WPCNR SOUTHEND TIMES. By John F. Bailey. June 21, 2006: Elizabeth Marin, Planning Commissioner for Scarsdale confirmed to WPNCR yesterday that Realm LLC has reached an agreement with the Ethical Culture Society of Westchester on Saxon Woods Road to use the Ethical Culture entrance to gain access to the wooded site Realm plans to develop into a 131 unit Assisted Living facility for seniors. The President of the Ethical Culture Society speaking to WPCNR would not confirm the arrangement at this time and would not say what the conditions of the agreement were, whether the Ethical Culture Society had sold the driveway right of way or was just granting use of it, or the terms.

Proposed Entrance for Realm 131-Unit Senior Assisted Living Facility. The proposal is up on the Scarsdale Planning Board agenda next week. White Plains officials have not stated a position or whether they have jurisdiction over the use of the Ethical Culture Society drive by Realm to access their site located to the rear of the Ethical building in Scarsdale. Photo, WPCNR News.

According to Marin, “They have applied for an amendment to their site plan approval which provides for elimination of the driveway originally proposed where the original bridge is currently on the site. Instead, they would provide access to the site across the Ethical Culture Society bridge along their driveway and then an additional portion of the (Ethical Culture) driveway would cross over into the site.”

WPCNR asked if Realm still required water and electric and services from White Plains – the roadblock thrown up in March of 2001 when Realm first received approval from the facility in Scarsdale. “The electric is by Con Ed. There is a water connection provided. There would be no need for an additional curb cut permit because they will be using the existing driveway.”

Asked if Realm needed anything else from White Plains or White Plains approval, Marin said she did not believe so.

Calls to the White Plains Planning Department by WPCNR were referred to the Mayor’s office and the city legal department which have not contacted WPCNR with the city position on the Realm agreement with the Ethical Culture Society.

Realm proposed a 131-unit senior assisted living facility for a wild wooded area behind the Ethical Culture building located in Scarsdale back in 2001, and was vehemently fought by the city because Realm wanted to build an access road over a bridge that was in White Plains, crossing the Mamaroneck River where it runs along Saxon Woods Road.

The matter comes up on the Scarsdale Planning Board agenda one week from tonight.

Marin said the Scarsdale Planning Board approved the project back in 2001. Marin said she did not know if White Plains had jurisdiction to stop the use of the Ethical Bridge. Marin said she did not think so.

The Realm assisted living project would be in competition with the Sunrise assisted living facility planned for Maple Avenue in White Plains, and the North Street Community project planned for the former St. Agnes Property in White Plains.