White Plains CitizeNetReporter - Planning Board Roundup: Block that Subdivision! Love Those Fortunoffs! Read DEIS

Updated 3:00 PM Dec. 19: New Final Fortunoff's Fotos:The Planning Board December monthly meeting told would-be sub dividers the board had major problems with their plans for Greenridge Avenue, Scott Circle and Woodcrest Avenue, praised the final site plan for Fortunoffs and indicated widespread diverging views on the New York Presbyterian Hospital DEIS.

THE PLANNING MAN SAYS GOODBYE TO THE PLANNING BOARD: Mike Graessle, appearing far right in your picture, in his fairwell to planning last night said, "This Planning Board has had some difficult tasks in front of it. You've been fair, impartial and it doesn't allow politics to interfere." Board Chair, Mary Cavallero, returned the bouquet, saying," The city has been well-served by you as a commissioner and a citizen. You managed to calm people down."
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Michael Graessle, retiring Commissioner of Planning, returned from vacation to praise the Board as being “one of the hardest working (Planning) Boards I’ve ever seen. At no time has this Board been better served by its members and its chair (Mary Cavallero).”

Woodcrest Sub Divider Warned

The Jaffee Subdivision planned at 89 Woodcrest Avenue in Woodcrest Heights got an ultimatum from the Planning Board to come in with plans with specific dimensions and diagrams of their proposed “shared” driveway solution. The Board demanded that the real owners of the property identify themselves before the next Planning Board meeting on January 15, or the Planning Board would deny the application. Susan Habel said the applicant had not demonstrated “sensitivity” to Planning Board recommendations, and recommended that if the applicant is not “responsive” the Planning Board deny the subdivision application.

Gritty on Greenridge

The Bayrakdarian Subdivision two-lot plan for 60 Greenridge Avenue was told by the Planning Board to communicate with the immediate neighbor, (who is former councilperson, Mary Ann Keenan), on their proposed driveway solution which the Planning Board felt would shine lights through the shrub property line between the proposed subdivision and Ms. Keenan’s property. The architect for the property, as well as the owner, protested that they had communicated to the Highlands Civic Association, and had been met with a flat rejection of their proposal by the HCA.

You got to talk to MAK

Susan Habel said, “It is the policy of the (Planning) Board to consider the impact to adjoining property owners…The owner of the adjacent property has not been contacted by the applicant in good faith. The applicant should meet with their neighbor and work out a solution between the two properties.”

Ms. Habel’s suggestion was met with the comment, “That’s absurd,” by the architect.

The owner of the property accused the Highlands Civic Association of being “a private club,” that he had made “extensive calls” and that the association made a decision that they did not want the project without giving him feedback of any kind.

The architect said, “neighbors should not have veto power” over a property owner’s plans.

Subsequently, that the owner and his architect admitted they had not contacted Ms. Keenan, their immediate neighbor, about their plans person-to-person at any time.

The architect was disturbed that the revised plans for the driveway he had delivered to the Planning Department, were not available according to the Planning Board for referrals. The Planning Department representative said she would check, but had only received three plans to her knowledge.

At the close of the proceedings, they admitted the revised plans for the new driveway design arrived late Tuesday afternoon. The hearing resumes January 15. In the meantime, the applicant and his architect are to discuss matters with Ms. Keenan.

Scott Circle Subdivision Given Slim Hope of Approval

With six neighbors from the Prospect Park area looking on, the three-lot subdivision met troubled skepticism from the Planning Board.

Paul Bergens, the noted attorney representing the owner, said that the Department of Public Works Commissioner, Joseph Nicoletti, was comfortable with the road alternatives proposed for accessing the three-lot development. He said he hoped the Planning Board would review coming revised plans on treating the steep slopes on the property.

Susan Habel was skeptical, saying, “The Planning Board is concerned about steep slopes, and though the applicant’s plan is not completed, how you’re going to treat steep slopes. You cannot have an irregular-shaped lot line to meet a minimum lot requirement.”

She said she was concerned that the Lot B plan particularly used an erratic lot line to meet compliance with the 100-foot frontage requirement, “Our concern is that it turns it on its head without sensitivity to these features (the steep slopes). We believe (by Lot B), the application be denied.”

Bergens said dryly, it would have been “helpful if we had seen the comments (of the Planning and other Departments).” Bergens doggedly said that his client’s plan would “enhance” the slopes, providing a site design that would preserve them from erosion and other factors, and said he hoped the Planning Board would consider them.

Mary Caballero, Chairperson, said she felt “torn, I assure you this board keeps an open mind.”

The hearing continues January 15.

Fortunoff’s praised

FORTUNOFF'S UNVEILS FINAL DESIGNS PRIOR TO COUNCIL FINAL VOTE THURSDAY: Michael Divney, engineer and Scott Pollack, architect, present the Fortunoff's "Ocean Liner" design ready to dock at Martine Avenue and Bloomingdale Road, as Planning Board looks on.< br>WPCNR PHOTO.

THE FORTUNOFFS BACK THEIR TEAM. Andrea Fortunoff, left, and Louis Fortunoff, right, watch Divney and Pollack present the final designs. The Fortunoffs have appeared at every council work session and public session and numerous meetings in support of their project, sometimes waiting for hours to present their plans. They have been responsive, sensitive and creative in changing their project to deal with Hale Avenue concerns and the concerns of the City.< br>WPCNR PHOTO.
The Fortunoff’s entourage arrived to present their final designs to the Planning Board that were well received. William Null, the Fortunoff attorney, noted that substantial progress had been made allaying Hale Avenue neighborhood concerns involving the loading dock, landscaping, hours of operation, lighting, rodent control, and a host of other matters.

Fortunoff representatives displayed the final design for the Fortunoff’s complex, which looks like the bridge of one of those transatlantic ocean liner ships of the past.

SS FORTUNOFF ARRIVES ON MAPLE: Final design seen from the Maple Avenue view as shown at the Planning Board last evening.< br>WPCNR PHOTO.

SS FORTUNOFF FROM BLOOMINGDALE ROAD: Final design seen from the Bloomingdale Road view, showing the parking garage at the left, shops, restaurant at street level. Restaurant has not been selected yet.
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THE "BRIDGE" OF THE SS FORTUNOFF, shown looking West corner of Maple and Bloomingdale Road, looking up Maple Avenue. The clear and opaque "bridge" will be a rounded column wrapping around Maple and Bloomingdale Road with an enclosed collonade at street level.
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Materials included red brick, transparent and opaque glass panels. A third lane has been added to Bloomingdale Road to accommodate turns into the proposed Fortunoff’s garage.

FORTUNOFF PLAN MAP shows deeper tree landscaping on West side of property, (top of map), more space between service ramp and Hale Avenue, and the city road improvements on Bloomingdale Road, (bottom of picture), adding a third lane for turns into and out of the parking garage. City will spend $2MM on the road improvements.
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The loading dock has been covered and moved to the direct rear of the complex, out of view of the Hale Avenue residents. The rooftop parapets have been raised to shield rooftop machinery and climate control units from the Hale Avenue view. The Planning Board heartily endorsed the project, suggesting that Westchester County add a bus stop.

In other Planning Board Action…

The Planning Board set a public hearing for January 15, 2002 on a complex of town houses planned for 319,321 and 325 West Post Road, proposed by the DeKalb Development Corporation.

The Board approved cell towers at 199 Main Street, 709 Westchester Avenue, and 149 Mamaroneck Avenue. It set a hearing for a Satellite Radio antenna at 30 Lake Street for January 15, 2002.

It approved a two-story home at Fifth Street, with the proviso the builder preserve existing woods and limit his paving.

It approved a resolution to go to the Zoning Board recommending they approve a day care program for children of teachers employed at Solomon-Schecter School. Mark Weingarten, presenting for the school, pointed out that aggravating (to the neighbors) traffic patterns at the school had considerably diminished and that the school had agreed to deduct one student from their student cap total, (currently 500), for every child they accept as a straight day care child (of teachers who are employed at Solomon-Schecter) at the proposed day care facility.

New York Presbyterian Hospital Preview

The board also participated in a preliminary discussion of the New York Presbyterian Hospital Draft Environmental Impact Statement, agreeing to meet in late January to formulate a statement to present at a public hearing on the hospital DEIS February 4, 2002.

Robert Stackpole voiced particular concerns that the financials of the proton beam accelerator project had to be looked at with an eye for traffic patterns – whether the number of persons treated to make the facility profitable would impact traffic.

James Gould, pointed out that the 150 to 200 persons a day cited as profitable treatment traffic, paled in comparison to the “thousands” the Planning Board had just endorsed coming to the Bloomingdale Road area as part of the Fortunoff’s project.

Susan Habel, Deputy Commissioner of Planning, went on record as saying the DEIS revealed alternate sites for the proton accelerator and research facility that “turned out to be very viable,” and that the Bryant Avenue location was “just flat-out not the right place for it.” She urged the Planning Board members to examine closely the alternate site descriptions and alternatives within the DEIS.


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