STEERING COMMITTEE MEETING, Tuesday, June 19, 2001 8:00 PM

Minutes
Attended by:
LWRP Steering Committee : Erna Capetanopoulos, Bill Cassella, Holly Daly, Ellen Davis, Gina D'Agrosa, Suzanne Harwood , Judith Holzer, Francis Farrington, Charlotte Frankenthaler, Elizabeth Martin, Jeanne Mikelson, Charlene Paden (Chair),Peter Paden, Lenore Person, Stephen Tilly, Angelo Tisi, Nancy Delmerico Vitagliano
Observers: Susan King
LWRP Consultant: Jim Martin, The LA Group PC

Other Participants: Trustee Allegra Dengler, Susan King, Lester Lichter, James McCue, Ray Cordaro

I. Status of Waterfront Moratorium Law

Peter Paden reported that the proposed LWRP Moratorium Law has not been passed by the Board of Trustees and that further revisions and communication with the Board of Trustees will be necessary before passage can occur. With input from Trustee Farrington, the Committee discussed the issues in question and agreed to recommend the following changes to the Board.
1) Increase minimum impervious surface area to 750 square feet.
2) Increase minimum horizontal construction area to 750 square feet.
(The intent behind these two provisions was to accommodate typical small projects, e.g. driveways and garages)
3) Omit provision regarding obstruction of views of the Hudson River.
(This provision was vague and not specific to any particular view(s) ).
4) Regarding the moratorium area, the Committee recommends that there be one boundary line, not a tiered approach, and that the Old Croton Aqueduct serve as the boundary.
(Our efforts to create a connection between the waterfront and the downtown areas could be jeopardized by not including all areas west of the Aqueduct.)
5) The Committee also recommends no change in the stipulation that the Village be subject to the moratorium for all actions on Village-owned property at the waterfront.
(Regarding the Village's plans for Waterfront Park, the LWRP will build on the work of the prior Waterfront Committee by adding details to their recommendations as well as new suggestions. There is much work to be done here before a plan is implemented.)
6) Regarding the ambiguity of the original language of the moratorium, the Committee recommends that the Board accept the text changes offered by Peter Paden at the June 12th Board meeting.
Charlene Paden will send a memo with these recommendations to the Village Board by Thursday June 21.

Martin urged all LWRP participants to attend the upcoming Village Board meeting(s) in support of the moratorium.

II. Summary Report from Inventory Questionnaires

Martin reviewed the summary of public comment that was compiled by the LA Group from the questionnaires. The information gathered from public input will serve as a reference guide as we address issues at the waterfront and downtown areas. The public consensus indicated on many issues can be used as building blocks for project planning. Are these questionnaire responses representative of the residents of Dobbs Ferry? Paden responded that the questionnaire responses are a just part of a growing body of public comment that we are collecting throughout the LWRP process. Martin suggested that we all reach out to our neighbors and friends to verify consistency (or lack thereof) with the issues that have already been identified. The Summer LWRP Questionnaire (see #6 below) is another opportunity to continue to solicit public input.

III. First Draft of Dobbs Ferry's LWRP Inventory and Analysis document

For the benefit of getting familiar with the final LWRP document's structure, Martin circulated a rough first draft -- the Table of Contents and the Inventory and Analysis. The draft will be updated frequently as more inventory information comes in over the summer and as each phase is added. Each draft will require the full Committee's (and participants') review with their questions and comments. The next phase to be added after the summer will be the planning elements.

IV. 4. Potential Project List - the fun part

Throughout the planning phase of the LWRP process, the LA Group will assist us in putting substance to our ideas for waterfront and downtown revitalization -- essentially putting "meat on the bones" of the list of potential projects that we develop that are suited for our community. Martin's firm will also identify appropriate sources of funding (Village dollars as well as other public and private sources). He emphasized, however, that it is too early in the process to limit our visioning based on whether there are "strings attached" to certain types of funding.

The first draft of the Committee's potential project list (from the May 15 LWRP meeting) was circulated, with a view toward expanding and refining the list at this June meeting. The Committee, however, expressed a strong preference to develop the list with their subcommittee groups, over the summer, rather than in a brainstorming session in full Committee. It was decided that each inventory subcommittee would plan to meet as often as necessary over the summer to develop their list of potential projects, issues, programs, and policies pertaining to their area of study. Additional subcommittees, including a Waterfront Park subcommittee and a 145 Palisade subcommittee (See #8-Other Business), will do the same. Subcommittees should email their meeting schedule to the entire email list (see address list of this email) so that others may attend. Please email your draft lists to Charlene Paden by no later than Friday, September 7th. She will circulate the full list for review before the September LWRP meeting (TBA). For added help to our visioning process, Elizabeth Martin reminded everyone to take photos during summer travels of projects that we like and dislike. A picture is worth….

V. State Coastal Policies Compliance

Martin reviewed the 13 State Coastal Policies with which our LWRP plan is required to comply. Of course, not all of the policies pertain to our community - e.g. agricultural policies. Over the summer, the LA Group will begin to identify the appropriate policies and match them up with the types of suitable projects we will be looking into for Dobbs Ferry.

VI. Summer LWRP Table & Questionnaire

Paden reported that the LWRP Committee has been given permission to have a table at each of the Wednesday summer evening events at Waterfront Park, beginning July 4th through August 22. The function of this outreach effort is to continue to solicit public input on the key areas of our LWRP study as well as to answer questions regarding the ongoing work of the LWRP Committee. A two-sided questionnaire is being developed, for use at the table, with one question devoted to each area of inventory. (Short, to the point and easy to fill out and return that evening.) The questions are targeted to the prominent issues that have been identified through our work so far. There will be a place for name and address this time. Non-residents will also be invited to respond. Two LWRP participants will "person" the table each evening. It was also suggested that a map of the Village be displayed so that each visitor to the table can place a dot on their neighborhood. Over the summer, this may prove to be very interesting and helpful. A schedule will be circulated to you soon for signup.

VII. Other Business

Completion of Inventories - Paden asked that each inventory group complete their inventories over the summer so that they may be included in their entirety in the draft LWRP Inventory and Analysis document. Incomplete inventories include transportation, history, scenic views, public access (trail map) and land use. Others? If any group is having a problem completing their inventories, please notify Charlene during the summer.

145 Palisade - Jim Martin will schedule a meeting over the summer with Mayor Monahan and Charlene Paden to discuss 145 Palisade Street and the Landing properties and the implications for the LWRP planning activities.

VIII. Future Meetings

  • Historic Rivertowns of Westchester, Thursday, June 21, 5PM @ Mercy College.
  • Board of Trustees Meetings, Tuesdays 7:30Pm -- June 26, July 10, July 24.
  • LWRP September Meeting - NOT on the 3rd Tuesday. Meeting Date to be announced.
  • LWRP Oct, Nov & Dec Meetings, unless otherwise notified - 3rd Tuesday of the month.

    The meeting was adjourned at 9:30 PM.