Village Residents Ask Planning Board to Redirect Downtown Traffic
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Not everyone is happy about easing parking restrictions in the village to accommodate more restaurants. Residents of the Old Scarsdale Neighborhood Association who live in the village are concerned that increased traffic downtown will pose safety concerns for pedestrians who live in the area. Here is a letter from the association to the Scarsdale Planning Board proposing a solution to potential traffic issues:
Dear Madam Chairperson and Members of the Planning Board,
The Old Scarsdale Neighborhood Association (“OSNA”) has significant concerns about the current proposal to relax the off-street parking regulations for restaurants in the Village Center. Before inviting more restaurants to Scarsdale, the Planning Board must address protecting the safety of our families from the increasing number of cars using our neighborhood as a thoroughfare.
The proposal concerns Village Code Article X, Section 310-70 (4), and creates an exception for restaurants specifically in the Village Center area. The current requirement for the entire Village is “one space for each three seats, plus one space for each employee, but no less than one space for each 75 square feet or a major fraction thereof of gross leasable floor area.” The proposal would change the requirement for restaurants in the Village Center to “one space for each 150 square feet or a major fraction thereof of gross leasable floor area.” (11/5/2010 Memo to Planning Board from Village Planner)
Ours is the only residential neighborhood onto whose streets traffic directly flows as cars are exiting the Village Center. The appropriate route is for them to drive out of the Village on Woodland Place or Chase Road, where they can access major roads and highways. Unfortunately, many cars leaving the Post Office/ Chat intersection drive north on Woodland Place and veer up towards the right, heading up into the Oakwood Place and Woodland Place triangle. This traffic triangle creates a dangerous and confusing confluence of cars and pedestrians. This is a blind curve where the road changes from one-way to two-way. Some drivers speed up as they think they are leaving town, unwittingly finding themselves in a residential block with 15 young children. In addition, many drivers use this route as a short-cut to avoid the traffic light at Popham and Chase Roads.
The recent 2010 Update to the Village Center Component of the Comprehensive Plan indicates that many residents would like to enliven the Village Center with more restaurants. We have no objection to restaurants but ask you to also recognize the Update’s Goal 2: Attend to traffic congestion, and enhance walk-ability and pedestrian safety and amenities…”
The Executive Summary of the Update specifies: “In the future, improved green space and park connections will reinforce the village-in-a park character and bring residents and workers closer to the charm and natural beauty of the Village Center. These connections will also reinforce the possibility and the desirability of walking and bicycling, reducing the reliance on automobiles for daily needs and trips within the Village Center area, and will provide a pleasant buffer between surrounding neighborhoods and the Village Center.”
It is this buffer that we would like to see maintained as the Village becomes more active. As a solution to these challenges, we propose enlarging the current green space at the Oakwood/Woodland triangle to create a pedestrian-only green space. (Please see Study Area 1 on the attached photographic map exhibit.) This proposal maintains the Woodland Place exit from the Village, but would prevent cars exiting the village from using Oakwood Place and Autenreith Road as a thoroughfare. This would greatly facilitate stormwater control, encourage walking and biking into the Village, and keep our neighborhood from bearing the burden of increased non-local traffic leaving the Village Center that additional restaurants will create. We also propose examining the Autenreith/Oakwood traffic triangle in order to clarify traffic flow. (Please see Study Area 2 on the attached photographic map.)
Several neighbors have noticed an increase in traffic on our residential streets since the lovely Chat Bistro opened. Many patrons are unfamiliar with Scarsdale roads and find themselves in our neighborhood. It is even more important to direct this traffic away from the confusing traffic triangle and our residential streets because it has a bar and serves alcohol.
As a community we are striving towards more sustainable lifestyles. Parents and Grandparents walk strollers around the curve on Oakwood heading to the Montesorri school, St. James the Less’s nursery school and Hoff Barthelson Music School. The Middle School bus stops here. Train commuters walk and bike down to the train station through this triangle.
We applaud your efforts to improve the Village Center and the vital role it plays in the life of our community. We request further study of our recommendations and look forward to working with you to facilitate improvements while maintaining our village in a park.
We appreciate your concern and thank you for your attention.
Respectfully Submitted,
Old Scarsdale Neighborhood Association (OSNA)
By OSNA Secretary, Emily Kronenberg
Letter From A Soccer Fan
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In Grand Central Station this morning, I was sharing, with a proud father of one of the Scarsdale High School Varsity Soccer team players, how fabulous it was for me to watch the team play at SUNY Purchase last Saturday night. That night was cold and raw and the conditions were only made worse by the consistent wind that seems to inhabit that particular field. While all of the spectators shivered, the kids on the field shined. It was my first time seeing this team play. I grew up playing soccer and my three children are all graduates of the Scarsdale Youth Soccer programs but what I saw on that field was not your “fathers” brand of soccer. Terrific ball skills, poise under physical and emotional pressure and a great sixth sense about their fellow players collectively blew me away.
After my conversation with the dad ended, I was struck by a thought that I was not too happy to be struck by. The thought goes like this…if Scarsdale had not developed the youth soccer program that it has today, it is likely that these high school kids would not have achieved the high level of play and accompanying competitive success that I had witnessed.
To this point, I have been mostly critical of youth soccer in Scarsdale. After all, what parent wants to see their young child told that he or she is “cut” from the first tryout of their young lives. Was it really necessary that youth soccer players play outdoors in fall and spring and indoors in the winter as well? I was and continue to be a believer that kids should be playing lots of different sports and that sports specialization at the youth level should be left for the truly gifted few. I witnessed a Scarsdale Youth Soccer League (“SYSL”) organization that proceeded with a Prussian sense of its own hegemony. It was my experience that coaches and parents who dissented were brushed aside or edged out. I coached teams and participated in many of these meetings while my kids wanted to play on those teams and was happy to wash my hands of it the moment their interest faded.
Despite my own take on the Scarsdale youth soccer experience, I cannot help but acknowledge that the players on the 2010 Varsity team are getting the experience of their lives because the “soccer generals” did what they did. To be clear, I am not suggesting that this particular “end justifies the means” and it is also not my judgment to make. I am not suggesting that the clearly terrific experience of the few overwhelms the more mixed experience of the many. But at the same time, Scarsdale Youth Soccer had a vision of what it wanted to accomplish when it was formed twenty-ish years ago and it is only fair to acknowledge that I saw some it “played out” at SUNY last Saturday.
Eric Karp
November 11, 2010
Letters in Support of Amy Paulin
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To the Editor: We are members of the Democratic and Republican parties. We each work to do what we think is best for Scarsdale. We don't always agree on how to get the job done, but we do agree that mere partisanship will not get the job done. That is why we are both supporting Amy Paulin’s reelection to the Assembly. When Amy sees a problem that needs to be fixed, she does not stop to consider the party membership of those who can help her accomplish her goal – be it on matters of reform, education or protection of our communities. Nor is she afraid to take a position that does not sit well with the party leadership. Just this term Amy voted against a leadership proposal to borrow billions of dollars to close the budget shortfall. She also refused to take member items during this economic crisis. Although Amy has used member items in the past to help to fund the restoration of Wayside Cottage, the new SVAC headquarters, and the renovation of the train station among other things, she is one of the few legislators who recognize that we are living in different times and that the system is sorely in need of reform to make it fair, transparent and free from conflicts of interest.
We understand that people are fed up with government in general. But we hope that Scarsdale residents can distinguish between the politicians who are in it for themselves and Amy who is in it for us. Do not assume that your neighbor will take care of sending Amy back to Albany. Please make sure you get out and vote on November 2nd.
Alan Goldston, Democrat, 164 White Road, Scarsdale 914-472-5193
Mark Hershey, Republican, 11 Brayton Road, Scarsdale 914-725-1725
Dear Scarsdale10583: Having held elected positions in Scarsdale's non-partisan system, and as a former President of the League of Women Voters, I came to know and respect Assemblywoman Amy Paulin. She is the quintessential grass-roots politician, and she is our neighbor. Thus, she has first hand knowledge of the needs of our pristine hamlet, and represents our interests with vigorous advocacy . She and I both performed community service in the League of Women Voters and, therefore, were schooled in the art of achieving consensus. She is an effective legislator, and is in the top 3% for passing bills and sponsoring legislation. During her tenure in public office, Paulin increased State aid for education in the District to $30 million. I endorse Assemblywoman Paulin's support of much needed reform measures, such as the creation of an independent ethics oversight agency, for both the legislative and executive branches of government. Paulin protects every woman's right to choose. I can not think of anyone else who could better represent Scarsdale, than Assemblywoman Paulin, and I urge all of you to support her and get out the vote this Election Day.
Marcia Kusnetz
Important Letter from our Fire Chief
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As the time change approaches on Sunday, November 7, the Scarsdale Fire Department wants to remind residents to make another change that could save their lives: changing the batteries in their smoke detectors.
Communities nationwide witness tragic home fire deaths each year. An average of three children per day die in home fires and 80 percent of those occur in homes without working smoke detectors. Non-working smoke detectors rob residents of the protective benefits home fire safety devices were designed to provide. The most commonly cited cause of non-working smoke detectors is worn or missing batteries.
Changing smoke detector batteries at least once a year is one of the simplest, most effective ways to reduce these tragic deaths and injuries. In fact, working smoke detectors nearly cut in half the risk of dying in a home fire. Additionally, the International Association of Fire Chiefs recommends replacing your smoke detectors every 10 years.
To save lives and prevent needless injuries in Scarsdale, the Scarsdale Fire Department has joined forces with Energizer and the International Association of Fire Chiefs for the 22nd year of the Change Your Clock Change Your Battery® campaign. The program urges all Americans to adopt a simple, lifesaving habit: changing smoke detector batteries when changing clocks back to standard time each fall, this year on November 7.
“The peak time for home fire fatalities is between 10 p.m. and 6 a.m. when most families are sleeping,” says Fire Chief Thomas Cain. “Smoke detector maintenance is a simple, effective way to reduce home fire deaths. Children and senior citizens are most at risk, and a working smoke detector can give them the extra seconds they need to get out safely.”
In addition, Chief Cain recommends residents use the “extra” hour they save from the time change to test smoke detectors by pushing the test button, planning two ways out of their home, and practicing escape routes with the entire family. Families should also prepare a fire safety kit that includes working flashlights and fresh batteries.
Thomas M. Cain Chief of Department
50 Tompkins Road Scarsdale, NY 10583
Tel 914-722-1215 Fax 914-722-1214
Please Move the Truck
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Letter To The Editor: Please note that the Scarsdale Woman's Exchange has been at the same location for the past 79 years. Our business is being hurt by the fact that UPS and FEDEX and all delivery trucks ALWAYS park in front of our shop. We really feel that these vehicles should park in front of other retail shops and not always in front of our shop! It just is not fair for our customers to have our store blocked by these trucks and we really feel our parking spot should be available for our customers. Our business is really being hurt by this unfair practice.
Renee Hock
Scarsdale Women’s Exchange
Harwood Court
Scarsdale
