public learned that SAGA had lost its proposed first home for the time being: the Music Conservatory of Westchester, the proposed location for the school. (Michele Schoenfeld, Clerk to the Board of Education reads the Conservatory statement above, text elsewhere in this article).


The Conservatory announced it had infomed SAGA it had put its agreement to allow SAGA to use its faciliies “on hold” because it did not want to jeopardize its relationship with the White Plains City School District in any way. 



Seth Davis of the Hudson Valley Charter School for the Arts and Global Awareness,  told WPCNR SAGA would move forward seeking other locations. since the Conservatory possibility is on  hold.


Davis told WPCNR after the meeting the charter school was told they could not make a full presentation of the school at the meeting and would have only three minutes to speak. 


(Many in the crowd complained they did not know enough about how the school would work and affect White Plains, considering what was described by a number of speakers  as an charter application that was short on detail.)


Dr. Christopher Clouet, White Plains Superintendent of Schools, told WPCNR, when asked if SAGA had been deliberately limited to three minutes, said the state told the district that the district shoud follow its usual public hearing format. Clouet said the district usual gives a three-minute explanation then opens the hearing.


No questions were allowed to be directed to Mr. Davis, or Catherine Riedel, the SAGA Authorized Representative, who was in the audience. 


Preview of the Conflict over Charter Schools to Come


The tidal wave of local opposition over the proposed placement of SAGA in White Plains, gave a serious preview of the local conflicts to come  that will only grow as 260 new charter schools will be introduced by the state of New York as the state implements the New Yok State Charter Schools Act.


Parents from White Plains, teachers, and administrators from  surrounding school districts: Rye Neck, Harrison, Greenburgh, Mount Pleasant spoke against the charter school and questioned the need for it given White Plains Schools’ reputation for the arts.


Lisa Davis, President of the Westchester Putnam Schools Association, spoke against the location of the school as not being needed and a drain on local district budget dollars and characterized it “as a boutique school.”  Davis warned districts throughout the two counties are threatened with location of such schools that she said were not needed “where thare are clearly well-performing schools,” pointing out that other charter schools would be  proposed for districts around the area.


Conservatory Moves to Support School District


The hearing began with Michele Schoenfeld, Clerk to the Board of Education reading a letter from the Music Conservatory of Westchester announcing to Superintendent of School Clouet they had withdrawn the use of their building so as not to jeopardize their relations with the White Plains district. This was greeted by cheers and clapping.


Schoenfeld also read memos from the Dean of Students and Faculty and Director for New Initiatives and Prgrams of the Music Conservatory resigning from the SAGA Board as well as a communication from Frances Wills, retired School Superintendent resigning from the SAGA Board as well. Applause also greeted those announcements.


Charter School Statement 


Mr. Davis said in his brief statement, in part, “We make no judgment on the educational programming or achievement of any existing school district within the wide area we intend to serve. In particular, SAGA notes its respect for the White Plains City School Distrit; we preliminarily intended to site the school here (in White Plains) merely for central location.”


“…Drawing students from the more than forty school districts in the area will minimize the impact on any single district. The regional approach also allows udent from different distrcts to attend the same school basd upon similar interests; an option not currently available.”


“SAGA,” he said, “will include grades 7-8 in its first year, exanding one grade per year thereafter until 12th grade is reached. Enrollment is limited to 32 sudents per grade. SAGA’s program features the integration of the ars into the core academic curriculum, plus at least 2 hours a day of four arts disciplines; music, theatre, dance and visual arts. At the middle school level these classes will be introductory overviews. At the high school level, students will enroll in more specific electives and pursue an rts major.”


Davis said the proposed school would make “a determined effort to enroll students wih special needs, students who are English language learners, and students eligible for federal lunch programs in numbers comparable to, or greater than, those of the region.”


Apres Le Deluge.


Then with two exceptions, one Steven Reidell who read a letter from a White Plains alumna supporting the school, and another resident saying the school might be a good resource, a parade of White Plains school district personalities, Joan Kass, Susan Altman, Susan Dewey, and various parents stated that White Plains was one district that was very strong in the arts, and speaker after speaker said how effective and wonderful the White Plains District arts programs were and how the had affected their children positively.


The fears voiced most often were that the charter school would draw a great number of White Plains District students drawing away taxpayer dollars from White Plains hurting the district.


The subject of academic performance did not come up, except when Ms. Dewey questioned how the charter school was going to teach the core disciplines, though the school plans to begin in Middle School, when presumably the core disciplines have already been taught. 


It was the only time academic performance of students came up during the 2 hour and fifteen minute meeting.


TEXT OF MUSIC CONSERVATORY OF WESTCHESTER


STATEMENT ON DENYING ITS BUILDING TO SAGA (READ LAST NIGHT)


Dear Friends,


 


We want to clarify our position regarding the proposed arts charter school in White Plains. During the summer, the Music Conservatory of Westchester was approached about housing this charter school in segments of the Music Conservatory building that are not utilized on weekdays before 3:00 p.m.   Initial discussions proposed the Conservatory house the school as a landlord and receive rent for the first several years while the school grew. The rent we would receive would be beneficial to our non-profit and our mission. With that in mind, we pursued this, and the Conservatory was the proposed location cited in the charter application filed on September 22, 2010 to the NYSED Office of Innovative School Models.


 


After this proposal became public, however, our management and board became aware that our long time colleagues and friends in the White Plains and neighboring school districts strongly opposed the creation of this charter school. Throughout its 80-plus year history, the Music Conservatory of Westchester has enjoyed excellent relationships with our fellow music instructors, teachers and administrators. We would not want to do anything to jeopardize these relationships on which we so strongly rely.  

Therefore, the Conservatory has withdrawn its offer to house the charter school in our building for now. Our board and management have put our dealings with the charter school on hold until such time as a public determination might be made that starting such a school would be deemed beneficial to the public school community, as well as to the city and county.  There is presently no formal relationship between the charter school and the Conservatory.  Our Dean, Jean Newton, who had been invited to join the board of the charter school, has resigned this position as of Friday, Oct. 22, 2010.


 


Thank you.


Music Conservatory of Westchester


 



 


 


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City Intros Ridgeway Public Golf RecPlex. In Black, 2012. Decision Imminent?

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WPCNR SOUTH END TIMES. By John F. Bailey. October 26,2010 UPDATED  2:14: A.M. E.D.T. October 27, 2010 KEY FINANCIAL STATEMENTS SHOWN:


 


A city management team of Albert Moroni, Acting Commissioner of Parks and Recreation and Commissioner of Parking,  Michael Genito, Commissioner of Finance and Mayor’s Chief of Staff John Callahan, with Mr. Moroni presenting,  introduced an overflow Council Chamber to  “conceptual” plans for a city acquisition of Ridgeway Country Club and transform it into a public recreation facility last night.  


 


A set of financials provided the media show the city covering all debt service and expenses and breaking even in 2013 on revenues of $4.5 Million.


 


The Common Council may be presented with a resolution to vote on whether or not to authorize the Mayor to make an offer for the club may come at any time, according to Mayor Adam Bradley. Bradley told WPCNR “time was of the essence,” to make an offer to the club. The approximate amount of possible bonding for purchase of the club and improvements was not disclosed in the presentation.


 



The new Ridgeway Conceptual Plan — presented the Council October 4.Shown last night. New pools are shown in center of picture. New parking slightly left of clubhouse. New 11th green would be located on present driving range, Upper left.


 


The city  plan for the club, as reported previously by the CitizeNetReporter October 5, expands club appeal to the general public by constructing a new lap pool, a wading pool and waterplay facility, and  constructing additional parking to raise the parking capacity of  the club to 350 parking spaces from the present 180.


 


The parking would be placed on the existing 11th hole green and on the abandoned tennis court closest Ridgeway Avenue. Pools would be created on the interior of the club where the back parking lot is now located. The city would hire 54 employees to run the club.


 


A 36-page financial  report distributed to the media after the meeting and prepared for the city by Greenwich  Golf Group of Fairfield Connecticut shows the city projected to cover annual operating expenses and all debt service in connection with acquiring the club in the year 2013.  The actual amount of the loan the city envisions for the property is not disclosed in the Golf Group report.


 


Councilman David Buchwald after the presentation, questioned Mr.Genito on when finances would be made available to the general public. Mr. Genito referred that question to the Mayor. Mr. Buchwald pressed the Mayor as to when the information would be available. The Mayor said he would have the financial report placed on the city website Wednesday.


 


The report was distributed to the media on request after the meeting ended at 9:20 P.M.


 


 



 


The Outlook: City Breaks Even in 2013–


 


According to the report, Debt service to acquire the club is estimated at $1.1 Million a year; city expenses of operating the club $3.3 Million a year;  Operating Income at $4.47 Million a year. Concessions of the club are planned to be contracted out for roughly $250,000 a year. (This appears to include banquet facility and snack bars.) It is unclear whether the city will also obtain a cut of the profits from concessions.


 



Golf Round Growth


 


The consulting group estimates 33,906 rounds of golf will be played at the club in a typical year as a public course with 75% by residents.


 


Annual Memberships for White Plain Residents for Golf are set at $2,000, non-residents,$5,500. Annual Golf-Tennis-Pool Memberships are seen as costin $3,500 for White Plains residents and $6,000 for non-residents. 


 


Greens fees are placed for residents are at $65 weekends in A.M.; $50,weekend afternoons,and non-residents, $85. In the afternoon on weekends, the fees lower to $50 and $75.


 


During the week, AM $55 and $75 and respectively and $40 and $60 in the afternoon.


 


There is no comparison on first reading, as to how many rounds of golf are played now at Ridgeway as a private club.


 


(Membership was said to be down to 100 members by a former President of the golf club who spoke last night. If they played three times a week for 10 months, 40 weeks would only play 12,000 rounds means the rounds would virtually triple according to the Grenwich Golf Group figures.)


 


Mayor does not rule out an fast request of Council.


 


The Mayor told WPCNR that the council would be asked to make a decision soon on whether the city would make an offer on the club.


 


Councilman Buchwald told WPCNR the Mayor could ask the council for approval to make the offer with a 4 to 3 majority required, and make the super majority decision (requiring a 5 to 2 vote) at a different date.


 


 Asked if the council would be presented with a resolution to authorize a bona fide offer for the club at the November 1 (Monday) Council meeting, the Mayor did not rule it out and said that “time was of the essence.”


 


No offer yet. No deadline.


 


John Callahan, the Mayor’s Chief of Staff said the city has not made an offer. Asked if the country club management had given the city a deadline to make an offer, Callahan said the city had not. The Mayor chimed in, saying, again, “time is of the essence.”


 


8-10-5 Division of Comments.


 


In the one hour and 40 minute public hearing which included Mr. Moroni’s 15-minute presentation, 29 people had signed up to speak. Unofficially, WPCNR finds that eight spoke strongly in favor of the city buying the club, 10 spoke strongly against purchasing the club, maintaining it either should be continued as a private club with another entity buying it, with no development. Five persons maintained neutral positions, depending how the city numbers.


 


In the presentation, Mr. Moroni did not state how much the city intended to borrow. He described the opportunity as a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. This was also echoed by former city Commissioner of Planning, Ed Steinberg.


 


Jack Harrington, longtime advocate of open space, surprised all by speaking in favor it appeared of buying the club as an opportunity to secure open space outright.


 


Robert Stackpole, who a few weeks ago seemed strongly against the city acquiring the club, took a position that the city had carefully weigh the financial details of how it acquired the club. He did not speak out one way or another.


 


Many neighbors of the club spoke strongly in favor of keeping it as a club with no expansion. Terence Guerriere, President of the Gedney Farms Association, said his neighbors would not support  expansion of the club and that “was not acceptable.”  


 


Dan Seidel, who lives on Hotel Drive on the course, showed pictures of how the course floods during a rain, and called for the city to enact a zoning ordinance defining all golf courses in the city as recreation use only. He noted this was how Mamaroneck defeated Bonnie Briar Club effort to expand, and that the New York State Court of Appeals had upheld that zoning strategy.


 


Other residents spoke of their concern for flooding the town of Mamaroneck and the city being sued by Mamaroneck if they made efforts to add more impervious surfaces to the club. 


 


After Mr. Moroni’s presentation, Council President Thomas Roach turned to the audience, saying, “No decision has been by the Common Council” on the project. Councilperson Milagros Lecouna also said that financials had just been received by the Common Council.


 


After the meeting, WPCNR learned from the Mayor that the impression given by the statement on the financials that the council just received the financials was misleading.


 


Mayor Bradley said the council had the financials prior to the Council meeting. He said it “irritated him” when the council says they do not have things, “when they have them.”


 


One council member, speaking on condition of anonymity confirmed to WPCNR that they received the financials (provided the press) three days ago (providing time for review). The council also heard extensively about the city plans for acquiring the club, the Mayor said, very prior to the meeting.


 


WPCNR recalls observing charts showing the plans for the pools and parking lots (shown last night), on display October 4 in the Mayor’s Executive Conference Room when an Executive Session was called to discuss the possibility of the sale of land.


 


For 22 Days, the Common Council has not taken any positions on whether the acquisition of the club by the city should be undertaken or not.


 


 


 

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Public Hearing That Is Not a Public Hearing Was Never to Be Telecast Live: City

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WPCNR CITY HALL CIRCUIT. October 26, 2010 UPDATED 6:15 P.M.:


Jim Kenny the Executive Director of the White Plains Public Service Commision told WPCNR late this afternoon that this evening’s scheduled by the Mayor’s Office as a Special Meeting was never scheduled to be televised.


Mr. Kenny has also announced that last night’s Candidate’s Forum thought to be ready to go tonight at 7:30, will not be aired until tomorrow at 7:30 P.M.


WPCNR was lead to believe Monday afternoon by an employee at the television station that it was their understanding it was going to be televised live. WPCNR reported that to keep the public informed.  WPCNR apologizes for any confusion this may have caused. 


Twenty-four hours later, at around 3 P.M. Tuesday afternoon, Mr. Kenny was informed by the Mayor’s office that the city did not want to televise the meeting live, but would tape it for viewing at a future date.


Asked by WPCNR “Why wouldn’t the city want to televise tonight’s meeting live?” Mr. Callahan issued this written statment:


This meeting was never scheduled to be broadcast live, so whoever told you that did not know what they were talking about. The meeting is not a public hearing. The meeting will be taped for later broadcast which, I understand, will give our cable people the ability to edit into the show any slides shown at tonight’s meeting. As you are probably aware, the only special meetings of the Common Council that have been broadcast live in the past have been the budget adoption meetings.


However, WPCNR checked back as to whether this was or is or could be a public hearing.


When the Special Meeting was called by the Mayor on Friday through a communication from the City Clerk, the meeting was described as both “a presentation on the proposed purchase of Ridgeway Country Club and for public comment.” So apparently this creates a new classification of Special Meeting: a “non-public public hearing.” Usually when the public is asked to comment on an issue the city is considering, the proceeding is a public hearing. The notices:




 

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Ridgeway Hearing Will Not be Televised Live Tonight. Candidates Forum Instead.

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WPCNR AIR WAVES. October 26,2010: 


WPCNR was advised moments ago by White Plains Government Access Channel that the Special Meeting of the Common Council scheduled for this evening at 7:30  which has a public hearing scheduled on city plans to purchase Ridgeway Country Club apparently will not be cablecast live on Government Access Channel /Cablevision Channel 75 and Verizon FIOS Channel 47 as originally announced by the government access channel Monday.


Instead, the Commission reports that the League of Women Voters Candidates Forum video-taped last night at the White Plains Public Library will be cablecast instead, time is tentatively set for 7:30 P.M.


The hearing tonight on Ridgeway will be videotaped and telecast at another date, according to the Cable Commission.


The decision was made by the Mayor’s Office. WPCNR has sent an e-mail to City Hall for an explanation of why the city cancelled the live broadcast.

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Street Sweeper Fire Smokes Up Hamilton/Main Garage. FD Vents Garage

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WPCNR CITY HALL CIRCUIT. October 25,2010:


The Mayor’s Office reports that a street sweeper caught fire in the Hamilton and Main Garage approximately 5 PM Monday afternoon. John Callahan, the Mayor’s Chief of Staff in a statement said:


As to the fire – a street sweeper being stored in a Parking Department storage room caught on fire. The sprinkler system activated and knocked the fire down. Heavy smoke conditions resulted and the Fire Department vented the garage. The entrances to the garage were closed for a period of time.

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Castelli-Roach, Cohen-Oppenheimer, Atayan-Paulin in LWV Fight Card at Libe

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WPCNR CAMPAIGN 2010. October 25, 2010:


In the final tune-up before Election Day next week, candidates in the three major state house races will clash on the League of Women Voters Candidates Forum this evening at the White Plains Public Library at 7 P.M.


In Senate District 37, Suzi Oppenheimer and Robert Cohen will square off in what promises to be a doozie considering the personal issues that have marked that bitter contest.


The candidates in Assembly  District 89, Robert Castelli and White Plains Council President Tom Roach will take their very similar campaigns before the voters.


Opponents in Assembly District 88, Amy Paulin and Renee Atayan will match up in the third bout.


 

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Red Ribbon Week October 25-30 Promotes Drug-Free Lifestyle

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WPCNR CITY HALL CIRCUIT. From White Plains Youth Bureau. October 24,2010:


The City of White Plains is joining with The Girl Scouts Heart of the Hudson, Boy Scouts of America, and POW’R Against Tobacco Coalition to promote healthy, drug-free lifestyles during Red Ribbon Week 2010 and recognize the many youth in the community who make positive choices every day.


Red Ribbon is a national event honoring Enrique “Kiki” Camarena, a Drug Enforcement Administration special agent who was killed in 1985 by drug traffickers. Soon after, “Camarena Clubs” were launched in high schools in California, and hundreds of students pledged to lead drug-free lives. Two club members presented the “Camarena Club Proclamation” to then first lady Nancy Reagan, bringing it national attention. Parent groups embraced the campaign, and in 1988, Congress proclaimed the first U.S. Red Ribbon Campaign. It can be a powerful educational tool during Red Ribbon Week in October and throughout the year.



 


The City of White Plains has many things to celebrate as we launch Red Ribbon Week. Youth in White Plains are busy and engaged in positive activities, largely due to the proactive and caring adults in the community who have supported the development of positive youth development over the years.


Although, the Red Ribbon Campaign celebrates the city’s many successes in safeguarding our youth and ensuring their positive development, but it also serves as a sobering reminder of the work that still needs to be done. Over the last year with budget cuts and cuts in resources for prevention services, the country has seen a slow rise in youth alcohol and drug use – especially marijuana. Complacency is the friend to illicit substance use, and this celebration of Red Ribbon Week attests to the fact that White Plains will not take a back seat on this important issue nor will it allow negative forces to rob our youth of the opportunity for a healthy and productive life.


Red Ribbon Week is a time to celebrate and recognize the efforts of the community to keep all youth healthy and drug free. The community wide celebration is October 25–30th, 2010. The official closing event will be held on Saturday, October 30th, at noon on the steps of City Hall. Youth from across White Plains will be involved in numerous prevention activities starting on Monday October 25th.


Girl and Boy Scouts Troops from across White Plains are joining forces with youth from the City of White Plains Youth Bureau. The youth will spend Sunday afternoon, October 24th , putting up large red ribbons all along the White Plains downtown corridor. The youth in the troops will work on prevention and education curriculum all month and will earn a certificate of completion as well as merit badges.


Children enrolled in the Youth Bureau’s after school programs will learn songs to commemorate the event and will be performing at the opening event on Monday. Girls Scouts will collect pledges in support of the City’s celebration of a drug free community all week long which will be displayed at the closing ceremonies to be held Saturday, October 30.


Once again this year the Youth Bureau will be planting red tulip bulbs at various locations in White Plains which will be visible when they bloom in the Spring in time to celebrate Alcohol Awareness Month. The week long activities will culminate in Youth Day event at the White Plains Youth Bureau on Saturday Oct. 30 from 1:00 – 4:00 p.m.


For more information about Red Ribbon Week contact the Youth Bureau Project Hope at (914) 422-1378.

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RIDGEWAY WATERSHED COMMITTEE Urges RCC Purchase by City in Letter to Council

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WPCNR SOUTH END TIMES. October 24, 2010:


A group calling itself the Ridgeway Watershed Preservation Committee has promulgated a letter which will be furnished to the Common Council Tuesday in a Special Meeting that Mayor Adam Bradley has called to discuss possible city purchase of the club.


Mayor Bradley, asked by WPCNR last Thursday evening if the city has made an offer to the club management, said, “the Common Council has to approve any purchase.” WPCNR also asked if the recent legislation introduced to the Council expanding the wetlands buffer by 50 feet to 100 feet across the city, was put together to put pressure on Ridgeway to sell the club to the city. (Expanding wetland barriers restricts development of the property). The Mayor said he has supported the protection of wetlands by expanding barriers during his tenure as an Assemblyman of the 89th District. Asked when the legislation was first introduced to the Common Council the Mayor said two to three months ago.


Here is the text of the Ridgeway Watershed Preservation Committee letter:


Ridgeway / Watershed Preservation Committee


3 Partridge Road


White Plains, New York 10605


 


24 October 2010


 


 Mayor Adam Bradley & Members of the White Plains Common Council


255 Main Street


White Plains, NY 10601


 


Subject:  Ridgeway Country Club


 


In the past few months great concern has arisen about the future of the property now known as Ridgeway Golf Course.  The undersigned citizens of White Plains have created this open letter in order to recount what seems to us the clear and established public purposes that will be served by assuring that this 128[1] acre property remains as open and natural as possible in perpetuity. 


 


We urge our elected representatives and our appointed public servants to review the facts recounted below, to inform us if their understanding of the facts differs from what we recount, and to act with all dispatch to devise practical, durable means to preserve these acres as a vital element in the public and private open space network of our city. 


 


This is what we understand:


 


1.       This property is one of very few remaining sizeable parcels of Open Space left in the City of White Plains.[2] 


 


2.       It has been established that preservation of Open Space significantly enhances the value of all properties in a community.[3]


 


3.       The standing Comprehensive Plan of the City of White Plains establishes the preservation of the Ridgeway and Westchester Hills Golf Courses as Open Space as a goal of the plan.[4]


 


4.       This property is part of one of the few continuous Open Space Corridors running through the watersheds of the Mamaroneck & Sheldrake Rivers, and its preservation as open space has been identified as an important element of regional water quality and flood control policy.[5] 


 


5.       White Plains has a responsibility to pursue our municipal planning and development processes so as to act consistently with Federal, State and County water quality and flood control plans.[6]


 


6.       Our City is obligated by law to consider the impact on other communities that also occupy the Bronx and Mamaroneck Watersheds with any potential land use changes to aspects of those watersheds under our jurisdiction.[7]


 


7.       Our Municipal Zoning has not yet been brought into conformance with the standing Comprehensive Plan.  The current Residential Zoning of this property creates pressure for the conversion of this open space to residential use, in contradiction of the goals of our Comprehensive Plan.  This same zoning fails to consider the interests of downstream communities, as well as water quality and flood control policies at a County, State and Federal Level.[8]


 


Given these facts, it seems clear to us that our municipal leaders must take prompt action to assure that our municipal regulations align with local, regional and national planning policy while fulfilling our obligations as stewards of the uplands of the Mamaroneck River.  The most likely solution to this situation appears to be a re-zoning of the property to a Recreational Use.


 


As you set about devising appropriate public policy and regulations, we encourage you to make sure that our actions in the current moment include provisions of an economic model for the use and upkeep of the property that is sustainable.  We also encourage a rapid and thorough review of any proposed policies under the State Environmental Quality Review ACT.


 


We look forward to your response to our letter, and we stand ready to assist you in your efforts on this matter.


 


Regards,


 


Bob Meyerson


Joel Rudikoff


Fran Jones


George Jones


Bice C. Wilson


Riena Kaplow


Lou Bruno


Alan Gassman


Dan Seidel







[1] Approximate number of acres



[2] Comprehensive Plan 1997; City maps of Open Space Inventory; Planning Dept documents



[3] http://le.uwpress.org/cgi/contents/refs/85/1/51 “Spatial and temporal Variation in the Housing market values of Lot Size and Open Space”, Land Economics 85(1):51-73 (2009) (4 pages of cites omitted); “Open Space, Residential Property values and Spatial Context”, Soren T. Anderon, University of Michigan, Dept. of Economics, Sarah E. West, Macalester College, Dept. of Economics – email: wests@macalester.edu ;



[4] Comprehensive Plan 1997;


 



[5] Westchester Co. Water Advisory Committee 4 (WAC 4 – see County website for WAC 4 studies, maps, data, analysis); see also US Army Corps of Engineers/NYS DEC/County of Westchester $6.1 million flood mitigation/risk study announced 5/3/10- which includes Ridgeway Golf Course and Westchester Hills Golf Course; see former Mayor of Mamaroneck Kathy Savolt Letter advising caution on any development of this watershed corridor);



[6] Westchester Co. Water Advisory Committee 4 (WAC 4 – see County website for WAC 4 studies, maps, data, analysis); see also US Army Corps of Engineers/NYS DEC/County of Westchester $6.1 million flood mitigation/risk study announced 5/3/10- which includes Ridgeway Golf Course and Westchester Hills Golf Course; see former Mayor of Mamaroneck Kathy Savolt Letter advising caution on any development of this watershed corridor);


 



[7] L.I.S.W.I.C.; see also 2005 NYS Session Law, Chapter 658, Section 1 – General Municpal Law – Planning and Zoning – Neighboring Municipalities – Rights and Duties, Approved 9/19/2005; Section 239-nn (1)  : “It is the intent and purpose of this section to encourage the coordination of land use development and regulation among adjacent municipalities in order that each municipality may recognize the goals and objectives of neighboring municipalities, and as a result development occurs in a manner which is supportive of the goals and objectives of the general area.”; see also http://www.lohud.com 5/24/09, by Christine Pizzuti, “Mamaroneck maps Stream Obstructions in Anticipation of Flood Study” and goals and purposes of The Town of Mamroneck, as outlined in “A History of Conservation in the Town of Mamaroneck, 1948-2006”, Complied and written by Phyllis Witner, 2001-2007, former Chair Westchester Co. Soil & Water Conservation Board, LISWIC, etc.); see also Westchester County Patterns; http://planning.westchestergov.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=856&Itemid=1491


 



[8] BONNIE BRIAR SYNDICATE, INC. v. TOWN OF MAMARONECK, 94 NY2d 96 (1999) – Court of Appeals holding the Town’s rezoning of single family zoned golf courses to recreational land use was NT a taking under the 5th Amendment and Due Process clauses, when the rezoning was accomplished pursuant to Comprehensive Plan and rational governmental objectives of preserving open space, flood control/mitigation, etc. – rezoning is acceptable as land use planning and environmental goals and standards (encouraged by Dwight H. Merriam, Esq., FAICP, CRE, keynote speaker at the April 26, 2010 Flooding and Land Use Planning: A Guidance Document for Municipal Officials and Planners Workshop sponsored by Westchester County).


 

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