New Castle News

By Grace Bennett

The shelves of Chappaqua’s beloved five and dime may have begun to appear bare, but thanks to hearts full of love, boxes of gifts to not for profits were filling up fast.

In short, a grand and generous gesture on the part of Auntie Penny created a truly heartwarming event Sunday morning.

“I’m just trying not to cry; this is just like Eve and Linda to do; they’ve both given so much to the community,” noted Dawn Evans Greenberg, who worked together with Auntie Penny to swing open its closing doors and invite multiple not for profits to stop by for a grand giveaway spree.

Inside Chappaqua caught up first with Dawn Meyerski who was eyeing a package of colorful, dangly bracelets. “It’s not only children the shop is helping, you know. These will make perfect gifts for our Senior Citizens at My Second Home,” noted Meyerski, executive director of the Mount Kisco Child Care Center which houses My Second Home, a safe and caring environment for seniors during the day. “I’m always overwhelmed by the generosity of this community; it’s beyond what anyone could expect.”

Luisa Grandsa-Rodriguez was busy filling a box with presents for several key programs of Neighbor’s Link in Mount Kisco; the first batch she collected was “for our Family Center. We work with immigrant families and helping to prepare their children for kindergarten.”

Laura Schwartz, executive director of the Child Abuse Prevention Center, noted that she was picking up presents for impoverished families the Center serves throughout the county. “They might come in useful for fundraising at auctions too,” she noted.

Similarly, Penny Romano, executive director of the Miracle League of Westchester, was considering potential raffle items to help families of children with special needs.

Chappaqua’s Liz Wolf, whose kids Caroline and Sammy have been actively volunteering for the Oyebog Tennis Academy in Cameroon, Africa, was busy assembling a care package for the Academy.

And finally, Greenberg herself appeared to be breaking a sweat packing away on behalf of at least several organizations…including Chappaqua’s Making Headway Foundation (which supports research toward a cure for pediatric brain cancer), for a pediatric wing at Sloan Kettering Cancer Center and for a Special Needs Girl Scout’s troop, too. Chappaqua’s Helen Jonsen, a long time Girl Scout Leader, stopped in to help with packing efforts as well.

Greenberg said she anticipates the giveaway to be in progress through Tuesday.

By Eileen Gallagher

Returning to town hall for his 14th year, Chairman of the Westchester Board of Legislators Mike Kaplowitz addressed Supervisor Rob Greenstein and the town board in his recap of 2014.

Kaplowitz spoke of the “bipartisan mode” the county has achieved. Comparing the county legislators to the New Castle town board, where both bodies of government “sit around the table and hash things out,” he described the current situation as more favorable in that, “everyone’s had some skin in the game.”

Kaplowitz spoke of the current decision by the New York State Board of Variances to grant Conifer previously denied applications regarding 54 Hunts Place. “We [the county] had a deadline and a goal of 450 units [of affordable housing]. It was a tough decision, but prudent,” he continued, explaining why the county had approved funding for the building in December 2014, contingent upon Conifer acquiring variances which had previously been denied due to safety code violations. “[Hunts Place] was offered up [by previous town boards] and was taken in good faith by Conifer,” per Kaplowitz. “The county role is over,” he concluded, stating that the determinant of a good site is if people want to move in and live there.

Greenstein remarked that he remains concerned about the Conifer project being built at the Hunts Place location. Reading from his prepared statement, he said, “As has been widely reported, on January 22, 2015, Conifer received the building and fire code variances it had requested from the New York State Board of Review for its workforce housing project on Hunts Place. I remain concerned about the issues I raised about this project in 2013, namely, the safety of putting an apartment building at that location, and what that location says about our community. I want residents to know that I previously offered to work with Conifer to find a larger and more attractive location, and I remain willing to do so.”

In other news…

Monday, February 2 is the final day to pay taxes without incurring a penalty. Per Jill Shapiro, town administrator, the town is not allowed to waive this penalty, even in case of weather-related closure of town hall.

Addressing the recent snowstorm, Greenstein thanked the Department of Public Works staff for their dedication to clearing the roads, as well as the many restaurants and shops donating food. Councilman Jason Chapin reminded residents about not leaving snow from their driveways on public roads which, he stated, creates a hazard and causes additional time for plowing. Shapiro asked residents to please locate and shovel out nearby fire hydrants.

The board voted unanimously to hire Pace to provide economic analyses for downtown Chappaqua and Millwood at a cost of $20k and $10k, respectively.

By Eileen Gallagher

During a work session Tuesday, town board members and town administrator Jill Shapiro discussed the possibility of a dog park at Gedney. Two possible locations are the area behind the pond and the area further back in the park, adjacent to the restroom area.

Councilwoman Elise Mottel questioned if the purpose of the plan was to no longer allow unleashed dogs in the park. Shapiro explained that unleashed dogs are still allowed at certain times in specified areas, and at all times on the trails, but that this would be one way to eliminate having dogs on the ball fields which are currently prohibited.

Supervisor Greenstein added that a benefit of a dog park would be to give people and their dogs the opportunity to socialize, while board member Lisa Katz agreed that the park would provide space for dogs to run off-leash. Councilman Adam Brodsky added that it would be a “haven from coyotes.” Additionally, Greenstein mentioned the possibility of a memorial for those wishing to commemorate their deceased pets with something like an inscribed brick or stone.

By Eileen Gallagher

In a joint meeting on January 20, the town board and master planning steering committee listened to a presentation by Tiffany Zezula and Kevin Dwarka of Pace Land Use Law Center.

As one of five respondents to the town’s November RFP (request for proposal) for a master planning consultant, Pace was the recommended firm, per town planner Sabrina Charney Hull. The $59k pricetag would require another $20k to include a “Downtown Revitalization” study, recommended by the steering committee members as the presentation concluded.

Zezula and Dwarka will “hone in on moving this community forward.” According to Zezula, she and her colleague will serve as close advisors, giving “clear guidance” and helping the town to navigate the master plan process. “We are here to empower,” she continued, “not steer.”

Putting forth a timeline of ten tasks, Zezula and Dwarka listed the following:

1- Downtown Revitalization Study (January through August)
2- Existing Conditions (January through April)
3- Goals and Objectives (January through May)
4- Original Planning Analysis (if necessary) (June through August)
5- Draft Planning Strategies and Implementation Tools (June through August)
6- Draft Master Plan (August through September)
7- Revision of Draft Master Plan (October)
8- Guidance on Environmental Review and Adoption (October)
9- Coordination with Master Plan Steering Committee (January through October)
10- Public Engagement (workshops) (February, May, September, October)

Addressing the downtown revitalization study scope, Dwarka (a planner and an attorney) indicated a “range of scenarios” for the downtown. He said that Transit Oriented Development, or TOD, could be about “optimizing existing retail, and enhancing connectivity to the train station, and might also be a financing strategy.” Per Dwarka, TOD offers appreciation in land values with resulting tax income to offset the costs of infrastructure.

Continuing the topic of downtown revitalization, Dwarka spoke of the demand for living, working, and shopping in one’s own community. Listing economic revitalization, environmental sustainability, and quality of life as reasons to pursue this area, he also acknowledged challenges such as land acquisition, parking, meeting the infrastructure demands, and financing.

Bob Kirkwood, a member of the steering committee, questioned whether Millwood would be included as part of this effort. Though the study is currently not scoped for both Millwood and the downtown area according to Dwarka, Kirkwood suggested that lessons gleaned from the study could then be applied to Millwood.

Board member Jason Chapin queried whether they had any reservations about the town going through with the planned infrastructure project. Dwarka replied, “I don’t think you should stop the process. You are mainly dealing with a sub-surface project.”

Supervisor Rob Greenstein suggested the possibility of taking “baby steps” with the downtown rather than proposing big changes all at once. Dwarka replied that they would be able to develop a “phased approach” for any proposed changes.

In closing, Zezula said that they will be back on February 11, “raring to go.”