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HomeMy WebLinkAbout1991_06_25 Coastal Zone Management Commission Minutes APPROVED Town of Mamaroneck — Village of Larchmont COASTAL ZONE MANAGEMENT COMMISSION TOWN CENTER: 740 West Boston Post Road, Mamaroneck, NY 10543 = 914-381-6133 MINUTES JUNE 25, 1991 A regular meeting of the Coastal Zone Managment Commission (CZMC) was held on June 25, 1991, in Conference Room A of the Town Center, 740 West Boston Post Road, Mamaroneck, New York. The meeting commenced at 8:10 P.M. Members Present: Phyllis Wittner, Chairman Richard Coico Mary Feldtmose Lawrence Lowy Angel Martin Richard Metzner Shirley Tolley Richard A. Young Others Present: Charlie Glennon, Larchmont Yacht Club Commodore Robert Felson, Architect for Larchmont Yacht Club Mary Anne Johnson, former member Cheryl Lewy, Larchmont Village Trustee Elaine Price, Town Councilwoman Claudia Ng, Environmental Coordinator & recorder REFERRAL: LARCHMONT YACHT CLUB The Village of Larchmont (VOL) Planning Commission referred Larchmont Yacht Club's application for an addition to its clubhouse. Mr. Glennon and Mr. Felson explained that the proposed addition was designed in order to meet health department codes for its kitchen facility. They are proposing a 2-story kitchen amounting to 2400 square feet. Also, they plan to extend the breakfast nook by 400 square feet to make up for lost dining room space due to the kitchen arrangement. Mr. Glennon noted that neighbors' concerns over noise and lighting have already been taken into consideration. Furthermore, he claimed that there would be no increase in water runoff because the proposed addition would sit on area that is already paved. The Commission felt that the proposal would not be inconsistent with the Local Waterfront Revitalization Program (LWRP) . DGEIS - GOLF CLUB PROPERTIES The Chairman reported the receipt of a Notice of Completion of a Draft Generic Environmental Impact Statement (DGEIS) for the Town's proposed rezoning of the golf courses, dated May 29, 1991. She also received a Notice CZMC Minutes June 25, 1991 Page 2 C of Continued SEQR Hearing and a notice, dated June 19, extending the public comment period to August 2, 1991. Mr. Lowy began the discussion with his report on the Hydrologic Study prepared by Malcolm Pirnie, Inc. He explained that the study showed seven sub-basins. Its conclusions were that the increase in flow from potential development of the golf courses would be minor, from 3% to 11% maximum. Physically, the increase would be maximum one third of a foot. Different frequency storms would flood different areas. However, four houses on Weaver Street would definitely be affected by flooding increases. No geological survey was done. Soils and bedrock were mentioned to note sites which could not be built upon. Mrs. Tolley reported that last Monday she and Mary Anne Johnson walked over the Bonnie Briar Golf Course property comparing it with the 75-unit map. She noticed many rock outcroppings. She feels that a let of blasting and filling will be necessary to level the site sufficient enough to build houses. Mr. Young noted that this golf course gets saturated during heavy rains and that the course is closed at least 10 days out of the year due to wet fields. Mrs. Price asked CZMC to carefully review sub-basin areas 8 and 9 (which covers 50% of Winged Foot Golf Course, which were not included in the original hydrological study scope. Any technical advice the CZMC could offer would be appreciated. Three square miles of the upper watershed was not accounted for because it lay outside municipal boundaries and upstream development is not within our control. 440 With regard to water quality, Mr. Lowy reported that the study said that the current R-30 zoning would cause the greatest degradation, that it would be half as bad under the Conservation-Recreation Zoning, and one third as bad under the townhouse scenario. Retention basins were suggested as a means of mitigating the impacts. Mrs. Tolley remarked that many so-called regulations/requirements do not effectively do their job because they have loop holes such as "to the maximum extent practicable" or else they truly don't prohibit anything, such as the flood damage prevention law which does not preclude building in a flood plain. The Chairman felt that the section on terrestrial and aquatic life was terribly inadequate. No studies were actually done. There was no mention of buffer zones. Mr. Martin suggested that we offer specific instruction on what we would like to see them do. The Chairman felt that the Consultants' treatment of historical and archeological sites were just as inadequate. Only Gloria Pritts, the Town historian, and Swanson, the County historian, were consulted. Furthermore, lack of information and not being registered as a historic site only suggests the need for more research, not for being discounted as having no significance. Researchers who had been involved with the Larchmont Reservoir should have been contacted as well. Mr. Metzner raised two issues, one was about visual impact, but he felt that the DGEIS did at least address it. The other was about the statement that the Town has proportionately the greatest amount of open space in Westchester. However, it was noted that the golf courses make up the greatest contributions, therefore, the loss of either of these private open CZMC Minutes June 25, 1991 Page 3 spaces would be significant. In addition, we are denser than most other communities in Westchester. Another point raised was the question of whether a nine-hole golf course is a viable alternative to golfers. Also, what would be the cumulative impacts of the project on Long Island Sound? As requested at the last meeting, Dr. Coico and Mr. Martin submitted written comments to the Chairman. Dr. Mason, Mr. Young and Mrs. Tolley had made comments at the public hearings. Mr. Young will be submitting separate written comments, apart from CZMC. Mr. Martin, who had some comments about parking, was advised to do the same. Mrs. Tolley offered to submit comments related to the consistency of the DGEIS to LWRP policies. BUDGET The Chairman asked the Commission whether any of them had specific plans or ideas requiring consultant funds. There were no comments at this time. CHAIRMAN REPORTS A. Correspondence - Incoming: 1. 5/30/91 - From Gary Trachtman, RE: Premium Dredging Project and 401 Water Quality Certificate for Connecticut. Following obtainment of this permit, the Town can go to the Army Corps of Engineers and New York State Department of Environmental Conservation. 2. No date - Mary Ann Mumma, RE: Participation in the Village of Larchmont Centennial Parade. 3. 6/20/91 - Draft Waterfront Rezoning Proposal (Village of Larchmont) . This memo from Mayor Curnin was distributed to the members for discussion and comments at the next CZMC meeting of July 23. Trustee Lewy explained that the trustees had raised these questions. She commented that the Board was anxious to bring the law to a public hearing in September. 4. 5/29/91 - Shuster Associates to Mayor Curnin, RE: Criteria for Partial Subdivision of Club Properties. Correspondence - Outgoing: 1. 6/3/91 - CZMC (S. Tolley) to Town Planning Board, RE: referral - McCarthy - 26 Bonnie Way. Correspondence - Copies: 1. 6/3/91 - G. Trachtman to Mark Roth, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, RE: Premium Marsh restoration and request for drawings. CZMC Minutes June 25, 1991 Page 4 2. Received 6/12 - from Friends of the Reservoir notice of a Village of Mamaroneck (VOM) waterfront event. Our Commission not invited. 3. Received June - Building and Construction Trades letter to County Legislator Tenore, advocating the transference of the Coastal Managment Program out of the Department of State and into the Department of Environmental Conservation. B. Other 1. Question and Answer document about the 1953 regulations governing activities in the New York City watershed. NEW OR OTHER BUSINESS Quaker Ridge Golf Course - Quaker Ridge Golf Club submitted an application to Scarsdale Village Planning Board for the construction of a chipping green at the front of the club (150 Griffen Avenue). The subject area feeds into the east branch of the Sheldrake River and the plans appear to show artificial drainage. The Town Administrator has sent a letter with the Town's concerns and the Consultant Engineer's comments. Copies were distributed to the members. The Chairman also drafted a letter on behalf of the CZMC, which she read and received approval to have the Environmental Coordinator read at Scarsdale's planning board meeting the next evening. In the CZMC's letter, Scarsdale is commended for its effort in intermunicipal cooperation, but is encouraged to let the area dry naturally. New Rochelle Transfer Station Relocation Proposal - The City of New Rochelle (CNR) is proposing to relocate its transfer station, leaf disposal site and City Yard to City Park on Fifth Avenue near the border of the Town of Mamaroneck. The Chairman has drafted a letter to the City's Commissioner of Development, Joseph Madonna, noting that the Pine Brook drains that area and that oil spills from the MacLeahy Housing have ended up at the Premium River - Pine Brook Wetlands Complex, which is a designated local and county Critical Environmental Area and Significant Fish and Wildlife Habitatin the Town of Mamaroneck (TOM) , VOL and CNR. The letter also mentions the County's plans to expand the TOM transfer station to include the VOM and therefore suggests communication with Town officials. Governor's Task Force on Coastal Resources - A public hearing will be held on August 28 in the Town to hear comments on the preliminary recommendations of the Governor's Task Force. Mrs. Tolley suggest that the CZMC prepare a statement. ENVIRONMENTAL COORDINATOR REPORTS Ms. Ng reported on various applications before the Town Planning Board: 1. A Saturn dealership proposes to move into the old Jeep building and lot next to Kentucky Fried Chicken and Casey's on Boston Post Road. CZMC Minutes June 25, 1991 Page 5 2. Lexus will be taking over the former Tri-Star Ford dealership (1435 Boston Post Road) , but it will not be referred to us because it does not need any approvals except Board of Architectural Review. Mrs. Johnson reported that Wallace Irwin, a former CZMC member and one knowledgeble about East Creek which backs the property, will be reviewing the situation. The Chairman will tell the Building Inspector that the CZMC has concerns about its impacts on East Creek and inquire how best to comment. VOL should also be informed because of the restoration work begun last year by the Parks and Trees Committee. MEMBERS' REPORTS/MINUTE Larchmont Zoning Board of Appeals - Mrs. Feldtmose reported that the past meeting was very short. However, she felt that one proposal was worth mentioning. There was an application for a variance to replace a two-car garage with a one-car garage in order to save a tree! NEXT MEETING - July 23, 1991. Meeting adjourned 10:25 P.M.