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Gedney Farms Newsletter
FALL 2020
Gedney Association
Note from the President
Dear Neighbors,
One of the positive effects of the FASNY process was that it brought many neighborhood associations together in jointly advocating for the preservation and protection of the residential areas of White Plains. Our Association has worked especially closely with the North Street Association and the Rosedale Residential Association as their neighborhoods both border Gedney Farms and therefore have interests and concerns in common with us.
Recently, The North Street Association contacted us and asked for our support in opposing a proposal for a house of worship building to be built on North Street on a “speculative basis” by a for-profit developer. The Gedney Board unanimously voted to support them in this matter. Please see the letter below that was sent to the Common Council.
Lastly, as you know the market for single-family homes in the New York metropolitan area has been very strong with Gedney Farms witnessing significant activity. Please join me in welcoming our new neighbors.
Best regards for the Fall Season!
John E. Sheehan
President
September 22, 2020
Members of the Common Council
White Plains City Hall
255 Main Street
White Plains, NY 10601
Re: 392 North Street
Dear Members of the Common Council,
Recently, The North Street Association contacted us regarding an application regarding the above referenced property. We understand that a builder, Let Me Build, LLC, has made application to construct a building of approximately 7,725 square feet on the property ostensibly for religious use which is a permitted use in the R1-30 residential zone. However, we further understand that there is no identified intended religious use in the application. In other words, the for-profit developer plans to build this building on a purely speculative basis.
Religious uses are given favorable treatment as a matter of public policy. Clearly, applicants must define the proposed religious use to assure that it conforms with the intent of the regulation. In this application, there is no religious use identified. Absent this it is merely a proposal for a commercial building in a residential zone. Therefore, without a defined religious use this application violates the zoning ordinance.
While we agree with the notion that religious uses are favored as a matter of public policy and are given wide latitude in their efforts this section of North Street has become overwhelmingly predominated by institutional use. The result is a distinct disadvantage of the underlying principal intended use in the neighborhood’s zoning that permits single family homes on 30,000 square foot lots. We believe it’s high time for the City to study this and define ways to protect the underlying residential use such as instituting zoning provisions for houses of worship such as minimum lot sizes, floor area limitations, and minimum distances between such uses so as not to overwhelm the underlying residential zone.
The residential neighborhoods are regularly under assault in White Plains and we ask the Common Council to protect them as they are the underlying bedrock of the health of the City.
Very truly yours,
John E. Sheehan
President
The Gedney Association
You’re Invited to our 95th Annual Meeting on Zoom!
This year we are pleased to announce that The Gedney Association will host its 95th Annual Meeting as an online event through Zoom. Members are invited to attend the special event online or telephone and will be able to participate in Q&A. Last year we had a great crowd with over 100 members attending! We hope that given the opportunity to attend in the comfort of your own living room, we will have an even better turnout! Please keep a look out for additional information via email and on our website (http://gedneyfarms.net) .
Thursday, November 12th, 7:30-8:30pm
JOIN or RENEW NOW: Members of the community who wish to join The Gedney Association are invited to go to www.gedneyfarms.net (http://gedneyfarms.net/membership/) to start a new membership or renew their current membership. (http://gedneyfarms.net/membership/)
TRAFFIC UPDATE
The Traffic Commission concluded two traffic studies within our neighborhood. The City installed a new 4-way stop sign at the intersection of Hotel Drive, Macy Avenue and Gedney Esplanade. Meanwhile, no action was recommended for Richbell Road. The City rejected traffic calming measures to reduce cut-through traffic, volume and speeding on this road. We continue to work with the City on several issues, including speeding on Ridgeway and the possibility of installing a crosswalk at the intersection of Mamaroneck Avenue, Heatherbloom Road and Gedney Way.
16 Sherman Ave
Jordan & Brittany Lender
27 Heatherbloom Rd
Joanne Dressner & Jerry Linsner
37 Avondale Rd
Dan & Erin McHale
3 Hotel Drive
Mathew & Jill Levy
95 Robinhood Rd
Marcel & Maria Schill
20 Burling Ave
John & Elizabeth Hayes
6 Westway
Stephen & Lois Rogalski
Please contact Linda Eisen at LEisen@gedneyfarms.net regarding membership (mailto:leisen@gedneyfarms.net?subject=Membership)
Memorial for Postman John Consilvio
Neighbors along the route of beloved postman John Consilvio came together to set this memorial in his honor. A special thank you to Zack Salino for leading this effort and Michael Bellantoni for setting the plaque so beautifully. You can view the plaque on Gedney Esplanade, at the corner of Burling Avenue and Hotel Drive.
City NEWS
White Plains Recreation and Parks has begun a playground replacement project at Gillie Park, located at the corner of Gedney Way and Mamaroneck Avenue. The project is expected to be finished by late October or early November.
Join our Historic Neighborhood Association! Membership gives you information on neighborhood programs on beautification, historic preservation, traffic, public safety, and much more! (http://gedneyfarms.net/membership/)
Email us at (mailto:info@gedneyfarms.net?subject=Why%20I%20LOVE%20Living%20in%20GF!) info@gedneyfarms.com (mailto:info@gedneyfarms.net?subject=Membership) Why You LOVE Living in Gedney Farms and we will include your story in our next Newsletter! (mailto:info@gedneyfarms.net?subject=Membership)
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Link to full email: Gedney Association Newsletter Fall 2020.