White Plains CitizeNetReporter - Scarsdale Planning Board Walks Saxon Woods Tract Targeted for "Senior-Plex"

WPCNR AFTERNOON TRIB & POST. By John F. Bailey. August 20, 2002: Four of the five members of the Village of Scarsdale Planning Board toured the Saxon Woods site where REALM, Incorporated, plans a 197-unit Assisted Living facility off Saxon Woods Road Monday. After walking the site, Elizabeth Marrinan, Scarsdale Village Planner, told WPCNR the Board will hold a Work Session to resolve with REALM answers to questions raised during the walking tour.

Marrinan, in a telephone interview Tuesday with WPCNR, said “a crowd of thousands” trooped the property in the 90 degree August heat Monday afternoon. The party, she said, included about eight neighbors from the Saxon Woods area, four of the five Scarsdale Planning Board members, and a contingent from Realm, the developer.

White Plains Planning Department Bypass

The White Plains Planning Department was unable to send a representative to observe or comment on site issues, because, according to Rod Johnson, Deputy Commissioner of Planning for the City of White Plains, the White Plains Planning Board was not notified of the walking tour.

“A lot of issues.”

Marrinan reports, “A lot of issues: tree removal, the flow of the (Mamaroneck) river there, it’s different when you see it in person.”

She said the Public Hearing is still open on the REALM project, and that, as a result of issues raised on the walking tour, the Planning Board members will have a work session with representatives of REALM to hear how they plan to address those questions before the next regular Planning Board meeting September 26.

Marrinan said REALM was hoping to be on the agenda for approval or denial at that scheduled September meeting.

REALM in talks with Con Edison for separate gas and electric.

One of the problems with the project raised by the City of White Plains, is the city’s objection to the project. The City of White Plains has said that they will not allow their water mains to supply the project.

Marrinan said that “utilities were one of the issues,” and that it was up to REALM to resolve that with White Plains, since “Scarsdale cannot tell White Plains what to do.”

Marrinan reported that REALM is negotiating separately with Con Edison for direct supply of electric and gaslines, and she indicated it would be possible to have Con Edison construct new gas and electric feeds to the property, possibly not needing White Plains approval.

The water however, was another issue. Asked whether Scarsdale could supply the water to the project, Marrinan said there was no “viable water main in Scarsdale near the property.” Asked whether Scarsdale would consider building such a main she said that had not been considered.

Approval a Certainty?

Marrinan said the Planning Board appeared not to have made up its mind on the project, that the attitude of the Board members attending the walking tour Monday was one of “It’s more let’s get to the bottom of some of these questions.”


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