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HomeMy WebLinkAbout1976_02_11 Planning Board Minutes MINUTES OF A REGULAR MEETING OF THE PLANNING BOARD OF THE TOWN OF MAMARONECK HELD FEBRUARY 11 , 1976, IN THE AUDITORIUM OF THE WEAVER STREET FIREHOUSE, WEAVER STREET AND EDGEWOOD AVENUE, LARCHMONT, NEW YORK. CALL TO ORDER The meeting was called to order by the Chairman at 8:20 P.M. ROLL CALL Present: Mr. Fred L. Maggini , Chairman Mr. Joseph Rigano Mr. G. Norman Blair Mrs. Mary Carlson Absent: Mr. Edward J. Cibulay Also present: Mr. Charles R. Elfreich, P.E. , Town Engineer APPROVAL OF MINUTES The minutes of the meeting of January 14, 1976 were pre- sented and on motion duly made and seconded, approved as submitted. APPLICATION OF MR. JAMES DANDRY FOR REZONING OF PROPERTY ON PALMER AVENUE Mr. Maggini explained to everyone present that the Plan- ning Board only makes recommendations to the Town Board regarding applications for rezoning or Special Permits and that the Town Board conducts the Public Hearing and votes on this type of application. Mr. Albert Pirro, an Attorney of the firm of Minniti and Pirro of 100 Mamaroneck Avenue represented the applicant, Mr. James Dandry of 49 Green Place, New Rochelle, who was requesting a change in the zoning of his property from OB-1 to Light Industry and if the application is approved Mr. Dandry intends to lease the property to be used for the retail and wholesale of general nursery sup- plies and masonry supplies incidental to the nursery bus- iness. Mr. Pirro stated that the property is approximately 77,600 sq. ft. and the two buildings they propose to erect would occupy 9,200 sq. ft. with the main building being set back 70 ft. from Palmer Avenue. The main building will have two levels with the first floor having an area of 5,000 sq. ft. to be used for sales and the lower level which will be visible only from the New York , New Haven and Hartford Railroad tracks providing 5,000 sq. ft. for storage. Adjoining the main building will be a green- house and the applicant proposes to use the area along the railroad tracks for outdoor storage with a plant dis- play facing Palmer Avenue and Harrison Drive. The pro- . (9 posed plan will provide 54 parking spaces and a sidewalk to be installed along Palmer Avenue from the New Rochelle boundary to Harrison Drive. Mr. Pirro, also, said that there would be no servicing or leasing of any equipment and the use would not be an added burden to the school district. Mr. Pirro pointed out that the property in question is adjacent on one side to the City of New Rochelle with residence garden apartments and on the other side is the Village of Larchmont where there is a Daitch Shopwell. On the opposite side of Palmer Avenue and Harrison Drive it is residential . Mr. Pirro, also, stated that he had contacted Mr. Arthur Freed, of the County Traffic Department, who had given him the accident reports from 1972 to 1974. In conclu- sion, Mr. Pirro said that aesthetically the proposed use will be an improvement to a vacant lot which is now an eyesore and if the application is granted they will con- form to the ordinances of the Town regarding signs , drain- age, etc. Mr. Frank Cartin of 45 Shadow Lane objected to the added traffic and said he preferred an office building. Mr. Peter Pergola of North Street, Larchmont, asked what would happen to the property if the business failed and questioned the size of the trucks that would be used in connection with the operation. Mr. Alan W. Katzenstein of 51 Rockwood Drive questioned the noise and traffic and felt the people in residential areas should be protected. Mrs. Marlene Kolbert of 27 Shadow Lane, who had written a letter to the Board, questioned the movement of vehicles from the Boston Post Road through Harrison Drive to Palmer Avenue and in her letter said they had gathered signatures to petition a traffic light but the County had denied the request. Mrs. Kolbert, in her letter, had also mentioned about "eyesores" being constructed since the Town does not have an Architectural Review Board. Mr. Maggini said that the Planning Board follows up on appli- cations that are approved and applicants would have have to build and landscape as set forth in their plans. Mr. Pirro commented on the question of noise abatement and said there would be no more noise than there is at present from the railroad and thruway. Mrs. Angelina Maher of 90 Stuyvesant Avenue said she thought the question of traffic was very important. Mr. Ian D. Kydd of 4 Robins Nest Lane said he thoroughly agreed with all the objections as to traffic , etc. but he was more concerned as to what would be "seen" if the application is approved and what the applicants intended to do about the trees that are presently on the property. It was pointed out that Mr. Kydd's house was very high and the property on Palmer Avenue could be seen from his residence. Mr. Vincent Lagano, who is one of the partners of the Palmer Landscaping and Building Supply Co. , the firm that intends to lease the property, subject to the granting of the zoning change for a period of twenty-five years, stated that they intended to keep the existing trees and also put in new permanent trees and plantings. Mr. Robert Fisher of 60 Harrison Drive spoke about traf- fic control . Mrs. Carlson questioned as to the extent of "wholesale" which will be generated and the kind of trucks coming and going and the hours. It was pointed out that mos of the business will be in retail and they will use small pickup trucks. It was, also, pointed out that they would probably sell wholesale to small gardeners and a question was raised as to how often it would be necessary to restock. It was determined that they would probably restock about once a week and deliveries primarily would be in the morn- ing. Mr. R. Smith of 11 Woods Way asked if they intended to do any contracting and what kind of a turn over they expected. Mr. Vincent Maglio, who is the other partner in the firm said they mostly expected to furnish nursery supplies. Mr. John R. Maher of 90 Stuyvesant Avenue said he felt the Board had already made up their minds and thought it was a question of whether the proposed use would be more profitable than an office building. Mr. Maher ques- tioned the volume of business the proposed use would pro- duce and the Chairman pointed out that he was sure the prospective leasee of the property had the ability to know what amount of business to expect. Mr. Everett Bovard of 21 Woods Ways said the proposed use would detract from the area and Mr. Cecil E. Wiggan of 77 Spencer Drive, New Rochelle, expressed concern as to whether the newspapers would get the information as to when the Public Hearing would be held. Mrs. Carmela Nesci , 14 Harrison Drive said she thought the proposed use would be very dangerous because of the trucks that will go back and forth through Harrison Drive from the Boston Post Road. After further discussion the Board decided they would wait to get the report from the County before they made their recommendation. 4 PRELIMINARY HEARING - SUBDIVISION OF LOT ON SOUTH RIDGE ROAD - BLOCK 206 PARCEL 531 The Board looked at the plan that Mr. Forbes , the Attorney for the applicants , Mr. and Mrs. Landmann had submitted and the Chairman instructed the Secretary to arrange for the Public Hearing at the next regular meeting of the Planning Board to be held on March 10, 1976. ADJOURNMENT There being no further business to come before this meet- ing it was adjourned at 10:00 P.M. (1 • Ri to A. Johnson',\Secretary