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HomeMy WebLinkAbout1989_11_01 Town Board Regular Minutes 11411 MINUTES OF THE REGULAR MEETING OF THE TOWN BOARD AND BOARD OF FIRE CQMNIISSIONERS OF THE TOWN OF N MARONECK, HELD ON THE 1ST DAY OF NOVEMBER 1989 IN THE COURT ROOM OF THE TOWN CEDER, 740 WEST BOSTON IIIR)ST ROAD, MAMARONECK, NEW YORK CONVENE REGULAR MEETING The Regular Meeting of the Town Board was called to order by Supervisor Battalia at 7:00 p.m., at which time the Board recessed into a Budget Work Session. The Budget Work Session held in Conference Roan A, after which, on motion duly made and seconded, it was unanimously declared adjourned at 8:15 p.m. RECONVENE REGULAR MEE'T'ING The Regular Meeting of the Town Board was called to order by Supervisor Battalia at 8:25 p.m. in the Court Roam Present were the following members of the Board: Supervisor Dolores A. Battalia Councilwoman Caroline Silverstone Councilman Stephen C. Chapin Councilwoman Elaine Price Councilman John McGarr Also present were: Patricia A. DiCioccio, Town Clerk Stephen V. Altieri, Town Administrator Eric S. Zaidins, Counsel to the Town William McDermott, 1st Deputy Fire Chief CALL TO ANON Supervisor Battalia pointed out to those assembled the locations of exits as required by law for public gatherings. AFFAIRS OF THE TOWN III1. Appointment - Larchmont/Mamaroneck Cable TV Board of Control The Supervisor noted that the tern of Mary Anne Sullivan had expired and the Board of Control, headed by Joe Fraioli of Mamaroneck Village, has recommended that she be reappointed. i Supervisor Battalia mentioned how essential she is to this Board, and on motion by Councilwoman Silverstone, seconded by Councilman Chapin, it was unanimously 1 142 November 1, 1989 RESOLVED, that this Board hereby reappoints Mary Anne Sullivan of Glen Eagles Drive, to the Larchnant-Mamaroneck Cable TV Board of Control and Advisory Committee for a term of two years. 2. Set Public Hearing - Installation of STOP Signs-Falls Road and Lakeside Drive On motion by Councilwoman Price, seconded by Councilman Chapin, it was unanimously RESOLVED, that this Board hereby sets November 15, 1989 as the date for a Public Hearing on a proposed amendment to Chapter 81 (Vehicle and Traffic) of the Code of the Town of Mamaroneck with respect to erecting STOP signs at the intersection of Lakeside Drive and Falls Road in both directions, on the southeast corner and northwest corner of the intersection; and be it further RESOLVED, that the Town Clerk be, and she hereby is authorized to publish in an official newspaper of the Town of Mamaroneck, the Notice of said Hearing as required by law. 3. Authorization to Accept Bids - Police Department Uniforms - Street & Traffic Line Painting - Heating Fuel Oil On motion by Councilwoman Silverstone, seconded by Councilman Chapin, it was unanimously RESOLVED, that this Board hereby authorizes the Town Administrator to set specifications and receive bids for the following listed items for the year 1990: Police Department Uniforms; Street and Traffic-Line painting; Heating Fuel Oil. 4. Presentation - Westhab The Supervisor announced that, based on the press and the community's awareness of the fact that the Town is looking 2 • . November 1, 1989 1 z into affordable housing and will be owning the motel site _ h soon, four very talented:residents have offered their services to the- Board as special advisors on this project, which will•lend some'measured in-house expertise. She then gave brief lillnlennan • backgroun..04--.... ...9 .--,,,,.n Eugene Grant, Robert , Carlton Dukess, and Jeffr Maron and thanked them for helping in this real ey: p�` g. estate venture of the Town, noting that this is a amity .Down for people willing to gave ocaimuzity serva ce, and when this Board can tap such talent, we are all very fortunate. Councilman iii ixminezited that this advisory group can bring • P : some private•sector experience and, as a group. will be designang some requests for proposals to further encourage . private sector solutions, :while currently looking at Westliab, which `is a public sector 'solution.• l •Councilwoman Silverstone.then gave a brief history of the Affordable Housing Task Force, noting that its purpose was to tr=,,,,,',0.,,,,,to solve the problem of there being so little Housing in the n and both Villages, which could be considered ': 'affordable at,.a,low or middle_incoane. She coaisnented that this • Task Force"was divided into three working ccimi ttees, the first researched •economics of affordable housing, the second was a land •resources . , .., tee and the third, a.legislative• cu.ttee to design the laws which will be the backbone of affordable.housing. .She added that this conenittee consisted of the members of ttie Town.Board, in addition to a number of nonpartisan oonnuunity leaders with varied backgrounds in .i - , law, real estate, a judge, a member of the zoning banking board, a member of the planning board, etc. Councilwoanan' Price then stated that one of the central issues as to what to do with the motel asks what can actually e builtthere, noting that tins issue started two years ago with the master plan update. She added that fran this update, certain land-iise issues came to the floor, one being ttie .revitalization of the Boston Post Road, and inh rent in that•concept was the;motel, because there could not be any revitalization without addressing the problems of the motel. She went on to say that one reconuiendation from the Joint Planning'Commission was the concept 'of an MUD, or inul.ti-use resident apartments type of floating zone that could go around the coam[dnity landfig in any desired place, providing . flexbil t' as an effective land=u'se tool. However, she ty stated, after enlisting the support Of the Pl Board, . arming_ CZM, .and many coaianunity inenbers, this idea was rejected as - . f. beang:to dense in this situation, allowing for 115 to 150 znitswthout asking for a zoning variance. Councilwoman Price comme7ited that right new there are many•option's available under tle,current zoning and under a zoning !_ concept designed by Dan Schuster of. Schuster Associates. She then went through the list of options under current zoning, suchµas retail store, r`estaiirant, indoor recreation, business or professional offices, municiapal use, public utilities• service, gas station, radio/tv. transmittion, motel, veterinary ho ital, funeral home n lishin car wash and a a sP . r P c _ plant/flower nursery. She concluded by describing the R-TA zoning concept`which, according to the Planning Board and CZM•would contain four stories rather than six, and have only a 20% land• coverage,• to do anything else would require a variance before the Zoning in Board of s. Wing Appeal r 3 • 144 November 1, 1989 The Supervisor commented that there was a question last week as to why the Town was focusing at this time on the public rather than private sector. She explained that they had a number of people fram the private sector approach them with respect to the parcel long before it was determined that the Town would take control. She mentioned that their greatest difficulty, aside from the issue of whether or not it was a development the Town would want, was that they could not get their hands on the site, the motel owners were not sure they would sell, were not willing to sell, and the astronomical price in the five million range meant they would have to build very high-rise luxury apartments as an only way to recoup any profits. She stated that there have been some recent proposals, such as a supermarket and a few other ideas, which do not address our goals and needs, and would be totally out of keeping with the master plan update that has been done in the last few years. She emphasized that about twenty-five citizens very carefully went through the Town and the Village zoning, focusing on particular areas, and made recommendations to both Boards as to how they would like the Post Road developed, or not developed. The Supervisor commented that, as a result of the press and the reality that the Town now will actually control the site, they will be seeing same activity again from the private sector. She announced that they will meet as a Board with the four advisors, go over the Westhab proposal and all interim proposals. She noted that there is a subcommittee of the Affordable Housing Task Force here tonight who will report back and determine whether the Task Force would like to have a special meeting with the representatives of Westhab. She reported that the Planning Board has the study in its hands, and that next Wednesday at 8:00 p.m., the Town Board has a budget work session and the Planning Board a relatively light agenda, so they will meet in a joint body at about 9:00 p.m. At this time, Supervisor Battalia called on Mr. Miller to give same background information on Westhab and introduce members of his staff and Board of Directors. Mr. Miller stated that Westhab essentially does what the private sector does not find it economically viable to do, housing families and individuals as a development company, apartment manager and social service agency all wrapped up into one. He noted that they got started in 1981, own about fifteen different properties and manage about another fifty buildings throughout the County of Westchester, ranging from what used to be a seventy-five single room occupancy hotel, which is now permanent and transitional housing for single people in the city of Yonkers, to apartment houses in Yonkers and Mount Vernon ranging fram 28 to 40 units. Additionally, he stated, they have rooming houses, group homes, they house families of low income, transitional homeless, presently refurbishing the Plaza Hotel in Mount Vernon as a transitional housing facility. He went on to say that they house families who are victims of domestic violence, young pregnant women for parenting and, he noted, all the housing they provide includes very comprehensive coverage of social supports. Mr. Miller then introduced members of his Board of Directors and Staff, and went on to explain the factors leading up to the Feasibility Study done by Westhab, and in conclusion, presented the Feasibility Study conversion of the Larchmont Motel to permanent, affordable housing. When he was finished, he fielded questions put to him by the Town Board and residents. A very lengthy question and answer period followed, with a great deal of discussion among all. 4 November 1, 1989 145 WRITPEN COMMUNICATIONS ORAL COMMUNICATIONS There were no written or oral communications to cane before the 11- Board at this time. THE SUPERVISOR No reports REPORTS OF THE COUNCIL None The Town Administrator gave a brief update on the ice rink, noting that the ice mat system was charged today and they will began freezing the sand tomorrow, and doing sprays all weekend. ADJOURNMENT There being no further business to cone before the Board, on motion by Councilwoman Price, seconded by Councilwoman Silverstone, the meeting was unanimously declared adjourned at 11:00 p.m. Patricia A. DiCioccio Town Clerk 1 1 5