Loading...
HomeMy WebLinkAbout2001_07_24 Coastal Zone Management Commission Minutes Town of Mamaroneck — Village of Larchmont Q COASTAL ZONE MANAGEMENT COMMISSION TOWN CENTER: 740 West Boston Post Road, Mamaroneck, NY 10543 = 914-381-7845 CZMC Minutes July 24,2001 A regular meeting of the Coastal Zone Management Commission(CZMC)was held on July 24, 2001 in the Senior Center, Town Center, 740 West Boston Post Road, Mamaroneck,New York. The meeting was called to order at 8:10 p.m. MEMBERS PRESENT: Madelaine Berg, Chairperson Lili Andrews Dickson Brown Frank Buddingh Elizabeth Cooney Katherine Dehais Marc Godick Bernard Kaplan Howard McMichael REGRETS: William Bailey Dr. C. Alan Mason OTHERS PRESENT: Nancy Seligson Councilwoman, Town of Mamaroneck Phyllis Wittner Councilwoman,Liaison, Town of Mamaroneck Elizabeth Paul Environmental Coordinator, Town of Mamaroneck Mr. & Mrs. Spencer Falk Applicant, 1 Cedar Island Paul Milliot Consultant, Daniel S.Natchez and Associates Susan&Lars Hanan Neighbor, 1 Cedar Island Elizabeth Liscio Neighbor, 1 Cedar Island Carol Coleman Neighbor, 1 Cedar Island Ellie Fredston Neighbor, 1 Cedar Island Anne Guctin Neighbor, 1 Cedar Island Tamara& William Urmey Neighbor, 1 Cedar Island Margaret Piccone Neighbor, 1 Cedar Island 1. Approval of Minutes The minutes of the meeting of 6/26/01 were distributed at the meeting. Comments can be submitted to Elizabeth Paul by email at conservationdept@townofmamaroneck.org 0 CZ_0701 M CZMC—7/24/01,Page 1 of 5 Lat Printed on Recycled Paper 2. Referrals a. Repair of Seawall 1 Cedar Island Referred by the New York State Department of State The application for the repair and reconstruction of the seawall at One Cedar Island was previously discussed at the May CZMC meeting. A Letter of Consistency was issued to the NYS Department of State(NYSDOS)based on the original application. Subsequently, a revised application was submitted to the NYSDOS by Daniel S.Natchez and Associates. The applicants, Mr. and Mrs. Spencer Falk,and representatives of Daniel S.Natchez and Associates,appeared to discuss the project further. Several neighbors attended the meeting. The current proposal to the NYSDOS seeks permission to construct a shorter hip wall than was originally requested. Mr. Falk gave a slide presentation addressing the concerns of his neighbors regarding the seawall. He then stated that he is willing to abandon the hip wall entirely and repair the existing wall. Mr. Falk stated that Westchester County has a pipe under his property that is deteriorated and leaking. There is concern that if they go near the pipe,they will be liable for it. There is concern that a hip wall in the area of the pipe may be the safest way to address that problem. They are still addressing that issue with the County. Mr. Falk asked if CZMC would approve the project without a hip wall unless the County requires that they use a hip wall to protect the pipe. This would be a modification of the existing application. Paul Milliot, of Daniel S. Natchez and Associates explained that the current application has three options—the first option is for the repair of the seawall in-place and in-kind without a hip wall,the second option includes a 180-foot long hip wall protecting the pool house and area around the County pipe if required by the County, and the third option is for the use of a hip wall in the area of the pool house. The applicant proposed to withdraw the hip wall proposal altogether, unless the county requires the use of a hip wall in the area around the pipe. The wall would be rebuilt and repaired in place. The Falk's are discussing the repair of the pipe with the County. Madelaine Berg asked about the location of the pipe relative to the seawall. The pipe enters and exits the seawall at two points. The rest of the pipe appears to be far enough away from the seawall to not be damaged by the repair of the seawall. Mr. Milliot responded that the problem is with the construction equipment crossing over the top of the pipe. The weight of the equipment may impact the integrity of the pipe. CZ_0701M CZMC—7/24/01,Page 2 of 5 M. Milliot stated that they are looking for the repair of the pipe to the Falk's satisfaction. It is believed that the condition of the pipe is contributing to the degradation of the seawall. Marc Godick asked where the most degradation is occurring in relation to the pipe. Mr. Milliot replied that every 30 to 40 feet there are noticeable sections of the wall where it has deteriorated. At the joints of the pipe,there is leaking. Marc Godick asked if they monitored the wall during a storm to see how much water was coming out. Mr. Milliot responded that they had visited the site after it had rained and saw water flowing out of the wall. They have asked the County to come to inspect the pipe and seawall after it has rained. Marc Godick asked if the County had done a dye test or if they proposed to do one. Mr. Milliot said that they have not. Kate Dehais asked if the County was willing to pay for the cost of the repair or the replacement of the pipe. Mrs. Falk said that it would take too long to repair the pipe. They cannot wait that long to repair the seawall. Mrs. Falk said that they are concerned about taking the stone out around the entrance and exit of the pipe. Marc Godick suggested that protecting a 10-foot area around the entrance and exit of the pipe is a good alternative. Mr. Milliot explained that the hip wall was never intended to be a flat concrete wall. It was proposed to use a formed liner and tinting to match the texture and color of the existing wall. Madelaine Berg asked if the CZMC was being asked to consider a proposal for just a straight repair,without any hip wall. Mr. Miliot said that they are willing to amend their proposal to limit it to the repair of the seawall in place and in kind. If the negotiations break down with the County and they need to amend the proposal to include a hip-wall,they will come in for a new consistency review. Mr. McMichael recommended the immediate repair of the section near the pool house to save the building in the event of a storm. 0 Several of the neighbors asked if they could be informed if the hip wall option is reinstated. Madelaine Berg said that the CZMC does not normally notify neighbors of proposed projects and it is not something that is done. CZ_0701 M CZMC—7/24/01,Page 3 of 5 The CZMC voted to find the repair in place and in kind of the seawall to be consistent with the policies set forth in the LWRP. If any further work is required, including the construction of a hip wall in the vicinity of the pipe,the application needs to be resubmitted. 3. Open Space Inventory Kate Jenkins,the intern for the Conservation Department introduced the Open Space Inventory and the work that has been done so far. The initial work on the Open Space Inventory has been completed. So far, we have created three property lists,divided the first list into groups of three to five properties to be surveyed by the Coastal Zone Management Commission, and are currently working on a Geographic Information System(GIS)database of the Town and Villages. First, a list of all vacant lands was prepared by the Town's Tax Assessor's Office. This list was reviewed to determine which lands were actually vacant,which parcels were not fully located in the Town of Mamaroneck or the Village of Larchmont, and which parcels were easements, reserve strips, or roads. The next list determined other open spaces, such as parks and cemeteries, which are not listed as vacant but would still be considered in our inventory. These are important to consider when determining the final list of open space in our area. 0 The last list created was a list of parcels in which the total area of existing structures is less than 10%of the total land area. These parcels may be legally subdivided and developed. These parcels were identified by looking at the tax maps and making a list of potential sites,based on zoning, area of land, and the apparent size of the building footprint(where applicable). Data was gathered from the property cards in the Assessor's office and reviewed for the total lot size and the percent of the parcel that was developed. The vacant land list has been divided into 31 packets,with three to five parcels in each packet, including a checklist and map for each parcel, for each of the members of the CZMC to take as they survey the properties. This will also be completed for the parcels that can be subdivided. Nancy Seligson explained that partnerships could be set up between the State, County and the municipality to finance the acquisition of open space. The County is eager to purchase land in southern Westchester County for preservation. Frank Buddingh thanked Kate Jenkins for putting so much time and effort into the project. He suggested that open space precincts could be created like an overlay zone to protect the character of a neighborhood. For example,the brook could be required to always be tree lined or restrictions could be made on properties to retain the characteristics that make them unique to this area. All of the data compiled for the open space inventory is being kept in the Conservation Department's computer. CZ_0701M CZMC—7/24/01,Page 4 of 5 • Kate Jenkins described the GIS system. Digital maps of the Town of Mamaroneck and the Village of Larchmont have been downloaded from Westchester County's website. The information can be viewed using a GIS computer program called ArcView. This program allows digital information to be viewed as "layers"which include municipal boundaries, roads, sewers, drainage watersheds, rivers, zoning districts, flood plains, NYSDEC wetlands, beaches, and more. Information including tax maps and postal addresses should be available from the County within the next few months. In addition, we hope to integrate either aerial photos of the Town and the Villages, or satellite images of our area. This would greatly enhance our visual ability to determine the location and extent of open space in the area. We hope to create a map showing all of the parcels identified in our open space inventory. 4. Old Business No old business to discuss. 5. New Business No new business to discuss. The meeting was adjourned at 9:30 p.m. The next scheduled CZMC meeting will be held on August 28, 2001. Anyone unable to attend this meeting should contact Elizabeth Paul at(914) 381-7846 or at conservationdeptgtownofmamaroneck.org C CZ_0701 M CZMC-7/24/01,Page 5 of 5