Municipal Buildings Rehab, Moratorium and Street Closures: Feb. 7

Stepinac Crusaders Honored

's Crusaders and their coach, Mike O'Donnell, were honored by the City Council for making history this football season. The team was the first in the school’s 60 years to achieve a perfect 12-0 undefeated season.

The team also won the 2010 Catholic High School League AA title, and .

Moratorium on Special Permits

The common council scheduled a public hearing, for their March 7 meeting, on Local Law No. 1 of 2011. The law would adopt a moratorium on granting land use approvals in the R1-12.5 and R1-30 zoning districts, which include various golf courses like Westchester Hills and Ridgeway Country Club.

Check back with Patch for a full story on the proposed moratorium.

Assisted Living Facility Approved

The council approved special permits and the site plan for Westchester Healthcare Properties to build the White Plains Institute of Rehabilitation and Healthcare—a six-story 180 bed skilled nursing facility at the corner of Church Street and Barker Avenue.

Councilman David Buchwald applauded the facility’s design, which includes an environmentally friendly roof and garden. The project will be a LEED standard building, and may receive a silver or gold LEED certification.

Planning Board meeting will be televised

Mayor Adam Bradley said he was pleased to announce that the City’s planning board meetings will soon be televised.

Interest and Penalties for City Center PILOT Waived

The council agreed to waive interest and penalty fees for LC White Plains, which owes the City its payment in lieu of taxes (PILOT) agreement for retail space at the City Center, developed by Cappelli Enterprises. 

LC White Plains failed to cough up previous PILOT payments and filed a claim disputing the PILOT. LC White Plains struck a deal with the City to drop the claim and pay overdue payments over time, in exchanged for dropping the interest and penalties.

Click here for more about this story in The Journal News. 

City Hall Study

The council voted against approving $252,500 to conduct a space/needs study, which would examine the conditions of City Hall, the Annex, and 85 Gedney Way (the recreation and parks building), determine what repairs need to be made and whether it would pay off to rehabilitate the site or construct a new municipal building.

While the council agreed that City Hall was in desperate need of repairs—including plumbing, and electrical work caused by a flood—they did not want to spend $252,500 on a study that could sit on the shelf, as previous studies have done. Councilwoman Milagros Lecuona suggested that the City register City Hall as a historic place in order to get grants to rehabilitate the building.

Bradley said he was concerned that putting off a capital improvement study would let the building further deteriorate. He said it was worth looking into a new building that would house all City offices because the current building could be costly to rehabilitate, and since the City pays rent for some space in the White Plains.

Street Closures for City Celebrations

The council approved street closures for events in the city. Here is the celebration schedule:

St. Patrick’s Day Parade: March 12

Semi-Annual Rising Stars Sidewalk Sales-various White Plains Business Improvement District retailers will have sale on their sidewalk on March 12, April 30, Sept. 7 – 11, and Oct. 9.

White Plains Earth Week Celebration:  April 30

Okoberfest: Oct. 9

White Plains New Year’s Eve Spectacular: Dec. 31

City Plows County Roads

 The council approved a contract that would have Westchester County reimburse the City a small amount for having the White Plains Department of Public Works plow county-owned roads that are in White Plains.

These streets include all or parts of the following roads: Mamaroneck Avenue, Anderson Hill Road, Old Mamaroneck Road, North Street and White Plains Avenue, North Street, Underhill Avenue, Lake Street, Hamilton Avenue, Post Road, Westchester Avenue, North Broadway, Central Avenue, Aqueduct Road, Orchard Street, a part of Central Westchester Parkway and Bryant Avenue.

Council members said that though it costs the City hundreds of thousands of dollars to plow snowy roads, the City only got $70,154 to plow county-owned roads in 2009-10.

“It is as inappropriate as when unfunded mandates come from the state,” said Councilman David Buchwald. “Westchester County should set an example for shared services.”

Councilwoman Beth Smayda explained that the City began plowing the County roads since the County would take days to plow them. Council President Thomas Roach expressed the importance of having a City that is always open and accessible for business, despite the weather.

Recreation and Youth Bureau Fees

Lecuona said the recreation and parks department’s fee proposal was “very fair,” since some fees decreased while others increase. She, however, questioned why the youth bureau’s fee proposal was a 7 percent increase across the board, and the lack of a presentation on the proposal.

Lecuona said that while the 7 percent only meant a $2 or $3 increase in some programs, it could hurt families with several children in programs. She was concerned that such increases would make programs out of reach for families who could not afford it.

Councilman Dennis Power explained that since the City voted to consolidate all City mailings, like the youth bureau program brochure, to save money—the new fee structure had to be sent to the printer, which didn’t allow for a presentation.

Council members all agreed that the youth bureau’s proposal was crafted with care and that youth bureau programs are still less expensive then comparable local program. Those who cannot afford youth bureau programs can participate through a scholarship. Information on applying for a scholarship is advertised in the brochure.

Police Grant

The council accepted a $24,954 grant, from the New York State Department of Criminal Justice Services for personnel overtime and to increase the number of police officers assigned to the downtown business district at night.