Village Board of Trustees
Special Meeting
September 10, 2007
7:30 p.m.
A Special Meeting of the Board of Trustees of the Village of Briarcliff Manor, New York was held in the Village of Briarcliff Manor Village Hall, at 1111 Pleasantville Road, Briarcliff Manor, New York of the 10th of September commencing at 7:30 p.m.
Present
William J. Vescio, Mayor
David Venditti, Deputy Mayor
Robert Mayer, Trustee
Elsie Smith, Trustee
Also Present
Michael Blau, Village Manager
Christine Dennett, Village Clerk
Absent
Gayle Waxenberg, Trustee
Ingrid Richards, Assistant Village Manager
Clinton Smith, Village Attorney
Public Hearing to Hear and Discuss the Draft of the Comprehensive Plan
Upon motion by Deputy Mayor Venditti, seconded by Trustee Smith, the Board voted unanimously to open the public hearing.
Trustee Smith introduced the Committee Members and the Consultants and thanked them for all their hard work.
Ms. Harlan Sexton of Buckhurst, Fish & Jacquemart presented the draft plan.
Mayor Vescio stated the Comprehensive Plan was an overall road map and it was only suggestions to guide the Village.
Mr. Mark Wilson of 27 Law Road stated the Plan reflected hard work but it needed more in writing about expanding the tax base. He stated if the Central Business District was rezoned to allow for mixed use somebody would have to pay taxes for potentially adding new school aged children.
Mayor Vescio stated the Village was comprised of two school districts and by up-zoning the Scarborough Corridor in would limit the amount of homes built and would hopefully balance out any apartments in the Central Business District.
Mr. Ken Okin of 570 Scarborough Road asked if the entrance from Route 9a into Pleasantville Road would be dealt with.
Mayor Vescio stated the intersection would be incorporated into the study.
Mr. Okin asked if there was a count on how many lots were over 2 acres in the Scarborough Corridor.
Mayor Vescio stated the Scarborough Corridor Study listed all the properties and all nonconforming properties would be grandfathered in.
Mr. Okin asked about conservation easements.
Deputy Mayor Venditti stated there was a tax incentive that went along with conservation easements.
Mrs. Margo Berger of 2 Elizabeth Court stated there seemed to be a little resistance to mixed use development in the Central Business District. She asked how the Board would entice commercial property owners.
Mayor Vescio stated an additional floor of commercial space would potentially offset taxes for the property owner.
Ms. Levine of Matthes Road stated there were some good ideas in the plan but her concern was the large number of vacancies on the east side of Route 9a. She asked if there were any incentives to bring merchants to that area.
Mayor Vescio stated the rents were more expensive in some of the properties on the east side of Route 9a.
Ms. Sexton stated the east and west side business districts were meant to be complimentary to one another and not competitive.
Mr. George Papanicolaou of 1136 Pleasantville Road asked what the ideology was for moving parking behind the buildings.
Ms. Sexton stated by moving the parking it would enable more street spaces. She stated street parking would be short term and the lots would be longer term.
Mr. Papanicolaou asked if dual entry into the shops would be considered.
Mr. George Morrison congratulated the Committee and stated the Pocket Park was marvelous.
Mr. Stuart Kamin of 1073 Pleasantville Road asked how rezoning his home would affect his taxes and his investment.
Mayor Vescio stated his home would not be rezoned.
Mr. Wilson of Briarcliff Manor stated Pleasantville revitalized their downtown and asked if there was any idea of who would be the catalyst.
Mayor Vescio stated the east side of Route 9a had the most potential.
Mr. Wayne Driver of Macy Road asked if the installation of the clock was on time for October.
Mayor Vescio stated the clock was on target.
Mr. Harry Papanicolaou of 1136 Pleasantville Road asked what incentives would be offered to convert commercial properties into mixed use buildings. He stated it would be a huge capital outlay to rebuild.
Mayor Vescio stated input from the public to help craft the law would be very useful.
Mr. Gerard Kopera stated he was glad the clock would be on time and gave kudos to the overall plan.
Mr. Mort Berger recommended putting language in the plan to allow for review of it.
Mr. Driver commended the committee for looking at parking. He stated the downtown was very important.
Mr. Kopera asked what the plan was for Scarborough Station Parking.
Trustee Mayer stated 20 spaces would be lost temporarily during construction and 6-8 spaces would be lost permanently. He stated the Scarborough Station Committee would be meeting next week and would then present their recommendation to the Board.
Upon motion by Trustee Smith, seconded by Deputy Mayor Venditti, the Board voted unanimously to adjourn the meeting at 9:30pm.
Respectfully submitted by,
Christine Dennett
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