WPCNR MAIN STREET JOURNAL. February 23, 2005: The Comprehensive Plan Review Committee has notified the city's neighborhood associations and community organizations of the subject matters of its upcoming meetings to take community comment on the City Comprehensive Plan.
The first meeting will be held March 1 in the Common Council Chambers and will focus on the Core area: Main Street and Mamaroneck Avenue down to Post Road, Hamilton Avenue, Quorropas, Church Street, South Lex, Martin Luther King, Jr. Boulevard, better known as the downtown. It will be the only meeting that will call for citizen opinion and comment on the future development of the downtown.
According to the letter from Mary CAvallero and John Martin, Co-Chairs of the committee, the committee purpose is to "determine whether, and to what extent, any elements of the 1997 Comprehensive Plan should be amended to ensure that it remains an effective guide for the community now and into the future."
The letter reports that each of the four meetings scheduled, beginning with the March 1 discussion of the downtown will begin with "a presentation about what the 1997 Comprehensive Plan states as goals, and what actions ahve been taken toweard achieving those goals. Then there will be a discussion about whether the stated goals are still appropriate or should be amended.
The letter also states that next week every Neighborhood Association will be mailed a copy of the portions of the 1997 Comprehensive Plan which deal with their neighborhood.
The next meeting will be held March 22 and deal with the Close-In Areas, Gateways/Major Corridors within them. On March 29, discussion will center on the Outer Areas, Major Properties and Gateways/Major Corridors within them. On April 5, 2005 discussion will concern Community Resources and Implementation.
The letter said that after these meetings are held, the Committee will "prepare a report of its findings and recommendations for the Mayor and Common Council."
The Citizens Plan Committee, the ad hoc group of citizens, who spearheaded the formation of the Mayor's committee welcomed these opportunities for public comment with a statement sent to committee members this week:
February 23, 2005
Dear Fellow-White Plains Resident,
We wrote to you on February 15th describing the February 9 th initial meeting of the city’s Comprehensive Plan Review Committee. At that meeting the members made clear their commitment to public participation as an important part of the review process which, it is anticipated, will set the goals for the city’s planning program for some years to come.
The Citizens’ Plan Committee is delighted that members of the public will be able to share their interest, concerns and suggestions at these public meetings. For our part, we have shared our November 22, 2004 report and numerous suggestions with the Mayor, Common Council and the Comprehensive Plan Review Committee to consider in the review process.
A public review meeting will be held on March 1, 2005 at 7:30 pm at City Hall in the Common Council Chambers. These are critical times in White Plains. It is vital that your voice be heard!
We hope to see you on the 1st.
Sincerely,
Robert H. Levine
(for the) Citizens’ Plan Committee
