Dear Neighbors –
I trust everyone is enjoying the summer weather and keeping cool! Here is the latest news from the Gedney Association regarding FASNY, Ridgeway Nursery, Annual Picnic, Annual Meeting…
FASNY
In our most recent message, we held out hope that the FEIS (Final Environmental Impact Statement) process would be nearing conclusion by now. However, as we had noted, the timeframes are variable and the timing of each step of the process is difficult to predict. Although the city’s staff has undoubtedly been working assiduously to review and, where appropriate, rewrite the preliminary FEIS document submitted by FASNY in the spring, the revised preliminary FEIS has not yet been completed. As soon as the revised version is available we will let you know. We are happy to report that we had a strong response to our request in April for assistance to review the preliminary FEIS. Subcommittees were formed and a thorough review has been made. Our views have been, and will continue to be, communicated to the Council. It was immediately clear to those of us reviewing the document that the City would need to rework the preliminary FEIS before the Council can accept it as complete. It is our expectation (hope?) that the revised preliminary FEIS will be available for review in the next few weeks.
An outline of the FEIS process is below:
The French American School has submitted its draft or preliminary FEIS (Final Environmental Impact Statement) to the City. The next step is for the Common Council to determine if the preliminary FEIS is complete. As with the DEIS (Draft Environmental Impact Statement) submitted and reviewed in 2012, the determination of completeness is not equivalent to approval. The preliminary FEIS is FASNY’s attempt to respond to all of the comments to its DEIS including the comments from the public and those from the various city boards and departments. There is no time requirement or limit for the City’s completeness evaluation.
Once the preliminary FEIS is deemed complete by the Council, it will be substantively reviewed. The City will eventually establish a final version of the FEIS. Although FASNY has prepared the preliminary FEIS, the Common Council is responsible for the adequacy and accuracy of the FEIS. The FEIS consists of (i) the DEIS including any necessary revisions and supplements, (ii) copies or a summary of the substantive comments received and their sources and (iii) the Council’s response to the comments.
Once the FEIS is finalized, the SEQR (State Environmental Quality Review) process requires that the Common Council must prepare its own written Findings Statement. The Findings certify that the requirements of SEQR have been met. A positive Findings Statement means that the FASNY application for a special permit is approvable after consideration of the FEIS. A positive Findings Statement also demonstrates that the proposed development would avoid or minimize adverse environmental impacts presented in the FEIS and weighs and balances them with social, economic and other essential considerations. If the special permit application is not approvable, a negative Findings Statement documenting the reasons for the denial will be prepared. The Council will adopt either a positive or negative Findings Statement.
Ridgeway Nursery
Unfortunately, the inappropriate, dangerous and bothersome activities continue at the Ridgeway Nursery on Ridgeway. The city has issued several violations and has gone to court to enforce them. The owners of the nursery have been uncooperative and the litigation promises to continue for the foreseeable future. We will keep you posted.
Annual Picnic
Planning of the Annual Picnic for the residents of Gedney Farms is well under way. The Picnic will be held in September. The date and other details will be sent to you in the near future.
Annual Meeting
This year’s Annual Meeting of the Gedney Association will be held on the evening of Thursday, November 14. Please save the date. Details will follow.
Enjoy the summer! We will bring you more information in the coming weeks and months.
Thank you.
Terence Guerriere
President, Gedney Association
Gedney Association Board Members:
Terence Guerriere, President
John Sheehan, Vice President
Midge Sanchez, Secretary
Evelyne Klein, Treasurer
Yvonne Gumowitz, Information Officer
Guy D’Antona
Albert Dold
Garry Klein
Elsie Lahrmann
Ellen DelVecchio Lee
Robert Manger
Robert Stackpole
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