MARCH 2019 Tarrytown • Sleepy Hollow • Irvington • Scarborough-On-Hudson • Ardsley-On-Hudson • Dobbs Ferry VOL
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6 > Children's Village 18 > New Jazz CD 21-25 > Summer Camp Guide Your Community Newspaper Since 2006 MARCH 2019 Tarrytown • Sleepy Hollow • Irvington • Scarborough-on-Hudson • Ardsley-on-Hudson • Dobbs Ferry VOL. XIV NO. 3 Proposed Housing/Retail Project with Parking Con Edison Gas Garage in Tarrytown Now in Planners’ Hands Moratorium Sets Off Village by Rick Pezzullo Alarms The Tarrytown Board of Trustees voted last month to refer a zoning petition for a proposed large de- by Robert Kimmel velopment on North Broadway that would include multi-family housing, retail and a parking garage to With a deadline drawing near, the reper- the Planning Board for its review. cussions of Con Edison’s surprising decision Before taking the action, however, trustees echoed to curtail new gas line service within a good concerns from some residents that the project needed part of Westchester is causing growing con- to be refined and may not be suitable for the village. cern among municipalities and developers. “This is way too big for me,” said Trustee Doug Con Edison announced its intentions in Zollo. “While I do agree it should be developed, it January for a gas service moratorium for is a non-starter for me, this concept. This is going to new customers without existing hook-ups go forward but it’s going to need a lot of massaging.” Rendering from developers of proposed look of project on North Broadway in who do not file applications for installing The proposal from 39-51 N. Broadway Associates, Tarrytown. natural gas connections before March 15. Kaufman Tarrytown Co. LLC and Kaufman Broad- Most of southern Westchester, including way Corp. calls for the construction of five townhouses, 225 rental district entitled the Broadway Corridor Retail Residential (BCRR) Sleepy Hollow, Tarrytown, Irvington and apartments in two six-story buildings, 49,550 square feet of retail District was consistent with recommendations contained in the re- Dobbs Ferry, is affected by the suspension. space and a $6 million multi-level parking structure with 436 spaces cently completed Village of Tarrytown Comprehensive Plan. “The demand for natural gas in our ser- – 200 of which will be designated for community use. “What we’re trying to determine is are we in the wrong ballpark? vice area has been experiencing significant Richard O’Rourke, an attorney from Keane & Beane representing Is it inconsistent with the Comprehensive Plan? We don’t think so,” growth primarily due to the construction the applicants, told trustees at a February 4 meeting, the develop- O’Rourke said. “We have to get a sense of is this worth pursuing?” of new buildings, the opening of new busi- ment on 2.6 acres and request for the adoption of a floating zoning Principal architect John Sullivan said Continued on page 13 nesses, and conversions from oil to cleaner- burning natural gas in existing buildings,” the utility stated. “But all of this new de- mand for gas is reaching the limits of the Irvington School Board Drops Plans current supplies to our service area.” Con Ed continued that it wanted to be able to PAID “maintain reliable service to existing natural PRSRT STD U.S. POSTAGE U.S. for Garage Behind Dows Lane PERMIT NO. 971 PERMIT NO. gas customers on the coldest days.” Existing WHITE PLAINS, NY WHITE PLAINS, pipeline capacity from natural gas sources by Barrett Seaman appears to be one hurdle for the utility. The cost to Westchester could be some Public school capital bond issues to fund proj- 16,000 new apartments and condos and ects beyond the scope of a district’s current ac- two million square feet of commercial de- counts budgets come up only every decade or velopment as well as 28,500 construction so. Irvington’s last one was in 2004, so it was not jobs, according to estimates compiled by unexpected that the need for more money to pay County Executive George Latimer’s office. for infrastructure improvements and security Latimer also called on the State Public Ser- measures for the district’s three campuses would vice Commission to delay the deadline, but arise around now. After study by a committee nothing has come of that as of this time representing the district’s various constituents, the of reporting. The results of a Commission Board of Education earlier this year published a Basketball court where garage was planned to hearing last month on the moratorium have laundry list of projects it estimated would require be built behind Dows Lane school. until July 1 to lead to any action. some $18 million in borrowed money. Village — Photo by Barrett Seaman A major portion of the Edge-On-Hudson residents reacted positively to most of the items vide an enclosed storage and maintenance facil- development on Sleepy Hollow’s waterfront on that list—especially those related to improve- ity for the district’s three pickup trucks, a dump could be affected by the suspension. How- ments in security and safety for students, their top truck, snowplowing equipment and lawnmowers, ever, a spokesman for the developer com- concern according to surveys. the committee proposed building a 3,500-square- mented that “Phase 1 of the development, One item, however, drew a sharply negative re- foot, 17-foot high garage on the site of a basketball currently featuring home construction and action from neighbors living in proximity to the court behind the school—a location adjacent to sales by Toll Brothers, is not affected by the Dows Lane Elementary School. In order to pro- Continued on page 10 Continued on page 10 www.thehudsonindependent.com Unsung Heroes Community Food Pantry Volunteers Making a Difference by Tom Pedulla and Black. Black and others are convinced there is Margaret Black points to her Irish heri- a significant need for the Food Pantry be- tage in explaining her work to eliminate cause clients typically line up two hours hunger as one of the driving forces behind ahead of the scheduled opening. the Community Food Pantry of Sleepy “These are all our neighbors. Most of Hollow and Tarrytown. them are hardworking people just like all of “We were a country where people were us,” Black said. “This helps give them a little starving,” she said, “and came to this coun- more to put to rent or whatever their ex- try to eat.” penses are. Westchester is not an easy place The Food Pantry was founded in Decem- to live.” ber 2009 and evolved to the point where it Black is a past president of the Rotary emphasizes healthy, high-nutrition choices Margaret Black (far left) with other volunteers at the Community Food Pantry. Club of the Tarrytowns. She is concerned when food is distributed out of a basement that Social Security payments may not be space at Christ Episcopal Church in Tarry- pleted to demonstrate the number of peo- freezer was needed last year, an anonymous adequately covering the needs of local se- town. ple in each family. No financial information donor stepped forward in two hours. The nior citizens and wants to see the Food Oatmeal, rice, beans, pasta, tuna fish, or proof of citizenship is required. effort is comprised entirely of volunteers. Pantry connect with as many of them as peanut butter, fresh fruit and vegetables, When the Tarrytown/Sleepy Hollow Rachelle Gebler, president of the Food possible. frozen meat and fish and cooking oil are Farmer’s Market (TaSH) is open, clients are Pantry, said of Black, “She has been a long- “I can truly appreciate a person’s pride,” among the items regularly made available given tokens to help them purchase food time volunteer. She is very conscientious. Black said. “Having said that, when people when doors open from 8:30-10:30 a.m. there. She cares deeply for the organization and are picking a bottle of Tylenol over dinner and from 6-7 p.m. on the second Thursday “I just don’t think anybody should go the clients that we serve. She’s certainly a or lunch or breakfast, that’s where we’re at of each month. hungry and, in this country, it’s appalling pleasure to work with. She has a wonderful and that’s not where we should be. In this The Food Pantry served 255 families in that anybody would go hungry,” said Black. attitude and is really collaborative. She al- country, that should not be the case.” January – Black said that easily translates to She works as vice president of operations at ways has great ideas for improving the work The Hudson Independent presents “Unsung 1,000 individuals – and 37 people who are Allan M. Block Agency, Inc., which deals in we’re doing.” Heroes,” a series of articles profiling those who homebound and receive deliveries. Emer- personal and business insurance. The Board of Directors is composed of provide extraordinary service to the communi- gency supplies are available. Those being The Food Pantry is funded through vari- Gebler as president, The Rev. Susan Cop- ties in the readership area. To suggest someone served over time must document that they ous grants and through the generosity of lo- ley, vice president; Ken Johnson, treasurer; for this feature, please email us at editor@the- live locally; a referral form must be com- cal restaurants and individuals. When a new Janice Landrum, secretary; Jim Husslebee hudsonindependent.com. ST PATRICK’S DAY SALE! % 25% o complete set of prescription frame 25 and lenses for any student with mention of OFF! this ad (cannot be combined with any other oers or insurance) Owners: 4 N. Broadway, Tarrytown, NY 10591 – 914-332-4074 Dr.