January 14, 2019 Mayor's Column
Unlike National and State government, the Village’s Legislative “New Year” is an April to April cycle consistent with municipal law. However, once the calendar turns a new year, the Trustees and I also react with a human renewal of purpose, energy and resolve.
As we conduct our first Trustees’ meeting of 2019 this week, I wanted to share what intitiatives are in the pipeline and their various stages of completion.
Avalon Parking Lot
Long a sought after parcel of land for Village ownership, we will now have title to the lot after truly a decade of starts and stops.
The lot will be designed for the future with proper drainage, trees to enhance the aesthestics as well as to cool the cars and the blacktop, special scooter parking, safe slots for bicycles and even a charging station. The removal of the asbestos filled gas station will also add spaces to the overall inventory. Redesigning the entire walkway from Parkway Road to the Metro North platform is also part of the plan, as is offering some overnight parking opportunities for nearby neighbors.
Department of Public Works Garage
Frankly a project we have kicked down the road in lieu of infrastructure repairs that appeared more exigent, the condition of the building is unworkable.
Without an overhaul/refurbishment since the mid 1940’s, structurally the building is in disrepair and the layout is totally inadequate for the storage of the equipment used in 2019. Most of our vehicles, due to height and dimensions, must be stored outdoors diminishing useful life by upwards of one-third, and some repairs are forced to be done outside despite the weather. The “yard” of equipment by its nature is unattractive, making Palumbo Place a bit of eyesore vis a vis other Village streets.
The plans are not finalized so the bidding process is not yet underway. During actual construction, Palumbo Place will have to be closed for a period, and we will keep you fully informed of that schedule.
An added plus to the whole Palumbo Place reconfiguration will be additional public parking spaces which we assume will be used by our Senior Citizens group and area school teachers.
Comprehensive Plan
Ideally, every community should periodically revisit its practices, laws and goals from 30,000 feet and think globally as to the future health and sustainability of the community. Bronxville’s last Comprehensive Plan was completed in 2009 and the Trustees and given so much has changed in a decade, a fresh look at all things Bronxville was prudent and proactive.
As example, regulations, policies and priorities will be examined from the residential, commercial and institutional perspectives. The following are a small sampling of issues that are clearly front burner:
Residential
- Optimal length of time for a construction project
- Ratio of open space vs building on a lot
- Tree care and preservation
- Building demolition
- Value of recreational opportunities
- Lighting in residential neighborhoods
- Zoning and Planning Process
Commercial
- Attractiveness of Business District
- Parking needs
- Condition of underpass
- Lighting and Safety
- Traffic patterns
- Stores needed for a vibrant Retail Mix
In an effort to gauge all the stakeholders concerns so our list is as inclusive and comprehensive as possible, we will be disseminating a Village wide survey in the coming months to residents, merchants, people who work in the Village, non-profit institutions and shoppers to assertain priorities and point out deficiencies.
It is vital that we hear from you and though the survey is proving lengthy, we so ask you register your opinion.
As a wonderful historic side note re: surveys, when the Girl Scout Cabin burned down, I immediately formed a committee to discuss its future, new plans, etc.
Luckily, I chose former Mayor Sheila Stein to chair the committee. As we looked over possible cabin ideas, Mayor Stein said, “How do we know that the residents want to spend taxpayer dollars on this?” Well we didn’t! After sending out a survey, it became overhwhelmingly clear a new cabin was not at all a taxpayer priority at the time.
Other inititatives for 2019, though perhaps not as large in scope, are the refurbishmens of Bacon Woods, our park straddling Kensington and Sagamore Road and continued discussion/lobbying with Metro North to improve their property in the Village. Increased lighting, near the West side traffic circle is also in the works as well as the use of a $400,000 plus State infrastructure grant we won to improve our sewer system.
Farther down the road, but very much on the Trustee’s radar, is the condition of the neighborhood in the Paxton/Milburn area and the need for a revitalization and aesthetic reshaping commensurate witjh the character of the rest of the Village. I promise you a productive and positive New Year at Village Hall.