Message from the Mayor: Consent Decree, Artis, Traffic Calming, Bureaucracy Cutting all on agenda.
Posted on: June 4, 2016 - 12:18pm
Fellow Residents;
I prefer not to hit your in-basket more than a couple of times a month, not a couple of times a week as I have this week, but with all the activities in town (including this weekend) and all the items on the agenda at the next Board meeting, I am forced to overextend my welcome.
This next Board meeting, Tuesday, June 7th, is an excellent example of "when it rains it pours". We have a number of items on the agenda worth detailing:
Consent Decree Final Changes
I plan to present to the Board of Trustees the final changes to the Consent Decree, representing edits made as a result of a final round of negotiations with BP Arco and the Riverkeeper. I had consolidated the comments and questions made by both the public and fellow Board members over a series of meetings held in late winter and early spring, and went into the discussions with a list representing those items that were specifically actionable and realistically negotiable. I was accompanied in those discussions by Trustee Walker, our environmental attorney Mark Chertok, our engineer Len Warner and trusted advisor Jerry Quinlan. I will be distributing a red-lined version of the Consent Decree (that should be ready by Monday) as well as a memo that summarizes the changes sought, those effected on the decree, and those that were not and the explanation. Both will be posted on-line: this should be as transparent an exposition of what we wanted and what we got that I can manage. The final Decree includes language that explicitly ensures a Village process underway that is designing the shoreline is included in BP's engineering design, that monies allocated to us for oversight are renewed if depleted, that we have the right to change the maximum height (65 feet) set for the waterfront, among other changes. I will be asking for a vote on the modified Consent Decree either at the next meeting in June or the first one in July. We are awaiting documentation from BP in response to questions asked about Building 52 before we act on the demolition request there.
Artis Proposal
The developer seeking to build a memory care facility at the location of the Riverview restaurant's parking lot at the south end of Warburton Avenue on the Yonkers border has submitted a presentation (here) and a request to present answers to questions raised by the Board. We will listen to their presentation and determine next steps from there. No votes are being taken. The meeting agenda is very crowded and we will only have time to hear the presentation and have a little time for the Board to ask questions. We will likely schedule time at the subsequent Board meeting (June 21st) for a chance for the public to ask questions.
Land Use Task Force
A committee of volunteer residents have spent the last year reviewing the process of land use review (i.e. applying for permits to renovate a structure downtown), and analyzing where it could be improved to make life easier on applicants by improving the Village approval process. This committee was set up in response to concerns that our processes were cumbersome for applicants to navigate and took too much time. Jim Metzger, who headed this effort, will be presenting key findings (here) which the Board is anticipated to act upon.
Transportation Advisory Group
Another committee of volunteers, charged to review and offer recommendations on how the Village can improve walkability, slow traffic, and otherwise improve traffic safety, has spent the last six months reviewing historic studies, resident's requests, facts on the ground, and wants to present on where they are. This presentation will be intended for Board consumption. Subsequent opportunities for public input will be set aside to seek broader input.
Each one of these items could, by themselves, easily dominate a meeting. We have four on the agenda, and face a year that will pretty much mirror this all the way to December. There's a lot underway in town (a new sidewalk, parks and playgrounds facing renovation, activity on the waterfront, and more), and we will work aggressively through the agenda so that we keep it all moving forward.
Reminder about this weekend
Today, we have the RiverArts Music Tour, an all-day celebration of local musical talent, with 90 performances at 30 venues (http://musictour.riverarts.org/). Come on out and enjoy the (free) entertainment. Can't beat the price, especially given the high quality of talent and entertainment.
Sincerely,
Peter Swiderski
Mayor