Town Accepts Forest City Daly Impact Statement,
Considers Landsdowne Drive Tree Removal

by Harriet Kline

(January 6, 2005) As an ice storm threatened outside, the Town of Mamaroneck Board held a marathon session well past eleven o’clock last night in the Town Center. On the agenda were several issues that will have long lasting impact on the Town in the years ahead.

Forest City Apartment Impact Statement Accepted

Artist's Rendering of Preferred Alternative Plan - View from Washington Square of Forest City Daly Proposed Apartments. Robert Am. M. Stern Architects

The Town Board and its consultants have been working with the developer Forest City Daly for over two years in an effort to scope out a proposal for a multi-unit apartment complex on Madison Avenue. Last night, the Town Board unanimously accepted the final environmental impact statement presented by Forest City Daly. This crucial procedural step allows the developer to produce copies for public perusal and discussion. It does not mean that the project itself has been approved. Copies will be in 3 locations: the Larchmont Library, the office of the Town Administrator and the office of the Town Clerk. (Editor's Note: Divney Tung Schwalbe, LLP, consultants to Forest City Daly have made available to the Larchmont Gazette a summary of the FEIS.

Preferred Alternative Plan - Site Plan. Courtesy of Divney Tung Schwalbe, LLP

Landsdowne Drive Trees

Town resident Rod Williams appeared before the Board in support of his proposal for disposition of 15 trees on his property on 74 Landsdowne Drive. His presentation suffered from some confusion, as maps available to Board members did not correspond to a document Mr. Williams was using for his commentary.

Susan Cherbuliez and Mr. Silverberg, representing neighbors to the property, evoked both legal and logistical issues to broaden the scope beyond that of a simple tree removal permit. Mr. Silverberg insisted that environmental and coastal assessments should be done. Ms. Cherbuliez called for professional drawings to enable the Board and neighbors to consider the full scale (in terms of fill, grading, drainage, etc) of Mr. Williams’ overall home/property expansion design and construction plans.

After a lengthy discussion, all Board members agreed that more information was necessary and that the Town staff members (engineer, buildings inspector, environmental officer) would develop a list of specifics required. However, the Board unanimously passed a resolution giving Mr. Williams permission to cut down five trees that the Town Tree Commission had characterized as being “diseased.”

Traffic Improvement Project

The Town has been working with the State of New York Department of Transportation to improve the intersection of Myrtle Boulevard and North Chatsworth Avenue. At last night’s meeting, the Town authorized a “master agreement” with the State to fund the necessary engineering findings to draw up the project.

United Hospital Closing

Mike Liverzani, the Town of Mamaroneck's Coordinator of Emergency Preparedness, addressed the Board about the difficulties that the EMS service will encounter because of the anticipated closing of United Hospital in Port Chester. EMS has transported approximately 600 residents to United in the past year and must in the future rely on the emergency rooms at White Plains Hospital and New Rochelle Hospital. Greenwich and Stamford Hospitals will also be possible destinations, but Mr. Liverzani was troubled by the distance to each of these. “In the last five years, three Westchester County hospitals have closed,” he reminded the Board.

The final decision for the closing of United Hospital rests with the New York State Department of Health. Supervisor Valerie O’Keeffe urged residents to contact their State representatives with any concerns on the issue.

Next Meeting – January 19

At the Board’s next meeting, Supervisor O’Keeffe will present her “State of the Town” report. Public hearings on a proposed “fence law” and a concession agreement for the Hommocks Ice Rink are also on the agenda.

Supervisor O’Keeffe anticipated that in 2005 she will focus on 3 issues: property reevaluation, Town playing fields and possible “grading” legislation.

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