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The Gedney Association
FALL NEWSLETTER 2021
PRESIDENT’S LETTER
Dear Fellow Neighbors,
The most important issue on the current calendar is the beginning of the update to the Comprehensive Plan. The City has started the process that will take place over the next year. The Gedney Board along with the Council of Neighborhood Associations (WPCNA) are seeking refinements to the process that we believe will result in a greater number of residents being more directly involved. We hope to have a questionnaire for the residents of Gedney Farms soon.
In the meantime, outlined below is the preliminary Vision Statement of the Board. We ask for your input on this and any other recommendations you may have. Please email the Gedney Association at info@gedneyfarms.net (mailto:info@gedneyfarms.net?subject=Gedney%20Farms%20Vision%20Statement) with your input.
Regards,
John E. Sheehan
President
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Gedney Farms Vision Statement:
Pertaining to Gedney Farms
* Preservation of Low-density single-family zoning
* Preservation of historic character of Gedney Farms
* Encourage Open Space Preservation
* Protection of Area Watercourses & Wetlands
* Reduce Cut-through traffic
* Preserve R-30 single family zoning on golf course properties
Pertaining to South End of City
* Protect low-density single-family zoning
* Prohibit Cut-through traffic on local streets
* Prohibit Multi-family apartments on existing or former low-density office parks
* Limit retail to community related needs and limit to existing local retail centers
* Maintain requisite fire and police services and consider future needs
Pertaining to City-Wide Issues
* Protect the delicate balance between Downtown and surrounding single-family neighborhoods
* Return to lower height restrictions of residential and office properties in Downtown zoning
* Limit multi-family housing to downtown
* Evaluate the decreasing role of retail development downtown
* Evaluate the decline and changes of the office market downtown
* Study the limits of new development due to limitations on sewer capacity, traffic congestion, school capacity and parkland and other facilities and services
ONE White Plains
White Plains is starting the process to update the City’s Comprehensive Plan, ONE White Plains. We urge you to attend one of the Listening Tour (https://files.constantcontact.com/e3ed7374201/0aa79546-318a-4468-bb77-43baf30f4bb5.pdf) sessions offered by the City to share your thoughts and concerns. Now is the time to help shape the future of our city.
The City is also conducting an Imagine Survey (https://one-white-plains-comprehensive-plan-1-wp-planning.hub.arcgis.com/?utm_source=Rosedale+Association+Mailing+List&utm_campaign=478b52b74b-lost_dog_COPY_01&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_8d1f384073-478b52b74b-294355733) that will be used to shape the overall community vision and develop the plan’s goals and objectives. We urge you to participate in the survey.
* LISTENING TOUR Information (https://files.constantcontact.com/e3ed7374201/0aa79546-318a-4468-bb77-43baf30f4bb5.pdf)
* Take the IMAGINE SURVEY (https://one-white-plains-comprehensive-plan-1-wp-planning.hub.arcgis.com/?utm_source=Rosedale+Association+Mailing+List&utm_campaign=478b52b74b-lost_dog_COPY_01&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_8d1f384073-478b52b74b-294355733)
* ONE WHITE PLAINS COMPREHENSIVE PLAN (https://one-white-plains-comprehensive-plan-1-wp-planning.hub.arcgis.com) Information (https://one-white-plains-comprehensive-plan-1-wp-planning.hub.arcgis.com)
Hail & Farewell – Paul Weissman
By: John E. Sheehan
Neighborhoods are typically defined by their physical characteristics: streets, homes, trees, open space etc. In truth however, people define a neighborhood. Gedney Farms over the years has benefitted from the active involvement and participation of many residents in the issues confronting our neighborhood and the City in which we live. Paul Weissman, who died at the age of 89 last October, was such a resident. A long-time resident he remained active in our neighborhood to the end of his life. He was very dedicated to preserving the Gedney Farms neighborhood environment he enjoyed over so many years. He served as Chairman of the Board of White Plains Hospital. Paul and his wife Harriet have been especially committed to education and supported and endowed the creation of numerous educational programs at various colleges and schools and the Children’s section of the White Plains Library. What distinguished his many activities was not only his generosity but his active involvement in creating
these numerous programs. We will miss him and his wise counsel.
Are Marijuana Dispensaries coming to White Plains?
To date, Mayor Roach and the Common Council have not taken a public position, nor have they held public meetings to debate the issue. Eleven Westchester towns have already opted-out, and five more are in the process of holding public town meetings.
Sources: TheExaminerNews.com; YonkersTimes.com; HighTimes.com; Overdosepreventionstarttegies.org
Will the City of White Plains be the GO-TO place to buy and use Marijuana?
In March of 2021, Governor Cuomo and the NY State legislature approved legislation to legalize marijuana for anyone 21 years or older, but municipalities can opt-out of allowing cannabis retail dispensaries and/or on-site consumption licenses (cannabis lounges) from within their borders before the December 31, 2021 deadline. If a municipality does NOT opt-out by 12/31, it CAN NOT opt-out in future, but if a municipality DOES OPT-OUT before 12/31, it CAN always opt back in at a later date by repealing the local law.
Westchester towns that have opted-out:
Eastchester
North Salem
Yorktown
Lewisboro
Larchmont
Bronxville
Ardsley
Rye Brook
Somers
North Castle
Mt. Kisco
Towns considering opting-out:
Harrison
Rye
Mamaroneck
Scarsdale
Dobbs Ferry
Beautification
The Gedney Association is working closely with the White Plains Beautification Foundation (WPBF) to plant an additional bed of daffodils on Gedney Esplanade. The new large bed of daffodils will be planted in the median closer to the USPS mailbox. Visit the WPBF website (https://wpbf.org/what-we-do/daffodils/) for more information on the Daffodil Project and the foundation’s commitment to make our City more beautiful!
Welcome
to the Neighborhood
Please contact Membership Chairwoman Linda Eisen at LEisen@gedneyfarms.net for more information or visit our website to join or renew today! (mailto:LEisen@gedneyfarms.net?subject=Membership)
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** HOME SALES in GEDNEY FARMS
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During the 2021 home sales market, prices rose to record highs due to a decline in inventory and high demand. In historic Gedney Farms, eighteen homes have sold thus far or are pending closing.
** WELCOME NEW NEIGHBORS
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12 Burling Ave: Lindsay Kowalsky & Evan Majzner
5 Hathaway Lane: Helen Tan & Shiwei Yin
7 Macy Ave: Lindsay Goldman Baum & Mark Baum
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MEMBERSHIP: Join or Renew Now
Please join The Gedney Association and become a part of our historic Gedney Farms community! The Gedney Association organizes activities and social events, and advocates for Gedney Farms on issues such as zoning and development, traffic, safety, beautification, historic preservation, and general issues impacting the City. Membership also gives you access to the Gedney Farms Quarterly Newsletter. Please visit our website (http://gedneyfarms.net/membership/) to renew or start a new membership. (http://gedneyfarms.net/membership/) Annual dues are $45 per year. (http://gedneyfarms.net/membership/)
Please email us (mailto:info@gedneyfarms.net?subject=Volunteer%20-%20I’d%20like%20to%20get%20more%20involved%20with%20TGA!) with comments or questions, or if you would like to get more involved with The Gedney Association!
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Link to full email: Gedney Association Newsletter FALL 2021.