Supervisor’s Report:

The Town Board recently sent a letter to the Federal Housing Monitor & County Executive Robert Astorino. In the letter, we expressed support for our Building Inspector, who has raised fire safety concerns with Conifer’s project site and building plans. These concerns stem from the fact that the project site is only 1/3 of an acre in size, and is wedged alongside Metro-North Railroad tracks, an exit ramp from the Saw Mill River Parkway, and a bridge overpass. Conifer’s plans call for developing a 4-story residential building, from lot-line-to-lot-line, on that site.

Our letter to the Monitor and County Executive also expressed concerns that the project site poses “the risk of significant stigmatization and isolation of residents.” Those are not my words–that is what the Housing Monitor initially said about the project site back in July 2012.

Our letter also explained that the Town owns vacant property directly behind its Town Hall that appears well-suited for the construction of workforce or affordable housing. The property fronts on Washington Avenue — a tree-lined, residential street in the heart of downtown Chappaqua. We’ve asked the County and Conifer to seriously consider working collaboratively with the Town in an effort to relocate Conifer’s project to the Washington Avenue Property and build residential housing that all parties can be proud of.

The Town Board also sent a separate letter to the New York State Board of Review. In that letter, we’ve expressed our disappointment with their decision on January 22, 2015 to grant Conifer’s variance petition. We also reiterated our support for our Building Inspector and our first responders, and questioned whether the latest iteration of Conifer’s site plan adequately addresses the risks associated with this project site. The tragic accident that occurred on February 3, 2015 on the MTA’s Harlem Line in Valhalla, which claimed the lives of two Town of New Castle residents and four others, has only heightened the Town Board’s safety concerns. Conifer’s proposed residential building would be erected only 15-feet from the MTA’s Harlem Line, which is among the busiest railway corridors in the United States. Our letter asks the Board of Review to reconsider its variance decision.

Finally, this past Friday, Conifer commenced a new litigation against the Town concerning the time in which it has to complete construction of the project. Under the Town Code § 60-430(M), the Town believes that Conifer has 18 months from the issuance of its special permit to complete construction. Conifer, citing a different section of the Town Code, contends that it can wait as long as 25 years before completing the improvements required by the special permit. On multiple occasions, the Town Attorney has advised Conifer that it can request an extension of the 18-month period by submitting a letter request. Unfortunately, rather than simply asking for an extension of time, Conifer has filed a lawsuit.

Railroad grade crossing at Roaring Brook Road/Saw Mill River Parkway Last week we were informed that the project to build a bridge and eliminate the grade railroad crossing on Roaring Brook Road was removed from the New York State Department of Transportation (NYSDOT) TIP list in 2006. We wrote a letter to the Commissioner New York State Department of Transportation requesting that the NYSDOT restore this critical project to the TIP list. Because of the proximity of Horace Greeley High School with a large percentage of young and relatively inexperienced drivers, we emphasized that these much-needed improvements to the Roaring Brook Road grade crossing and Saw Mill River parkway interchange are long overdue and urgently needed to prevent another tragedy from occurring. Now more than ever, the Town believes this project should remain a high priority for NYSDOT.

Meeting with Senator Terrence Murphy
This week I met with Senator Terrence Murphy. I requested that we be reinstated to the NYSDOT TIP list. He also provided me with a copy of a letter he wrote – at my request – to the Senate Majority Leader Dean Skelos requesting $10M needed for the sewage Diversion Project to prevent sewage dicharged into the Croton and Kensico watershed basins. A copy of his letter can be seen here. http://www.mynewcastle.org/index.php/chappaqua-news/latest-news/1262-senator-terrence-murphy-sewage-diversion-project-request

Chappaqua Crossing
We received the updated Preliminary Development Concept Plan, and we are having a joint meeting with the Planning Board & Architectural Review Board on March 3. Public hearing on 2015 Retail PDCP and retail remapping Local Law set for March 10th.

Downtown Infrastructure/ Streetscape improvements WSP Sells, the company working on our $6.5M infrastructure & streetscape project, will be making their 30% Design Presentation on March 10. The Master Plan Steering Committee will be attending. Also, we will asking the Architecural Review Board (“ARB”) to attend. WSP will be working on design standards for downtown Chappaqua, and we would like input from the ARB.

Sledding at Gedney
The Town Board approved the amendment to Park and Recreation Rule requiring minor children to wear a bicycle helmet, skiing/snowboarding helmet or equivalent helmet when sledding at Gedney Park.

The Chappaqua Library and the Chappaqua Interfaith Council will jointly present a panel discussion “Helping People in Need” on Wednesday, February 25 at 7 p.m. at the Chappaqua Library. Panel members include representatives from Volunteer N.Y., Infinite Family, Neighbors Link, Open Door Family Medical Center and other nonprofits in the Northern Westchester area. The Rev. Dr. Martha Jacobs, Senior Minister of First Congregational Church of Chappaqua, will moderate a discussion about the needs and opportunities for volunteers in our community. There is no charge to attend.

Prior to the panel discussion, St. Mary the Virgin Episcopal Church will host a Finger Food Potluck. This event will be in its community hall (191 South Greeley Avenue, Chappaqua) next to the library beginning at 5:30 PM. Please join us for this free event and bring finger food to share.

Leigh Pezet, Pastor of the Lutheran Church of Our Redeemer and President of the Chappaqua Interfaith Council, stated that bringing attention to the organizations struggling to support the needs in our communities is of great importance. “We need to lift up these efforts and support the services these entities provide to the neediest among us,” he said.

The panel discussion is part of a series of events under the heading of “Local Action, Global Outreach,” focusing on social awareness and a move towards activism. The next event will be a book discussion on A School for My Village, by Twesigye Jackson Kaguri. It will be at the Chappaqua Library on Wednesday March 4 at 7 PM. The book details the author’s efforts in Uganda to found a school and the Nyaka AIDS Orphans Project, which aims to end systemic deprivation, poverty, and hunger through a holistic approach to community development, education, and healthcare. Mr. Kaguri‘s transformation of personal loss (several of his family members contracted AIDS) into hopeful action illustrates how one person can make a difference. The book will be available for sale at the panel discussion on Feb. 25 and at the library. This program is also free and open to all.

In addition, Making A Difference in March is an opportunity for everyone in our community to reach out to help others. Our goal is a Caring Community, an ongoing ethic to look out for each other in little and big ways, daily. You might bring lunch to a sick neighbor, volunteer to help a non-profit or surprise someone with cookies or freshly baked bread. Maybe shovel a neighbor’s walkway after a recent snowfall. Or pay for coffee for the next person in line. Let your imagination be your guide…. something to help others every day.

That effort also includes volunteering at local schools. Dr. Lyn McKay, Superintendent of the Chappaqua School says: “Our residents continually and enthusiastically donate their time, talents and expertise to partner with Chappaqua Schools in preparing students to be caring, active, productive, and responsible citizens in a 21st-century democratic society. This partnership is essential to students’ success.”

“Here in New Castle, we are blessed with a strong sense of community,” adds town supervisor Rob Greenstein. “There are countless heart-warming examples of helping those less fortunate than ourselves. Whether donating time, money or just looking out for en elderly neighbor, giving back is a way of life here. We are lucky to live in such a close and caring community.”

For more information about the events, please contact the Chappaqua Library at 914-238-4779.

In the immediate aftermath of the Metro-North accident, we expressed hope that everyone arrives home safely. Tragically, three members of our community did not.

On behalf of the Town of New Castle, we want to express our sincere condolences to the families and loved ones of Joseph Nadol of Ossining, Robert Dirks of Chappaqua and Ellen Brody, who worked at ICD Contemporary Jewelry. Our thoughts and prayers go out to these three as well as to all victims and all affected by this tragedy. Our hearts are broken.

With deep sadness we dedicate this issue of the New Castle eNewsletter to Joseph Nadol, Robert Dirks and Ellen Brody.

Joseph Nadol, 42, of Ossining, is survived by his wife, Jen, and his three young sons. Joseph worked at JP Morgan as an aerospace and defense equity analyst. He was ranked as one of the top analysts covering aerospace and defense. He received a bachelor’s degree from Harvard University. He loved skiing. His wife, Jen, regularly appeared at the Chappaqua Children’s Book Festival. In the acknowledgments section of her 2011 book, Jen wrote “Boundless gratitude to my husband, Joe, whose support makes writing and so many other things possible.”

Robert Dirks, 36, of Chappaqua is survived by his wife Christine and his two young children, ages 2 and 5. Robert was a research scientist for the chemistry division of D.E. Shaw Research. “Robert was a brilliant scientist who made tremendous contributions to our own research, and to the broader scientific community,” the company said in a statement. Robert was born in Bangkok, Thailand. He was an avid chess player in his younger years. He then turned to playing bridge. He met his wife playing bridge in college. They both attended the California Institute of Technology.

Ellen Brody, 49, is survived by her husband, Alan, and three daughters in their teens and 20s. Ellen worked at ICD Contemporary Jewelry in Chappaqua. She lived in the Edgemont section of Greenburgh. Ellen was looking forward to celebrating her 50th birthday next month. A sign hanging in the window of ICD stated “The ICD Family mourns the loss of Ellen Brody, our beloved colleague, and prays for her family and the other families whose loved ones were lost and injured in yesterday’s tragedy.”

Every day, members of our community leave their homes to embark on what should always be a safe commute to work along with an uneventful return home. Our Town commits to all of those who live and work here that it will never stop working to protect and preserve their safety.

Rob Greenstein
Town Supervisor, New Castle