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Community Corner

Community Update

Mayor Roach and Common Council Members: 
         I have  written to you many times in opposition to the proposed FASNY development of the former Ridgeway Country Club.  As we near your yea or nay vote for Special Permit approval, the importance of retaining Gedney Farms as we currently know it remains a paramount issue.  The modified plan which proposed North Street as the new entrance, seems to have gained traction with FASNY, even though in the DEIS, it was deemed not feasible.  When it became clear that a Ridgeway entrance was not viable due to the issue of heavy school-related traffic, North Street then became an attractive alternative for FASNY.  What an about face!  A North Street entrance is either feasible or it is not.  Just because  FASNY has pivoted on this location as an entrance, doesn't change their original evaluation that it is not feasible.  North Street is already a heavily traveled major arterial road.  Dumping more traffic on it and involving White Plains High School in an effort to make this new entrance plan work for FASNY, is an outrageous assault on vehicular traffic, pedestrians, our WPHS students, and other nearby neighborhoods. 
       Desperation should not be the basis of development planning and such a move should never be approved. The 1997 Comprehensive Plan and 2006 update, makes it perfectly clear that the FASNY proposal cannot and should not be approved.  Based on this plan, FASNY fails to meet the established criteria for approval.  You are obligated to abide by this plan and protect our neighborhood by voting to deny the required Special Permit.  It is really not a very complicated issue, as the Comprehensive Plan gives you the necessary road map to act in accordance with its guidelines.  For example, one Plan strategy (p. II-I-62) states:  "Limit intrusions or expansions by institutional uses other than religious institutions in the Outer Area neighborhoods, particularly with reference to traffic and off-site parking impacts."  Regarding Major Properties (p.II-I-63), the Plan states:  "Major properties outside of the Core Area...have been selected for examination as part of the comprehensive planning process because of their long-term development potential and the potential for resulting impacts on surrounding properties and neighborhoods. The Comprehensive Plan's vision for the future use of major properties includes preserving open space and environmental features, while restricting future uses to those that are compatible with the character and scale of surrounding neighborhoods, ensuring their proper development consistent with the quality of life themes expressed in the comprehensive Plan's Vision Statements and Mission Statement.  Despite their being privately owned, sites such as the golf course properties, the Mamaroneck Avenue nursery properties, and the New York Hospital site provide an attractive setting for the corridors and neighborhoods that they abut, as well as for the City as a whole.  They represent an important resource for the City, worthy of preservation through regulatory actions and the implementation of the Plan's recommendations." The best interests of Gedney Farms and the City of White Plains as a whole, must be the top priorty. 
     FASNY, an outside institution with the money to run an unrelenting public relations campaign, should not be allowed to undermine our Comprehensive Plan, our neighborhoods and our residents.  The negative effects of FASNY on Gedney Farms will be felt forever and will benefit no one but FASNY.  All those self-serving "we believe" promises FASNY has offered up in their DEIS and FEIS will be seen for what they really are -- unworkable.  Wishful thinking will not make the unworkable come true.  With so many problematic issues raised by the FASNY project, red lights are flashing everywhere.  That means stop, because there is no do over once the first shovel is in the ground. Other major issues are: .  Is the property zoned for a school?  NO.  Is the project compatible with the character of the surrounding neighborhood?  NO.  Will the project change the character of the neighborhood?  YES.  Will the project, located in the Mamaroneck River Watershed, exacerbate nearby and downstream flooding?  YES.  Will air and noise pollution increase?  YES.  Will we lose rather than gain open space?  YES.  Ridgeway Country Club used about 6 of its 130 acres for buildings, etc.  FASNY will use about 47 acres for its campus.  This is a net loss of open space by any definition.        Genuflecting to FASNY so that they can have their dream, but at our expense, is not an option.  As the team in charge of the well-being of White Plains residents and neighborhoods, you are obligated to do no harm.  That is an obligation that should supercede everything else when you use your decision-making power.  Use it wisely and vote no to the Special Permit. Respectfully,Ellen Alzerez

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