By Eileen Gallagher
An information-packed week began with the League of Women Voters’ Conversation with the Supervisor on Monday March 9, town board meeting including presentations by WSP Sells and Summit Greenfield on Tuesday March 10, and Pace’s Comprehensive Plan Update on Thursday March 12.
Conversation…
Supervisor Rob Greenstein provided a live and televised audience with his overview of the state of the town, as well as answers to questions posed by the community members present at the library. Topics ranged from the Master Plan, Chappaqua Crossing, and Hunts Place, to distracted driving, coyotes, and potholes. He focused on matters of public safety, delineating the town board’s goals for 2015 and beyond. First and foremost on the list is the Metro North grade crossing at Roaring Brook Road near Horace Greeley High School. Greenstein contacted Senators Chuck Schumer and Kirsten Gillibrand, as well as Congresswoman Nita Lowey and Congressman Sean Patrick Maloney to request their assistance in funding a bridge over the Saw Mill Parkway. Per Greenstein, this would eliminate a dangerous railroad crossing as well as the traffic light, at which 460 accidents have occurred over the past nine years.
Potholes are catching the attention of town officials, as well as the need for road repaving. A five year plan is in the works, according to Greenstein. “The reality is that due to the economy, our roads are neglected.”
Greenstein mentioned working on a campaign to market the town, including the creation of a “welcome packet” extolling the features of living in New Castle. Events, activities, and opportunities for volunteering as well as a listing of resources would be found in this “packet”, which would be made available at real estate offices and town hall. (Editor’s Note: In the interest of full disclosure, The Inside Press, Inc., is being considered as the publisher.) Using the analogy of the “I Love New York” campaign, Greenstein suggested that New Castle could benefit from a slogan such as “Not Just Great Schools.”
Sense of Place…
At town hall, project manager Bob Severance of WSP Sells presented ideas for streetscape and infrastructure improvements in the downtown section of Chappaqua, stating that the goal is to promote a downtown center, to “enhance the sense of place.”
Suggestions such as relocation of parking on South King Street, a “triangular roundabout” at the current triangle at the foot of the bridge into town, and a stop sign or traffic light at the intersection of King and South Greeley are considerations. “We’re not here to choose what you want,” assured Severance, stressing that the town would ultimately guide the decisions.
Greenstein opined that the town should at least implement temporary measures sooner rather than later, such as a stop sign at King and South Greeley.
“We have a middle school in the downtown, as well as a tradition of kids running around,” referring to Friday afternoons after school.
Georgian Architecture…
David Ball, an architect contracted by Summit Greenfield, presented watercolor depictions of the plans for Chappaqua Crossing. Citing the cupola building as an “excellent example” of Georgian style architecture, he described the features of this style as symmetrical, simple, and having verticality. The plans showed buildings of various materials and design, providing “visual interest and variety.”
Councilwoman Lisa Katz remarked that this version was “so much better than the first iteration,” remarking, “recognizing it is a shopping center, we want to make it look like it’s been there forever.”
Comprehensive Plan Update…
A Master Plan update was presented by Tiffany Zezula and Kevin Dwarka of Pace Land Use at the library Thursday evening. Zezula opened with, “This is your plan. Where does your vision come into this?”
An audience of about 30 community members learned that a comprehensive plan is a formally adopted written document, including goals, strategies, and implementation steps. In other words, it is a “blueprint, or vision for New Castle” for the next several years.
Utilizing Westchester Base Studies and the Community Engagement Report (the result of four public master plan sessions held in 2014), Dwarka and Zezula took turns addressing topics such as housing, transportation, infrastructure, natural resources, and public and school facilities.
Zezula closed the evening with a question and answer session, keeping the entire presentation within the scheduled one hour time frame.
Items of note:
1. While the population of New Castle has remained stable, the “millennial” (age 25-34) population has shrunk while the senior (over 65) age group is growing.
2. New Castle has a significantly lower population density than Westchester County overall.
3. The median income of New Castle is significantly higher than the metro areas.
4. There are 6037 single housing units over 7727 acres. While there are no co-ops in New Castle, there are 644 condos and 328 rental units.
5. 24% town residents commute by train (20% is the county average) from a train station with 1191 parking spots.
