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Dear Neighbors,
Please see the important letter below from the North Street Association regarding a proposed utility-scale solar farm at 1133 Westchester Avenue. Both the North Street Association and White Plains Council of Neighborhood Associations (CNA) asked us to distribute this letter to our members.
We urge you to email and/or call the Mayor and Common Council Members. For your convenience, a sample email is provided in the letter.
The Gedney Association
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CALL TO ACTION: On Monday Feb 7th there will be a Public Hearing for a proposed utility-scale solar farm at 1133 Westchester Ave. This solar farm will be as close as 60 feet from some of our residents’ backyards and less than 35 feet from ponds and watersheds that run between the neighborhoods and corporate park.
In advance of the Public Hearing, we urge you to call or email the Mayor and Common Council Members and express your concern about this project and the lack of existing zoning that would regulate projects of this scale. Further, remind them we are currently updating the Comprehensive Plan which when completed will guide zoning and regulation around solar utilities to ensure responsible and orderly development.
We are deeply troubled by the sheer size of this project, 6.5 acres ( 5 football fields!) and the complete absence of any zoning that would prevent the establishment of solar farms anywhere in this city! We are happy to answer any questions you may have around this project, please contact us at NorthStreetWP@gmail.com We will be speaking at the Public Hearing and hope that you can attend in a show of support, but, if you cannot attend please email our officials.
Below is a sample email you can cut and paste and send to their emails listed below. As always thank you for your continued support as we work to advocate for our neighborhoods.
Sample Email:
Honorable Mayor and Common Council Members,
I am writing to you as a resident of White Plains, and one of 1,756 homes represented by the North Street, Gedney Farms, Rosedale, Old Oak Ridge, Havilands Manor, Fairways and Ridgeway Residential Associations.
I am concerned about the impact of the 6.5 acre utility-scale solar farm proposed for 1133 Westchester Avenue.
This proposed solar farm borders neighborhoods on three sides and will have serious negative impacts on our noise levels, aesthetics, wildlife and wetlands. Data from large studies shows that the proposed solar farm will also reduce nearby property values. Solar panels on top of metal carports that are 22 feet high and the size of 5 football fields do not belong in our residential neighborhoods; they belong in the city’s 3 designated industrial zones. We are not aware of any solar farm utility of this size being installed by G&S Solar or another company in a residential neighborhood in New York State.
It is deeply concerning that a solar utility can be established in any of our residential neighborhoods as we are in the midst of the Comprehensive Plan Update that would address zoning and regulations around industrial scale solar utilities, proper recycling of solar panels and require decommissioning plans.
We applaud the recognition that the City of White Plains and Mayor Tom Roach recently received from the US Conference of Mayors. However, unlike those projects, this solar farm would provide no known direct benefits to the City of White Plains and would have serious negative impacts on our neighborhoods.
I ask that you vote to reject this proposal at the February 7 White Plains Common Council Meeting. This will give time for the City of White Plains Comprehensive Plan to be completed and provide appropriate guidance and best practices for solar use in our city.
Thank you for your consideration.
Sincerely,
EMAILS:
mayorsoffice@whiteplainsny.gov (mailto:mayorsoffice@whiteplainsny.gov)
cityclerk@whiteplainsny.gov (mailto:cityclerk@whiteplainsny.gov)
troach@whiteplainsny.gov (mailto:troach@whiteplainsny.gov)
jcallahan@whiteplainsny.gov (mailto:jcallahan@whiteplainsny.gov)
npuja@whiteplainsny.gov (mailto:npuja@whiteplainsny.gov)
jbrasch@whiteplainsny.gov (mailto:jbrasch@whiteplainsny.gov)
nhrobinson@whiteplainsny.gov (mailto:nhrobinson@whiteplainsny.gov)
jmartin@whiteplainsny.gov (mailto:jmartin@whiteplainsny.gov)
rpayne@whiteplainsny.gov (mailto:rpayne@whiteplainsny.gov)
jlpuja@whiteplainsny.gov (mailto:jlpuja@whiteplainsny.gov)
vpresser@whiteplainsny.gov (mailto:vpresser@whiteplainsny.gov)
PHONE #s:
Mayor Roach 914-422-1411
Justin Brasch (Pres.) 212-267-2500
Nadine Hunt-Robinson 914-315-7311
Richard Payne 914-490-3162
John M. Martin 914-686-0239
Jennifer Puja 914-607-2041
Victoria Presser 914-946-5608
mailto:info@gedneyfarms.net
https://www.facebook.com/gedneyfarms/
.
Link to full email: 1133 Westchester Ave: Proposed Utility-Scale Solar Farm.