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Okay. Good evening everyone.

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I call this march. I call this march 30th, 2026,
A special meeting of the common

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council of the city of
White plains to order. Councilwoman santiago, please
Lead us in the pledge of

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allegiance to our. Rise for the pledge.

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I pledge, pledge allegiance to
The flag of the united states of america and to the
Republic for which it stands.

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one nation under god,
Indivisible, with liberty and

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justice for all.

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madam clerk, could you
Please call the roll? Mr. Caruso.

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present. Mr. Fry pearson. Here.

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miss presser. Here. Mrs. Santiago. Present. Miss simmons here. Mr. Wolff.

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here. Mr. Mayor. Here. Before we get on to the
First item of business, I just want to say that this is
A regularly scheduled work

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session, which often becomes
A special session of the white plains council.

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these are scheduled every month. And I just want there was a
Little bit of confusion, and I wanted everyone to know that
This is standard procedure for

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the way we run city government
In white plains, and if you have any questions, you can

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certainly ask me or
Any of us afterwards. Now, our first item of business
Is a communication from the

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commissioner of public safety
In relation to an agreement with winifred madison burke
Rehabilitation hospital to use

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property located at 7085
Mamaroneck avenue to conduct

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fire department training. I moved to file and
Spread the communication.

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I second the motion. All in favor?

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I carried. I asked unanimous consent to
Offer an ordinance entitled

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ordinance of the common council
Of the city of white plains, to the white plains, to white
Plains, authorizing the

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commissioner of public safety
To enter into an agreement with winifred masterson.

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burke rehabilitation hospital
To use property located at 785 mamaroneck avenue to conduct
Fire department training.

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unanimous consent is granted. I move the adoption of
The following ordinance.

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I second the motion. Madam clerk, please
Call the roll.

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mr. Caruso. Yes, mr. Pearson? Yes.

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miss presser. Yes. Mrs. Santiago. Yes. Miss simmons? Yes.

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mr. Wolfe? Yes. Mr. Mayor. Yes.

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just so that everybody
Understands that was so that we can use the burke
Rehabilitation center for some

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fire department training,
Which is stated clearly anyway. Our next item is a capital
Project entitled traffic light

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pole replacement. The commissioner of public
Works intended to report on

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this but was unable to make it. I was given this background
On this capital project.

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two vehicular accidents
Occurred last year, one at the intersection of hamilton avenue
And cottage place, and another

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at fisher avenue and bank
Street, both of which resulted in the destruction of
Traffic signal poles.

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this capital project
Encompasses the design and construction of the new
Poles at these locations.

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the project was initially
Estimated at $470,000. The department of public works
Put the construction portion of

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the project out to bid, and
Received bids that exceeded the original estimate due to
Inflation and tariffs.

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accordingly, the department
Requests an additional $125,000 for this project, bringing
The total project to 595,000.

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our next item is a capital
Project pertaining to the proposed acquisition of
The city center garage.

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I'd like to call mike kelly,
Senior assistant corporation counsel to the podium.

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good evening. Kelly, senior citizen
Corporation counsel.

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uh, proposed capital projects
C5687 is for the proposed acquisition of the white
Plains city center garage.

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city staff have been working
To lay the groundwork for the acquisition of the garage,
Including the negotiation of an

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agreement with the owner of the
City center retail development and performing the legally
Required environmental reviews

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of the transaction. Staff is now attempting to
Finalize negotiations over the

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acquisition of the garage. The acquisition of the garage
Will enable the city to remove

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the garage from the challenging
Financial and operational situation it is now in, and
Further enable the city to make

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much needed improvements
To the garage. The proposed draft capital
Project would involve the

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issuance of $8.3 million of
Bonds of the city to finance the acquisition.

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this number was based upon
Information available to the city, as the amount of the
Principal and interest on the outstanding garage bonds,
The amount owed to the bonds

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insurer, as well as amounts
Being held by the bond trustee. This past friday, the bond
Trustee and the bond insurer

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informed us of their position
That the amount to pay the principal and interest on the
Bonds would be higher than

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expected, approximately
$11 million. Staff is working with the
Insurer and the trustee to

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account for this increase, and
Is staff's intention that a more accurate amount will
Be ready for the council's

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approval on april 6th. That being said, even if the
City were required to pay more

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to retire the bonds, the amount
Would still be well within the value of the garage and
Would continue to result in a

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substantial savings to the city. Thank you.

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I just want to thank you in
Particular for all of your hard work on this.

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this is a very difficult and
Complicated project, and it is imperative and a great thing
Ultimately for the city, that

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we will take over the city
Ownership of the city center garage and get things on an

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even keel and fix
Up those problems. So thank you. All right. Thank you very much.

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our next item is a presentation
From commissioner of planning chris gomes on downtown
Revitalization initiatives.

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good evening. Good evening, mayor
And common council.

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I have the exciting privilege
To present again the downtown

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revitalization initiative award
That the city did receive just a couple of years ago now.

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it was a $10 million
Grant award the city got. If you all recall, there
Are multiple rounds.

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the cuomo administration
At the state level. I had this $10 million option
Available to certain as a

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competitive grant for
Many municipalities. It was like a hunger games
Esque kind of competition with

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her neighbors. And I was part of many of the
Applications for many years.

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and just recently, in round
Seven, the city was awarded the $10 million.

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many of you here and in the
Audience, I know we're very excited, attended a lot of the
Public meetings and hearings we had on some of the proposed
Ideas, but I'm going to give

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you a refresher, because we're
Getting to the point now. We're at your april
Council meeting.

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you're going to have the first
Contract with new york state to fund two of these
Specific projects.

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so we all deserve a
Round of applause. It's been a long road. Yes. And I want to
Celebrate with this picture.

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this was again the
$10 million check. We tried cashing it,
But alas, it was.

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just a piece of cardboard. And this is full disclosure.

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this is my image that we took,
The official image that the governor's website
Press release had.

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you can see I'm behind
The governor there. Behind. I'm right there
With my eyes closed. So every.

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picture literally. One of the most exciting
Moments in our planning career here in white plains.

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and I do want to thank
The planning department. I mean, everybody was involved
In this, but I would be remiss if I didn't point out judy
As our deputy commissioner,

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christy knecht, we had eileen
Mclean, katie crawford, uh, ingrid's here as
Well in the picture.

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so a lot of the administration
Worked on this with the planning department. So and I can see many of you
In the photo here as well with

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your eyes open. Um. So this is what happened.

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we submitted back in 2023. Uh, we were awarded the grant
Excitedly in 2024, as I noted.

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and then we embarked kind
Of on the tail of the city's comprehensive plan outreach,
Which was multiple years on,

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kind of a parallel track of
Outreach and engagement, both in the spanish speaking
Community as well as the

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business community, to really
Kind of get ideas to shape the types of projects.

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we were going to fund
This $10 million grant. Um, so we had, as you can
Imagine, a lot of digital outreach and some great
Feedback from the community.

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um, this all kind of culminated
In the purpose of the outreach, I should say, was to really
Have an open call for projects.

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so while the $10 million was
For a lot of city projects I'll get into in a moment.

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there was also the opportunity
For people in the public, business owners to apply for a
Portion of those grants funds. So there was a public
Kind of call for projects.

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we also established a
Local planning committee. So there were six
Total meetings.

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these were people that were
Members of the community. That really helped kind of suss
Through the applications for the use of these grant funds.

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and so here we are the last
Few steps, the lpc, the local planning committee, in
Consultation with the

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consultants that we hired
Through new york state or we were basically forced to hire,
They're wonderful, but they

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were part of the grant. Uh, they were very wonderful.

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I shouldn't say it that way. And they helped us with the
Local planning committee, prepare a cip, a strategic
Investment plan that went up to

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new york state for approval. That was essentially us
Identifying what we wanted to

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fund, how we're going to fund
Them, and how it was going to really revitalize
Downtown white plains.

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we did find out that
Was in december. In may of last year, we found
Out that we had city projects

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that'll get into the moment. Seven of them were funded and
The kind of smaller, private,

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not for profit applications. Five of them were funded.

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and as I said, as of march
And coming up in next week's council meeting, we're going
To have our first contract with

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new york state for the city
Council, the common council's authorization to get
This project moving.

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so this is the. Downtown revitalization area
That in the aerial photography,

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all the red outline is kind of
What we identified as kind of the project specific area.

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and these are essentially the
7 or 8 projects we kind of combined, two of them that were
Actually funded, and I'm going

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to hit each of them very high
Level now for the benefit of the public.

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and these are things, again,
You'll be seeing in the coming months as the contracts get to
The council and these projects move along.

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incidentally, the amount to
About 8.5 million of the $10 million grant are all directly
Against state grant funding to improve and enhance our
Already wonderful downtown.

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so we had $1,000 we'd put
In for installation of new

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windows, handicap accessible
Bathroom and new paint, a fresh coat of paint or so, maybe
More at the slater center.

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so that's a $600,000
Grant we're excited about. Pretty straightforward there.

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um, one of the larger ones was,
Uh, we've been looking at, uh, for a long time in the
Comprehensive plan, additional

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east west bike access and enhancing our bicycle
Infrastructure.

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so the hamilton avenue
Corridor, which planning departments offices look right
Out on, and we see people kind

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of biking through there, we
Think would be a wonderful idea to have a two way bike lane.

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very challenging. We've been talking
About this for years. Even the transit district
Plan from a decade ago.

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um, but this is something we've
Finally gotten funded to some extent to 2.7 million.

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lots of designs still to go. But it's something that, you
Know, we've put out there in the past.

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this one I'm very excited about. This is our water
Street connector. We're going to brand it.

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this is. Just. The east of the pepe
Cadillac dealership. Um, off water street.

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this really connects what was
Or is an unused right of way that the urban
Renewal agency owns.

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uh, back way back during urban
Renewal, martin luther king boulevard here was to extend
Under ferris avenue, under the

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train tracks, out towards
The bronx river parkway. Uh, that was
Obviously never built.

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so the urban renewal agency
Does have these two sort of, uh, parcels here out parcels, I
Should say, where we've looked about greening for a long time.

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we've thought about if you
Go out there now, you'll see images of people with these
Desire lines of crossing from

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hillside terrace, walking down
Into our downtown through this nice little kind of
Green, informal oasis.

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and the goal with the funding
And our grant ideas, uh, and working with some design
Concepts with the consultants

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already, is to really create an
Engaging, safe, uh, connector pathway between the ferris
Avenue community and downtown,

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which includes lighting,
Potentially some, you know, new trees or canopies, maybe even a
Playground at the flatter area.

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so this is exciting coming
To a theater near you. We've gotten state funding to
Really enhance what is a very

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used piece of green space in
The heart of our downtown.

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similarly, the carhart neighborhood is
Famously under parked.

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we've looked at
This for a while. How do we provide more public
Park opportunities here? So this is off waller avenue.

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if you blink, you might miss it. But the city doesn't own a
Surface parking lot, which is used, but not, you
Know, kind of sparsely.

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and so the thought with
Commissioner livingston and others was, could we green this
And create an opportunity for a public park facility?

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so we've gotten $745,000. It's right behind the td bank
Off of mamaroneck avenue behind the cvs.

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kind of. So it is kind of a nice
Opportunity for kind of an infill pocket park and same
Idea to be designed fully.

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but this is an example of,
You know, water bottle filling stations if we can afford it.

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um, dog park play equipment,
That kind of stuff will be a nice kind of opportunity
With state funding.

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I should have ended on this
Because this is the most exciting one of all.

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everybody. I kind
Of wish howard. Waldman was here and our
Friends in fisher hill, and we've heard about
This for a long time.

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uh, the clock does not work. I mean, it's I think it's right. Twice a day, we're
Not sure, but it is.

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and so. This clock tower. Um.

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we. Have grant money in here,
$270,000 to both fix the actual mechanism so the
Clock will work again.

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and then we also have this
Concept during this process to reimagine and kind of refine it.

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so is there a way
To beautify it? Is there a way to
Think outside the box? Um, and in speaking with the
Mayor recently, you know, it's

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beyond just kind of looking at
Sort of artistic competition or ways to kind of wrap or be
Creative and from a visual

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perspective, but also the
Base of the clocktower. I mean, it's really something
That you're seeing thousands of

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people a day traverse. There's no seating, there's no
Opportunity for, you know, kind of signage or kind of maybe
It's stuff about the community.

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so we've had a lot of ideas and
And the mayor had a great one on that regard as well.

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so we did have a
Public idea session. The deadline was march 20th.

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a lot of people have responded with what they
Would like to see. And as we move forward, the
Thought was, and I've seen this

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on social media, there was a
Lot of excitement around around branding this like
Saving our clocktower.

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we're not tearing it down. This isn't my, well, kind of
My idea, but I saw it on social

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media as well that when we
Opened this thing, we maybe the city should have like a

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lookalike competition
Or something. That kind of really brand that
Marty mcfly and doc brown have been there.

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so just to close, um, this
Is two actual projects. This is both streetscape
Improvements right to our

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downtown sidewalks and then
Something that again, the city for at least a decade, uh, I've
Been here, we've talked about

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ad nauseam, and that's a real branding campaign
For our signage.

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so folks both have directional
Signage, but also a real true brand to the city.

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so this was something that we got over $1 million,
1.3 million. And, you know, just examples
Of illustrative examples.

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these aren't, you
Know, sussed out yet. But this is what was in our
Application from planners

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enhancing our planner stock
To maybe creative benches, uh, even bike racks.

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there's many ways to look at sort of the bike infrastructure, even so far as
Artwork on garages.

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you know, we have to, again,
Get into the weeds on this. But other communities have done
Things to sort of beautify and kind of create this cohesive

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vision, even
Decorative lighting. This is the handler
Walk, as everybody knows. Uh, right there, that goes
To a chester maple garage.

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so is there a way to do
Some creative lighting or architecture there?

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and the same idea, thinking outside the box
For court street. Um, and then, you know, this
Is, again, they're not going to

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look like this, but this is
Sort of like the kind of things that, you know, we could
Potentially do, you know,

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branding, even identifying
Parking facilities. So using this money both to
Design and be creative with

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infrastructure for signage in
A way that, uh, you know, is quite costly, frankly.

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we used to have something there. But, you know, how do we brand
On the train bridge and have information kiosks?

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so all to be decided. But this is something as well
As the clock tower that you'll be seeing coming to april
Meeting, just authorizing us to

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enter the city, to enter in a contract to finally
Get this money.

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that's been a long time coming. And last but not least, there
Is a small project fund we put

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in for. This is kind of individual
Grants for sort of business

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owners and the like up to
$75,000 to, you know, look at outdoor seating opportunities
For art in the community in

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facade enhancement. So this is something we
Have to work through.

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we have $600,000. But frankly, I've been involved
In these projects in other communities in terms
Of facade grants.

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and depending on how much
Interest we get from the community, you know, the
City has to administer. We'll see, because
It is reimbursable.

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folks have to go out and spend the money and then
Be reimbursed. But we're hoping that there

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could be some
Takers here as well. And that's it. There's any questions?

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well, I'll just say thank you. I know that you and I had a
Very long meeting recently

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about it. And these are really, you know,
That many of us worked hard.

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I know vicki pressler, our
Council president, as well, to get this funding.

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and it's really going to
Beautify our city, make it better, safer and give
Us more green space. So I want to thank you and
Deputy commissioner mizzi for

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all of your efforts on this. You're here.

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so item six is a presentation
On the proposed application submitted on behalf of f45
Training white plains for a

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proposed health club at
25 north lexington avenue. I'd like to invite philip

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future of architects
To the podium. Nice to see you.

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I should be working.

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right. Okay.

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okay. Reboot sometimes
Means a boot.

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good evening, mr. Mayor. Members of the common council.

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interesting. I'm philip proctor
Of pep architects, p.c., um

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representing um vital lifestyle
F45 training white plains.

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uh, in this special use permit
Application for an existing um

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in an existing demise. 2250 square foot retail space
On the ground level of 25 north

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lexington avenue.

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I apologize. For visuals.

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um, this is, uh, on the hamilton
Avenue side of the building.

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um, that's hamilton
Avenue in the foreground. Uh, I apologize for
That, uh, cut off shot.

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um, the, um.

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the proposed space is an
Existing demise area and it is

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below parking in the building
And above parking, and it has

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retail on either side. It is not adjacent to any

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existing residential
Occupancies. The proposed use is an
Instructor led group fitness

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studio operating exclusively
On a scheduled class model.

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the facility does not
Operate as an open gym. Class attendance is limited
By pre-registration, and

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controlled class capacity
Is limited to approximately

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30. Through an online
Registration system, walk ins

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or unscheduled use is not
Permitted and there is no spa

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or food service in the proposal. The studio is located within a
Dense, walkable mixed use area

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and is expected to primarily
Serve individuals who live or work in the immediate
Surrounding area.

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00:22:26,869 --> 00:22:26,869
um. At the march 17th uh
Planning board meeting, the

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planning board voted to provide
A positive recommendation to

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the council on this matter. Um, I'm happy to
Answer any questions.

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seeing none. Thank you so much.

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00:22:51,268 --> 00:22:55,168
looks like a nice thing. It's not a giant space. Looks like having an additional
Health club in our city is a good idea, so thank you.

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00:22:58,068 --> 00:23:00,268
thank you. Good evening. Good evening.

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our last item for this evening
Is a presentation for a proposed application
At one sycamore lane.

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I'd like to invite commissioner
Of planning chris gomez and deputy commissioner judy metz
To the podium for an overview.

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thank you, mayor and council. So this evening I'm going to
Give a brief overview of sort

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of and I have a nice
Little nifty chart. You've seen these probably in
The past on the galleria mall

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to hopefully distill what
Is a fairly complex, uh, environmental review process,
Site plan, process, etc.

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into, you know, just a few
Bullet points at a general high level this evening.

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I'll do that fairly quickly. And then we're going to
Hear from the applicant. We thought it kind of
Necessary, frankly, with a

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newly constituted council with
A few new members, of course, to get an update from the
Applicant in terms of the the

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site plan that has been
Submitted for the site, um, and then via zoom, we do have the
Independent wetland consultants

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that the common council had
Retained to really look at the wetlands issues.

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both analyze. Their scope of work was to both
Analyze the applicant's sort of wetland analyses and their
Studies, as well as kind of

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guide the council moving
Forward in terms of recommendations for any, any

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00:24:24,701 --> 00:24:27,134
sort of mitigation
Or work, etc.. So I'll start and then I'll
Hand it over, I guess, to mr.

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00:24:28,735 --> 00:24:31,901
steinmetz on the applicant,
And we'll finish again with the independent consultant
The city has retained.

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um, so here we are to date. Um, I'm going to go through
Quickly and then kind of some

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general next steps so
You can follow along. But there was an application
And you'll get more detail in a

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moment from the applicant, uh,
For the buddhist temple at one sycamore lane.

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00:24:49,301 --> 00:24:50,935
uh, that was back on
January 10th of 2025. Um, and there are multiple
Variances that are also

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00:24:54,468 --> 00:24:57,468
associated with that
Site plan, parking, etc.. Again, the applicant can get
Into some of that detail on a

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00:25:00,068 --> 00:25:03,568
site specific basis. But that was submitted to the council way back
In january of 2025.

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00:25:04,735 --> 00:25:08,368
now in february, at the
Regularly scheduled council meeting, there was an action
By the common council to, uh,

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declare themselves lead agency
Under secre, which is a state environmental quality
Review act for a coordinated

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environmental review. Now what does that mean?

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that means that because there's
A site plan to redevelop the site that has associated
Variances that are required from the zoning code.

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00:25:31,502 --> 00:25:33,102
both you, the common council
And the zoning board have some jurisdiction in the approval
Of any type of project in the

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future on the site. So when there's more than
One approval agency that has

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jurisdiction, in this case,
The new york state law really recommends and for this type of

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00:25:46,201 --> 00:25:48,069
action, frankly,
Requires a coordination. And having one established lead
Agency or approval agency that

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00:25:51,634 --> 00:25:54,968
will conduct the environmental review to study the
Kind of impacts.

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00:25:57,201 --> 00:25:59,735
you know, by virtue of this
Redevelopment may occur. Traffic, parking, wetland
Disturbance, all those things.

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00:26:02,368 --> 00:26:05,535
so the council, by action on
February 3rd, declared the intent to say we're going to
Be the lead agency for the

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00:26:08,901 --> 00:26:12,235
environmental review
Of this entire project. Now, the project
Is obviously again.

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00:26:14,835 --> 00:26:17,602
what's being proposed is to
Build a buddhist temple, but the action includes analyzing
What the impact of any

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00:26:19,268 --> 00:26:22,134
variances granted will be, as well as sort of site
Specific concerns.

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00:26:24,902 --> 00:26:27,935
so you are the common council
Declare their intent on february 3rd and you also in
April, established with no

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objection to the zoning board
Of appeals, that you are, in fact, the lead agency under
The state environmental quality

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review act to review the entire
Action so I can get into the weeds if there's questions.

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00:26:45,035 --> 00:26:46,201
but essentially, that's the
Important key here that this project, you know, cannot
Move forward until such time.

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00:26:49,635 --> 00:26:52,068
there's a conclusion on the
Environmental review by you as lead agency.

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in february, there was also
The action to retain this independent wetland consultant,
Which you'll hear from again,

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00:27:00,268 --> 00:27:03,368
we'll medlin from from woodard and curren is on um
And read as well.

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00:27:05,102 --> 00:27:05,102
and then also where we are this
Evening again is march 30th,

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and we're going to hear from
The results of that which have been posted as part of this
Agenda, that independent

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wetland analysis. So next steps in a
Very general sense.

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00:27:19,301 --> 00:27:22,602
um, the common council, you
Know, at some point moving forward, can clearly refer to a
Complete site plan application,

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00:27:26,002 --> 00:27:29,635
making sure everything is
Complete prior code, like we always do in a site plan
Application process to all city

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departments, boards and commissions for
Review and comments.

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00:27:36,101 --> 00:27:38,468
so that's an important step. Um, and then ultimately,
Based on that sort of referral

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00:27:41,001 --> 00:27:44,201
process and moving along
And getting the requisite information, this body needs
To make environmental kind of

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00:27:46,668 --> 00:27:49,468
analysis moving forward and
Conclusions, ultimately, this common council will have to
Weigh in, make a determination

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and findings essentially on
All the potential environmental impacts by virtue of the
Variances, site plan, etc., for

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this application. And then, and only then would
The zoning board of appeals

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have the ability to consider
And take action formal action on any variances.

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and then once assuming
Variances, it got to that point where granted, then the
Application would come all the

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00:28:15,502 --> 00:28:17,869
way back to the common council
To consider what would then be a conforming site plan, because
The requisite variances have

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been granted. So it's a long road. This is a very general.

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um, those are the
Different steps. I can't put time on those
Steps, but I just want to let you know kind of where we
Are and what's ahead so I can

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answer any questions and dive
Into the weeds any further. Yes, I.

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have, because I'm brand new. I have a very simple question. Um, so what exists there now

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versus what they're
Planning to build? You'll hear in great detail,
But it was a single family home

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with, uh, you know, some other
Outbuildings and such, you know, tennis court or
Padel tennis court.

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so it's been vacant
For some time. And they're proposing a
Buddhist temple and some other, um, you know, I want to steal
The applicant's thunder, but.

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okay, quite a few
Resources there. Um, it is an environmentally
Sensitive site.

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I should have said that from
The beginning in the sense that there is wetland presence on
Site, as well as outcroppings,

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a flowing watercourse. So under the zoning code of the
City, it is classified as an

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environmentally sensitive site,
Which really does two things. One, it requires sort of a
Level of scrutiny as a type one

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action under secre, which is
A little bit higher level of scrutiny, of course, but it
Also down the road for any site

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00:29:28,802 --> 00:29:32,568
plan approval would require
A supermajority of the common council as the approval agency
To approve a site plan, which

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means five votes as opposed
To a typical majority of four. So thank you.

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00:29:42,034 --> 00:29:43,534
but yeah.

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so the area you said already
Was a prior previously a home and outbuildings for those
Built on the wetlands, the environmentally sensitive area.

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I'll let the applicant in our
Consultant weigh in on that. But know that there's buffer
Areas around the actual they're

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00:29:58,935 --> 00:30:01,401
not on the wetlands but
There's actually buffers. And that's part of what the
Action is going to be, is how

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do you, as the common council
Define in our independent consult will weigh
In on that later on.

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00:30:08,868 --> 00:30:12,467
um, what type of buffer? We have different types of
Buffers in our zoning code. Restrictive. Protective.

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a lot of the mapping of that, as you all is the
Approval agency. The determinations frankly made
On whether the wetlands have

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00:30:20,368 --> 00:30:23,134
been disturbed previously, what
The current condition is, etc.. So, um, you know, upon our
Independent consultants

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recommendation and other
Factors, you, as the common council, will make the
Determination of where that

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buffer should be. Um, but no, not the
Actual wetland itself, but encroachment into the buffer
In any case, however that gets

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defined is obviously part of I
Shouldn't say obviously is part of the applicant's proposal.

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you'll see in a moment. Can you? Just one quick thing.

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00:30:48,869 --> 00:30:52,702
can you give a quick, quick
Overview of how we hire the independent consultant
And how that works? Yeah. So the city I it was
Actually my recommendation.

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00:30:55,168 --> 00:30:58,301
um, again we have some very
Competent staff of course, but we don't have necessarily
Wetland hydrologists on site or

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00:31:00,834 --> 00:31:04,401
within sort of city
Staff resources. So which is typically done
During the environmental review

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00:31:06,767 --> 00:31:10,502
of these types of projects. The common council basically
Authorized the establishment of

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00:31:12,301 --> 00:31:14,434
an escrow account so the
City didn't pay for it. The applicant.

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00:31:17,935 --> 00:31:21,768
much like in all environmental
Reviews, puts money into an escrow account and the
City independently finds a consultant that we believe
Is sort of has the right

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00:31:24,801 --> 00:31:28,001
resources, staff, expertise. What an intern who you hear

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00:31:30,301 --> 00:31:34,301
from, um, is well
Known to the city. They've been used quite
Frequently on large environmental reviews for the
City, uh, working with dpw.

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00:31:37,201 --> 00:31:40,301
so, for example, analysis of
Just recently the environmental review process for
The gallery of mall.

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00:31:44,069 --> 00:31:46,101
we have consultants woodard and
Kern, a different division of woodard, but so they're well
Familiar with westchester as

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00:31:48,301 --> 00:31:51,502
well as these sorts of issues. So it was, again, our choice as
A city to select the consultant

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00:31:53,568 --> 00:31:56,434
and get an independent review. Thank you.

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00:32:01,735 --> 00:32:04,934
I believe that you will be
Introducing the applicant. Mr. Commissioner?

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00:32:08,201 --> 00:32:11,935
yes. So this is, uh. Mr. Steinmetz, on behalf of the
Applicant who will introduce

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00:32:12,801 --> 00:32:12,801
the team.

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00:32:28,668 --> 00:32:31,734
while paulette is
Teeing us up here. Good evening, mr. Mayor.

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00:32:34,235 --> 00:32:37,768
members of the common council,
David steinmetz from the law firm of zahran and steinmetz. Very pleased to be here this
Evening on behalf of the pro

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00:32:39,934 --> 00:32:43,301
ghassan foundation and the buddhist temple at
One sycamore lane.

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00:32:45,568 --> 00:32:48,835
I am joined here by paulette
Dmowski, our project architect, and angela tang from the
Buddhist temple is here, along

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00:32:54,101 --> 00:32:57,168
with several members of the
Foundation and some of the buddhist monks.

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00:33:16,168 --> 00:33:18,968
you all have the materials that
We provided in advance in front of you.

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00:33:22,401 --> 00:33:25,934
regardless if we have
Some difficulty here. Yes. So I'm going to keep going. So we use our time efficiently.

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00:33:27,768 --> 00:33:31,502
so we're here tonight in
Connection with the repurposing of this four acre
Property at sycamore.

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00:33:34,701 --> 00:33:37,101
rosedale. And I appreciate the introduction from
Commissioner gomez.

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00:33:40,002 --> 00:33:41,901
one thing that I would mention,
Just so I know so many of you are new and have not
Heard this before.

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00:33:45,069 --> 00:33:48,368
um, this actually has been
Pending since well into 2024. Um, it came before the
Common council in 2025.

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00:33:52,102 --> 00:33:55,535
once the wetland issues were
Identified as significant and we began to seek a coordinated
Environmental review.

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00:33:59,502 --> 00:34:03,168
the application actually began
In 2024, in front of your zoning board of appeals
For a variety of variances.

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00:34:06,035 --> 00:34:08,668
I say that just because I want
All of you to know that this applicant has been at it for a
While, has been quite patient,

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00:34:12,035 --> 00:34:15,368
and I'm really happy to be here
Tonight because I'm pleased that you finally got
This wetlands analysis.

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00:34:19,069 --> 00:34:21,869
um, I'm delighted that your
Wetlands consultants are on screen because it is a really
Important issue and it's one of

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00:34:24,668 --> 00:34:27,802
your primary concerns
As lead agency. So the property is located in
The r-1 30 zoning district.

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00:34:32,101 --> 00:34:35,602
the significance of that
Is that makes religious institutions a
Permitted lawful use.

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00:34:38,102 --> 00:34:41,301
so we are not seeking anything
With regard to the legality of having a house of
Worship on this property.

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00:34:44,702 --> 00:34:47,435
a house of worship
Is indeed permitted. Responding to the question
About what's there.

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00:34:51,267 --> 00:34:54,969
um, there is a single family house,
A pool, an outbuilding, a

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00:34:57,268 --> 00:35:00,568
tennis court and a variety of other things that
Were developed?

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00:35:02,502 --> 00:35:03,835
I think this goes back
Into the 40s and 50s. It's a really kind of a neat
Old large house, which has

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00:35:07,602 --> 00:35:11,168
paulette will explain
In a little while. The concept is to reuse
That particular structure.

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00:35:13,568 --> 00:35:16,602
however, responding to the
Second half of your question, there actually are a number
Of those improvements that are

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00:35:19,268 --> 00:35:22,968
either in the wetland or the
Wetland buffer are here we go. And

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00:35:26,134 --> 00:35:29,568
I'm going to let the wetland specialists tell
You what's there. And I'm going to speak a little

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00:35:31,568 --> 00:35:33,235
bit about it
Briefly in a moment. But the good news for all of
Us in the city is that the

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00:35:35,635 --> 00:35:38,701
ultimate conclusion, I'm not
Going to I'm not going to hide the the conclusion here.

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00:35:42,268 --> 00:35:43,368
the conclusion is that much of
What's being proposed in this application actually improves
The wetlands, removes

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00:35:46,435 --> 00:35:49,467
encroachments from the buffer,
Things that have been there literally for decades.

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00:35:53,134 --> 00:35:55,535
and we think actually forget
What I think your consultants have concluded there's
No significant adverse

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00:35:58,701 --> 00:36:02,635
environmental impact to the wetlands as a result
Of this application. So what we're looking at
Here is that slide two okay.

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00:36:05,168 --> 00:36:08,668
what we're looking at here is
The location of the property. You've got rosedale kind
Of going on an angle.

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00:36:11,435 --> 00:36:14,001
and sycamore which is a private road here in the city coming in.

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00:36:15,801 --> 00:36:19,801
and that's our site on the left. The four acre site immediately on the opposite
Side of sycamore.

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00:36:22,301 --> 00:36:24,735
many of you may know, is a
Church and a montessori school. Um, significant, because this
Is not the only potential

356
00:36:28,635 --> 00:36:32,235
institution that would be
Located in this neighborhood. As I would speak to a
Little bit more in a moment.

357
00:36:34,801 --> 00:36:37,101
next slide. Please.

358
00:36:38,901 --> 00:36:42,634
that's okay. There we go. There's the stream.

359
00:36:45,602 --> 00:36:45,602
there is a stream that meanders
Sort of on a north south basis,

360
00:36:49,768 --> 00:36:53,235
coming down sycamore and
Slicing through this. This property been
There for obviously.

361
00:36:56,134 --> 00:36:59,168
for. It predates the
House that's there.

362
00:37:00,201 --> 00:37:02,468
um, it's been there since before the neighborhood
Was was created.

363
00:37:04,401 --> 00:37:07,468
but the significance is that
When you go beyond us or upstream, there are several

364
00:37:10,801 --> 00:37:12,201
properties that
This stream crosses. It crosses lawn area that's

365
00:37:14,934 --> 00:37:17,201
fertilized and homes
That are there. It crosses under and I mean
Under one of the houses on

366
00:37:21,401 --> 00:37:25,101
sycamore that bridges
The the stream. And the property immediately
Adjacent to us has a manmade

367
00:37:28,869 --> 00:37:32,602
impoundment or some other
Structure that I'll defer to the experts in terms of the
Significance of something that

368
00:37:35,134 --> 00:37:37,901
was built into
And on the stream. This is not a
Pristine wetland area.

369
00:37:40,568 --> 00:37:43,701
this is a neighborhood that has
Historically, for decades lived in connection with the wetlands.

370
00:37:47,535 --> 00:37:48,001
and some folks are actually
Right up against, if not on top of the wetlands.

371
00:37:51,768 --> 00:37:52,802
again, significant for what
We're trying to do on this property and how it fits
Into the overall context.

372
00:37:56,368 --> 00:37:59,168
um, because I don't know if we
Skipped the development team, did we skip the
Development team slide?

373
00:38:01,535 --> 00:38:05,134
you can go to the next one. Perfect. Well, you've got
The project architect. Pull that behind me
And me here tonight.

374
00:38:08,802 --> 00:38:10,534
I want you all to know in terms
Of what we've been doing for 18 or more months.

375
00:38:14,368 --> 00:38:15,468
um, there is a project engineer
From hudson engineering, our civil engineers, traffic
Engineers from dts provident,

376
00:38:18,468 --> 00:38:22,201
because there were
Questions about traffic. Um, our wetlands consultant,
Paul janey prepared the initial

377
00:38:25,201 --> 00:38:28,935
wetlands report. The application is sort of
Impending long enough that paul

378
00:38:29,701 --> 00:38:33,134
has since retired. So the good news for me is that
Steve marino from tim miller

379
00:38:34,502 --> 00:38:37,168
associates was good
Enough to take the baton. And I've worked with steve.

380
00:38:39,635 --> 00:38:41,101
and some of you may know,
Steve, I'm a highly regarded wetlands biologist in the
County and in the region.

381
00:38:43,735 --> 00:38:46,834
steve has agreed to come on and
Basically assume what paul's work is and paul's
Work is significant.

382
00:38:50,568 --> 00:38:53,335
you all hired an independent
Consultant at substantial and I mean substantial expense to
The buddhist temple to review

383
00:38:57,268 --> 00:39:00,301
paul's work. That was done.

384
00:39:01,767 --> 00:39:04,835
that report is
Now in the record. I think you have like a 40
Page report from these folks. And I'm again, I'm delighted
They're here tonight.

385
00:39:08,134 --> 00:39:10,568
we also have a landscape
Architecture firm, benedictine ticehurst, significant because
With a wetland application, the

386
00:39:14,069 --> 00:39:17,735
subsequent plantings that go
On to the site, the removal of invasives, the removal of
Species that are not helping

387
00:39:20,969 --> 00:39:24,301
the wetland, and the
Replanting of the wetlands with appropriate species is critical
To the life and the vibrancy of

388
00:39:27,068 --> 00:39:30,134
the wetlands. We're proposing that.

389
00:39:31,568 --> 00:39:34,635
why this site, angela, and the
Foundation found this four acre site, found it to be in a in
A lovely area and thought with

390
00:39:39,502 --> 00:39:43,168
the stream and the
Existing structure. It was a wonderful bucolic
Place for a buddhist temple.

391
00:39:45,968 --> 00:39:49,735
what's a buddhist temple? Um, buddhism as some of you may
Know, fourth largest religion

392
00:39:51,400 --> 00:39:54,834
in the world. Over 300 million
Followers of buddhism.

393
00:39:56,069 --> 00:39:56,069
buddha. Tibetan buddhism is not
Your typical, for me, typical

394
00:40:00,401 --> 00:40:03,868
congregational
Religious practice. It's more of a private
Meditative practice.

395
00:40:05,934 --> 00:40:08,168
buddhist temples
Tend to be smaller. Not always.

396
00:40:11,635 --> 00:40:12,869
they tend to not attract large
Congregational gatherings. It's more as you learn and you
Can read where people actually

397
00:40:16,468 --> 00:40:19,834
go for their own private
Meditation in front of the buddha statue.

398
00:40:23,635 --> 00:40:24,835
so this, this application is
To build a buddhist temple or shrine, a place for some of the
Monks to actually reside, to

399
00:40:29,668 --> 00:40:29,668
study, to learn, to teach,
And for parishioners to come.

400
00:40:34,401 --> 00:40:38,168
you're going to have
Hundreds of people coming. It's a small operation with a
Handful of folks who would be

401
00:40:40,034 --> 00:40:43,735
there at any one time. It's why it's conducive to
This particular location.

402
00:40:45,034 --> 00:40:45,034
let's go to the next
Slide with the two more.

403
00:40:49,267 --> 00:40:53,035
perfect. And this is a little hard to
See on the screen, but you all

404
00:40:54,567 --> 00:40:57,935
have it on in front of you. We put this together because as
Someone who lives and works in

405
00:41:01,735 --> 00:41:04,701
the city of white plains, I'm
Quite familiar with the north street corridor.

406
00:41:08,535 --> 00:41:09,568
I drive it every single day,
Sometimes multiple times a day, from westchester
Avenue to the hutch.

407
00:41:13,235 --> 00:41:15,701
there are 13, I repeat, 13
Religious institutions along the north street corner.

408
00:41:19,134 --> 00:41:20,535
they're all listed
On your page there. I say that because this mile
And a half stretch of our

409
00:41:23,969 --> 00:41:27,902
county, of our city is one
Of the most densely populated areas with religious
Institutions in the county.

410
00:41:30,968 --> 00:41:34,934
there are a lot of them. There are a lot of them
In residential areas. They're permitted in
Residential areas.

411
00:41:36,868 --> 00:41:39,069
we have 13 of them
Prior to this. Another reason why angela, when
She was looking, found this to

412
00:41:41,702 --> 00:41:41,702
be an attractive potential
Place for a peaceful and quiet

413
00:41:47,134 --> 00:41:47,134
religious institution.

414
00:41:54,001 --> 00:41:54,001
let's go to our next slide.

415
00:41:58,468 --> 00:41:58,468
so what we have here is a site
Plan that lays out the site.

416
00:42:04,535 --> 00:42:07,734
now I mentioned that this
Application has been pending for 18 months or more.

417
00:42:10,635 --> 00:42:12,468
as a result of the back and
Forth that my architectural team, my client's architectural
Team, engineering team and

418
00:42:15,934 --> 00:42:18,802
others have had with the
Building department, the department of public works, the
Planning department, the zoning

419
00:42:20,235 --> 00:42:23,401
board of appeals. There have been changes
That have been made to this

420
00:42:24,502 --> 00:42:26,502
application as a result of
Interaction that has been conducted with the neighbors.

421
00:42:30,201 --> 00:42:31,134
there have been reductions,
There have been some of the buildings have
Been made smaller.

422
00:42:34,735 --> 00:42:38,535
some of the buildings have been
Pulled further away from the wetland buffer area. And most importantly, there was
An attempt to avoid a direct

423
00:42:40,602 --> 00:42:40,602
connection to sycamore lane as
The primary means of ingress

424
00:42:44,667 --> 00:42:48,502
and egress. Originally, my client and the
Team showed it an access to the

425
00:42:50,001 --> 00:42:53,502
site from sycamore. There was objection from
Some of the neighbors.

426
00:42:54,768 --> 00:42:57,802
we evaluated the site
Distance along rosedale. Determined that appropriate
Lawful it institute of traffic

427
00:43:01,902 --> 00:43:01,902
engineer site distance could be
Established and they relocated

428
00:43:06,601 --> 00:43:10,335
the the access point. This site plan that you have
Before you shows a connection

429
00:43:11,634 --> 00:43:15,134
to rosedale. It shows a small parking
Area off of rosedale.

430
00:43:16,535 --> 00:43:16,535
it shows the adaptive reuse
Of the existing home that's

431
00:43:21,102 --> 00:43:21,102
presently visible from rosedale
As sort of the rectory or the

432
00:43:26,767 --> 00:43:30,502
monks residence. You can see the square or
Rectangular building with the

433
00:43:32,834 --> 00:43:36,568
green area in the middle. That's the proposed shrine or
Temple, and the reason that

434
00:43:38,901 --> 00:43:42,602
there's an open
Area in the middle. Again, this is not a large
Church or synagogue or mosque

435
00:43:46,134 --> 00:43:49,335
where a number of people would come in and pray simultaneously.

436
00:43:51,368 --> 00:43:54,869
it's largely an open air
Building that's quiet, peaceful, and you have an
Opportunity to come in and and

437
00:43:58,734 --> 00:43:58,734
meditate before
The buddha statue.

438
00:44:03,301 --> 00:44:07,002
paul, that's going to
Explain some of the details. I'm going to let you go to
The next slide and just talk a

439
00:44:10,468 --> 00:44:11,968
little bit about the buildings,
And then I'll take it back. Perfect.

440
00:44:15,134 --> 00:44:19,101
so let's start with this slide. You got it. Okay. Thanks.

441
00:44:19,734 --> 00:44:23,568
good evening mayor, council members, thank you
So much, david. I just want to walk you
Through the three buildings.

442
00:44:25,201 --> 00:44:28,969
and I know there was some question about what's there now. And right now, there's an
Existing two and a half story

443
00:44:31,401 --> 00:44:35,134
single family dwelling
Which we will repurpose. We we plan on doing an interior
Renovation there, which will

444
00:44:38,567 --> 00:44:42,068
house the parish rectory. So there'll be a teacher
Living there full time.

445
00:44:44,134 --> 00:44:47,069
it's very conducive for that. It's got a kitchen, bedrooms,
And we're going to, um, modify

446
00:44:49,869 --> 00:44:52,901
the outside a little bit just
To accommodate the entrance to the new driveway.

447
00:44:56,268 --> 00:44:57,201
but that building
Will stay intact. Our second building
Is the building.

448
00:45:00,435 --> 00:45:00,435
is this building right here,
Which is an we're calling it an

449
00:45:04,934 --> 00:45:08,134
artifacts building. It's a much smaller building.

450
00:45:09,602 --> 00:45:11,301
it's a single storey and
It's a split level building. So you enter it at the the main

451
00:45:14,635 --> 00:45:17,368
level of where the
Parking lot is. And because the site cascades
Down, the topography dips down.

452
00:45:19,869 --> 00:45:23,068
you will exit the building
On the lower level. So it's a split level so it's

453
00:45:26,468 --> 00:45:26,468
half the size of the
Existing dwelling.

454
00:45:30,535 --> 00:45:33,734
the main building which is our primary building, is the temple.

455
00:45:35,702 --> 00:45:37,268
and as david said, it's a
Rectangular building with an open courtyard in the middle.

456
00:45:40,468 --> 00:45:43,435
this will house visiting monks. There's some sleeping rooms
For some three visiting monks.

457
00:45:46,135 --> 00:45:49,634
the main shrine proper for the
Buddha will be there where they do the worship and meditation.

458
00:45:52,834 --> 00:45:56,335
and there are some meditation rooms in that, in that building. So I just want to point out.

459
00:45:59,168 --> 00:46:01,834
what's the approximate
Capacity of that. Great question.

460
00:46:05,168 --> 00:46:07,168
three monks is the
Capacity of people. Visiting, people visiting.

461
00:46:10,368 --> 00:46:13,001
just so we have an idea, there are 150 people coming
To this facility. There's going to be about 15 to

462
00:46:15,134 --> 00:46:17,001
20 people at any
Given time in there. Could you mention the number of

463
00:46:20,335 --> 00:46:21,667
square feet in the
Original house? Yes, the.

464
00:46:24,802 --> 00:46:27,869
second building and
The third building. How many? So the main the existing
House right now is 2600ft.

465
00:46:32,635 --> 00:46:36,001
the other accessory structure
That we're proposing, the artifacts building is 4400ft,

466
00:46:39,201 --> 00:46:42,435
so it's half the square footage. And then the principal
Building is 6800ft.

467
00:46:45,701 --> 00:46:48,634
so it's two levels. Yes, two levels.

468
00:46:51,602 --> 00:46:52,667
so if I give you, you know,
Length and width of these because I think that would be

469
00:46:56,034 --> 00:46:57,101
very helpful to
Understand the scale. The existing house is
About 55ft by 80ft.

470
00:47:00,568 --> 00:47:04,001
and it's I'll show
You the plan of that. I think it will
Be helpful to see.

471
00:47:07,201 --> 00:47:10,335
I'm just going to jump ahead. This is the the plan
Of the existing house.

472
00:47:12,335 --> 00:47:15,702
so from this point to this
Point, it's about 80ft. From this point to this
Point, it's about 55ft.

473
00:47:20,467 --> 00:47:20,467
the plan of the

474
00:47:24,535 --> 00:47:24,535
temple is about 64ft by 90.

475
00:47:29,068 --> 00:47:32,702
so very similar in footprint. And then the artifacts
Building is about 32ft by 46ft.

476
00:47:38,834 --> 00:47:42,068
so half. I'd like to just mention that

477
00:47:44,401 --> 00:47:46,468
again that this is
A four acre site. All the surrounding properties
Along sycamore are one one acre

478
00:47:51,634 --> 00:47:55,435
across rosedale. There are about, I think there
Are either a quarter or a half

479
00:47:56,368 --> 00:47:59,235
an acre, so much smaller. So when we think about the
Property in these buildings, we

480
00:48:01,235 --> 00:48:04,602
think about density. How dense is this
Site going to be?

481
00:48:05,502 --> 00:48:09,434
and if I just show you the. Just show you

482
00:48:12,234 --> 00:48:15,634
this. This. Site plan.

483
00:48:17,335 --> 00:48:18,301
this was prepared by
Our landscape architect. You could see how much
Green space there is.

484
00:48:21,602 --> 00:48:24,301
so when we talk about building
Coverage and density by code, we're allowed 20%
Building coverage.

485
00:48:27,368 --> 00:48:30,034
we're proposing 4.5%. So much less.

486
00:48:32,267 --> 00:48:35,235
than. So when we think about
Building coverage. Would you put the microphone?

487
00:48:38,034 --> 00:48:41,235
sorry. There you go. How's that? Okay. How about that?

488
00:48:42,435 --> 00:48:44,702
okay. So when we talk about
Density and building coverage on a property, we think
Of it in percentage.

489
00:48:48,134 --> 00:48:51,535
so the zoning code allows 20% in this district of
Building coverage.

490
00:48:54,335 --> 00:48:57,702
we're proposing
Only 4.5% coverage. So we have a lot more that we
Could potentially build, which

491
00:49:01,335 --> 00:49:04,701
were not because we want to
Maintain that open space, that beautiful landscaping.

492
00:49:08,468 --> 00:49:10,868
if you look at this, um, this
Site plan, you can see I don't know if you could see my cursor.

493
00:49:13,834 --> 00:49:17,435
uh, there it is. So this is the main temple. Everything in that light
Brown color is building.

494
00:49:20,468 --> 00:49:24,268
this is the artifacts building,
And this is the existing house. So you could see how much green

495
00:49:27,735 --> 00:49:30,668
space we're maintaining
On this property. And like I mentioned earlier,
The property does go down slope

496
00:49:34,467 --> 00:49:37,634
from sycamore. So what you're perceiving at

497
00:49:39,168 --> 00:49:42,134
that level is just
The single story. You won't really see much of
That building as it's built

498
00:49:45,702 --> 00:49:49,368
down in that lower
Portion of the property. You were talking before about
Capacity for the building being

499
00:49:52,134 --> 00:49:55,268
15 to 20 against worshippers. How much turnover is
That then like in a day?

500
00:49:59,535 --> 00:50:03,401
what are we actually
Talking about. Because people are not going
To be there I assume, for the

501
00:50:03,901 --> 00:50:06,767
entire day. You know.

502
00:50:09,668 --> 00:50:13,034
I have a similar question and I
Don't know how buddhism works. If there's a man, you know,
Like I'm catholic, so you go to a mass or service, you know.

503
00:50:16,568 --> 00:50:20,001
so how do you mitigate, um,
Preventing or having just 20 people at a time versus, you

504
00:50:23,335 --> 00:50:24,901
know, 40 people
Parking in an area? So.

505
00:50:28,668 --> 00:50:30,602
okay, so, um, we didn't bring
Our traffic consultant with us this evening because we were
Told to try to keep this short

506
00:50:34,335 --> 00:50:36,535
and introductory, but we did a
Rather extensive analysis and had our traffic consultant
Draft that into a traffic

507
00:50:39,901 --> 00:50:43,034
report that was
Previously submitted. And angela is here if we
Need to answer any specific

508
00:50:45,135 --> 00:50:48,468
questions, my understanding is
That we have, first of all, 34 parking spaces, am I right?

509
00:50:51,267 --> 00:50:54,002
yeah. 37 parking spaces. Um, we have more than enough
Parking, in our opinion, for

510
00:50:55,901 --> 00:50:59,735
the operation there. There's no desire to spend the
Time, the effort and the money

511
00:51:00,935 --> 00:51:00,935
to do this and have an
Inability for folks to enjoy,

512
00:51:05,535 --> 00:51:09,268
um, being parishioners in terms
Of the number of people in a given day, probably under 50,
If it turned over two times

513
00:51:14,768 --> 00:51:18,535
behind the initial, it
Doesn't get used a lot. It really is something that I
Would urge you, as we do this

514
00:51:22,435 --> 00:51:26,034
together and go through this
Process to gather as much empirical data as we can
On tibetan buddhist temples

515
00:51:29,567 --> 00:51:32,767
because again, this is not something I'll speak for myself.

516
00:51:34,368 --> 00:51:36,468
um, I haven't been
To your congregation. You maybe not have not been to

517
00:51:39,034 --> 00:51:41,801
mind, but it's
It's not like mine. It's probably not like yours. And it's unique.

518
00:51:44,368 --> 00:51:46,869
it's something that you all
Have to take into account. Because we are not building a
Church like probably 11 of the

519
00:51:50,801 --> 00:51:53,934
other 13 on the corridor. I say 11 of the other 13.

520
00:51:56,602 --> 00:51:58,801
I'll come back to the fact
That one of them is a buddhist temple of a slightly different

521
00:52:02,201 --> 00:52:05,301
nature, but at a
Buddhist temple. And I'll come back to you, mr. Mayor, do you want
To ask something?

522
00:52:06,235 --> 00:52:10,102
well, I just I think
It's a fair question. I mean, and I know I'm putting
You and your client on the spot, but could the applicant
Just give us some idea of how

523
00:52:11,801 --> 00:52:15,767
how it works with us? Absolutely. Angela. Did you

524
00:52:18,635 --> 00:52:22,502
know, could you please go up to
The microphone and just tell us your name, please? Thank you. We just want to understand.

525
00:52:24,001 --> 00:52:27,068
a lot of new faces. But thank you for you.

526
00:52:28,201 --> 00:52:31,367
don't be nervous. We want. We want to hear it from you. Nicely into the
Mic now and then. We'll hear.

527
00:52:33,001 --> 00:52:36,735
that is better. Yeah. Okay. Thank you. Yes, this is angela,
So I'm kind of. Kind of volunteer to support
This project financially and

528
00:52:39,168 --> 00:52:42,535
also operationally. So we have a few
Months here, you see.

529
00:52:44,168 --> 00:52:44,168
so we have a very similar place
In brooklyn, um, like a one

530
00:52:49,068 --> 00:52:52,902
acre place. And every day they receive like
A maximum 10% because tibetan

531
00:52:55,168 --> 00:52:58,869
buddhism is like a
Private consultation. It's not like, not like a
Group chanting or group prayer.

532
00:53:02,068 --> 00:53:05,869
we don't do that. That's why we estimate 10 to
15 people, maximum visitors and

533
00:53:09,368 --> 00:53:09,368
only one, the only one big
Celebration day is april 15th,

534
00:53:16,001 --> 00:53:19,702
which is a buddha birthday. That's the only day probably
We will see like 30 people.

535
00:53:21,534 --> 00:53:24,468
and for regards to the operating hours
We are looking at.

536
00:53:26,301 --> 00:53:29,068
we try to avoid the school time. You know, we have a pretty
Decent neighbors there, the

537
00:53:31,101 --> 00:53:34,502
kids, school bus or whatever. So we are considering operating
Hours from 10 to 4:00 and from

538
00:53:37,401 --> 00:53:40,701
monday to saturday and sunday. Because the church
Has activities.

539
00:53:43,168 --> 00:53:45,934
we try to mitigate the traffic
With our neighborhood church. So we are closed on sunday.

540
00:53:49,134 --> 00:53:51,702
so you can be closed on sunday? Yes. And you're going to be 10
To 4 monday through saturday.

541
00:53:53,634 --> 00:53:57,368
that's right. This is a very specific
Question, but it relates to

542
00:53:59,268 --> 00:54:02,035
what council member
Santiago raised. How long does somebody I mean,
I know it's individual, but

543
00:54:04,969 --> 00:54:07,534
like, does somebody sit there
For 7 hours or 2 hours or how does that work?

544
00:54:10,801 --> 00:54:12,869
and that affects the flow of traffic and the
Neighbors concerns. Yeah. Regarding the so we
Don't we don't do that.

545
00:54:15,034 --> 00:54:18,768
tibetan buddhism is just
Self meditation at home. But normally the people come
Over to see the master to

546
00:54:21,435 --> 00:54:24,134
receive the instructions,
The infraction? Probably. We know in the

547
00:54:26,868 --> 00:54:28,568
current broken we
Have a broken branch. It's basically people come over
Like 1 or 2 hours, but we have

548
00:54:31,968 --> 00:54:35,468
to reserve online because
We follow the orders. We finish one person because
We are not sharing the privacy

549
00:54:38,567 --> 00:54:41,834
with each other. So if it's first come first.

550
00:54:42,902 --> 00:54:45,602
so they have to book online
For their reserved slot. Normally some people half
An hour, but if some more

551
00:54:49,368 --> 00:54:52,534
difficult questions probably
Make them two hours per person for a slot.

552
00:54:55,734 --> 00:54:57,134
yeah, I have a question. What is your one.

553
00:54:59,834 --> 00:55:03,434
celebration. Day? You said you have. Oh, yeah. Yeah. So does. That.

554
00:55:04,567 --> 00:55:06,434
bring a lot of people? Yeah. Um, so the both the
Buddha's birthday, we call in us, we call vesak.

555
00:55:09,300 --> 00:55:11,735
vesak day. Right. Um, in the lunar year is
April, and for the western is

556
00:55:13,968 --> 00:55:17,301
like, may 16th. That is the only day in a year.

557
00:55:19,301 --> 00:55:21,334
what kind of crowd
Does that attract? I'm sorry.

558
00:55:24,168 --> 00:55:26,834
how many. People and how do you handle any extra people
Who would come that. Way?

559
00:55:29,635 --> 00:55:32,301
yeah. So we will put that
Like, you know, because it's a birthday celebration. We will put a small golden
Buddha there and people come

560
00:55:34,368 --> 00:55:34,368
over for the flower there, or
Just put some water clean as a

561
00:55:39,801 --> 00:55:43,602
buddha statue and leave. They're not going to be there,
Like for the whole day eating

562
00:55:44,601 --> 00:55:48,168
or things. It's just a very quiet
And peaceful activity.

563
00:55:49,601 --> 00:55:52,834
council members. How many people maximum.

564
00:55:53,801 --> 00:55:57,235
would come. 3030. On that day? Yeah. Yeah. Thank you.

565
00:55:57,901 --> 00:56:01,668
yeah. Because in united states, we don't have the
Public holidays. Only the people who have to
Take their personal leave as

566
00:56:03,734 --> 00:56:06,901
they come over. We don't see a big group.

567
00:56:08,969 --> 00:56:11,201
but if you see singapore, it's
A public it's a government official holiday.

568
00:56:14,502 --> 00:56:17,567
we will expect more people. Yeah. Council president presser.

569
00:56:19,768 --> 00:56:21,534
yeah, I just I think that for
The purposes of understanding the how this

570
00:56:24,701 --> 00:56:28,335
will be used. To think of it more as a
Retreat than as a church.

571
00:56:29,801 --> 00:56:32,767
mhm. Yeah. Yeah.

572
00:56:35,602 --> 00:56:38,068
there are people who go to. People would not
Reside overnight. There. Right.

573
00:56:40,602 --> 00:56:44,168
there are, there are people who
Will go to monasteries for a day of meditation as. So I'm thinking that that's

574
00:56:46,535 --> 00:56:49,568
more of, of what
We're talking about. But no, people are
Not staying overnight.

575
00:56:51,567 --> 00:56:54,734
this is not an inn. Right. Councilman caruso?

576
00:56:56,034 --> 00:56:59,502
yes. So my understanding is you're
Talking about having three visiting monks and residents
And one monk pretty much

577
00:57:02,767 --> 00:57:06,435
permanently there. So would that mean there'd
Never be more than if people

578
00:57:08,768 --> 00:57:11,934
are coming for instruction only
There would never be more than four people there at a time.

579
00:57:14,834 --> 00:57:17,701
no we don't. So normally. No. So the master.

580
00:57:19,268 --> 00:57:21,602
right? The master
Will stay here. But also he has other visiting
Plans around the year.

581
00:57:24,301 --> 00:57:27,802
so when he is away. We will invite the
Visiting monk as a backup.

582
00:57:29,568 --> 00:57:32,467
you know, the one we
Have over there will be. Come over to backup.

583
00:57:34,467 --> 00:57:38,301
yeah. So I think we have
Determined that. And you can correct
Me if I'm wrong.

584
00:57:41,301 --> 00:57:43,401
it's been a while since
We were in the numbers. At the worst case, daily
Scenario would be 12 people on

585
00:57:46,335 --> 00:57:49,268
on campus at any one time. Is that correct?

586
00:57:51,168 --> 00:57:53,401
that's. I wouldn't say no from the monk. Right. Because when we define
It as a temple, the volunteer,

587
00:57:55,801 --> 00:57:59,168
we are not allowed to leave. Only the monk can
Live on the site.

588
00:58:00,235 --> 00:58:02,568
that is a religious requirement. But if you ask me to tell
People, we will probably have a

589
00:58:04,535 --> 00:58:07,735
volunteer drive over to
Cleaning, you know, to do the administration this kind of
Thing, but they are going to

590
00:58:10,767 --> 00:58:12,801
leave end of the
Day, end of each day. How many people are volunteers?

591
00:58:15,534 --> 00:58:17,368
I would call probably a uh, maximum for for like one
For cooking, cleaning and the

592
00:58:22,201 --> 00:58:25,001
reception for. Yeah.

593
00:58:27,068 --> 00:58:30,502
yeah. Yeah. Correct. And then there's
The visiting people.

594
00:58:32,968 --> 00:58:36,368
yeah. Oh, you are talking
About the visitors?

595
00:58:37,101 --> 00:58:40,501
yes. Our visitors. Yeah. Yeah.

596
00:58:41,200 --> 00:58:44,834
yeah. Sorry. Yeah. It's okay. Yeah. We're trying to just. Get the. Approximate maximum.

597
00:58:45,501 --> 00:58:49,001
number of. Yeah. 15. Yeah. 15. Yeah.

598
00:58:50,001 --> 00:58:53,401
thank you. 15. So one. Monk. Uh, 3 to 4 volunteers,
Plus the ten visitors. We are talking about 15
People maximum a day.

599
00:58:56,167 --> 00:58:59,901
so. Yeah, quite a bit, we believe. Yeah. Um, that the site is over.

600
00:59:01,368 --> 00:59:04,869
I've said it all along. We believe the site
Is over parked. We we have, um, attempted to
Minimize the parking and would

601
00:59:07,935 --> 00:59:11,767
be delighted to explore ways to
Reduce the parking, but we have parked the site for more people

602
00:59:15,001 --> 00:59:17,602
then conceivably would be there. The monks are not
Driving in and out.

603
00:59:20,235 --> 00:59:22,268
um, the parishioners may or
May not come in small groups. There's not again.

604
00:59:25,268 --> 00:59:28,567
you're asking. You're asking the same
Questions we did a year and a half ago.

605
00:59:30,701 --> 00:59:33,502
there's not this typical. Oh, well, there's the 9 to 10
Group, and then there's the 10 to 11 group, and it turns
Over multiple times a day.

606
00:59:36,435 --> 00:59:40,002
again, I urge you, as we go
Through this process together to ask your questions and
To do some homework with us.

607
00:59:43,502 --> 00:59:46,300
and I'm sorry, just
One more point. Before.

608
00:59:48,301 --> 00:59:52,069
I come to my seat. So the broccoli. Stay here by. The mic. Yeah. So, um, so I think in our
Application, we particularly

609
00:59:53,368 --> 00:59:57,135
put a brooklyn branch
Office address. So if people have any concerns
To see really to validate what

610
01:00:01,201 --> 01:00:04,701
what is a tibetan buddhism
Temple looks like, you can feel free to visit.

611
01:00:08,201 --> 01:00:11,502
it's only like an
Hour drive from here. It's exactly the same tibetan
Buddhism branch, same teaching, same number of the monks.

612
01:00:14,634 --> 01:00:18,201
all these kind of things. Yeah. Okay. Thank you. Thank you.

613
01:00:20,567 --> 01:00:23,969
um, just to try to move it along and get to the
Wetlands consultant. One of the things that I want
To underscore, because we just

614
01:00:27,134 --> 01:00:29,568
saw the wetlands report, um,
Within the last couple of days, chris, chris and eileen know
I've been asking to to see this

615
01:00:33,435 --> 01:00:37,034
report for some time, and we
Really appreciate the fact that it was now made publicly
Available that would incur and

616
01:00:38,901 --> 01:00:42,602
completed it. I want to remind all of you the
Analysis that your consultants

617
01:00:43,368 --> 01:00:46,301
did was done last,
I think, april. They were out on the site
With our team and several city

618
01:00:48,335 --> 01:00:51,401
officials for over two hours
Doing, um, walking the site, doing auger tests of the soil.

619
01:00:54,934 --> 01:00:57,635
they did a rather
Extensive analysis. What my key takeaways, and I'll
Let the experts speak to it in

620
01:01:00,001 --> 01:01:03,835
terms of the conclusions. A the project will not result
In a significant adverse impact

621
01:01:05,201 --> 01:01:08,435
to the wetlands, which is a really important
Threshold issue.

622
01:01:09,969 --> 01:01:12,635
be much of what's proposed
Here in terms of removing the invasives, removing lawn area
And planting native and wetland

623
01:01:16,735 --> 01:01:16,735
species will serve to only
Improve wetland a and wetland

624
01:01:20,968 --> 01:01:24,768
b, as you'll read in the report. And c and probably most
Importantly, this is an issue,

625
01:01:27,602 --> 01:01:31,201
a legal issue that we have been
Discussing and making written submissions to the city
Over the last year.

626
01:01:34,502 --> 01:01:36,634
there is no legitimate basis
For a, quote, restrictive buffer here.

627
01:01:40,034 --> 01:01:43,969
a protective buffer
Is appropriate. Um, while I think our
Consultants feel it's probably not even necessary, there's a
Big difference under our white

628
01:01:46,401 --> 01:01:48,767
plains code between a
Restrictive buffer and a protective buffer.

629
01:01:51,335 --> 01:01:54,168
restrictive buffer. Could you. Sorry, mr. Steinmetz. We have a lot of
New people here.

630
01:01:55,735 --> 01:01:57,869
could you just describe in
Short order the distinction? Absolutely. Just again,
Thank you, mr. Mayor.

631
01:02:01,635 --> 01:02:04,001
um, the restrictive buffer
Would actually prohibit certain things from being
Built within them.

632
01:02:06,934 --> 01:02:10,934
period. The end. Nothing could be built in the
Restrictive buffer that would preclude our development.

633
01:02:13,535 --> 01:02:16,168
certainly aspects
Of our development. We have been waiting for your
Consultants to opine on that.

634
01:02:17,702 --> 01:02:21,502
our consultant opined
On that over a year ago. A protective buffer warrants
Protection and analysis by

635
01:02:26,201 --> 01:02:29,401
government, but certainly
Not a prohibition. And again, you read your report.

636
01:02:32,535 --> 01:02:34,835
my client waited a long time
And paid a lot of money for you to go out and get your
Own independent analysis.

637
01:02:37,969 --> 01:02:40,401
it confirms what paul janey
Told us over a year ago, and it tells us, actually, that
The improvements that we're

638
01:02:43,668 --> 01:02:45,835
proposing, not the least
Of which is the extensive plantings that are being
Proposed, will ultimately

639
01:02:48,467 --> 01:02:52,001
improve the wetland. So we were pleased to
To finally get this.

640
01:02:53,201 --> 01:02:56,868
in terms of religious uses,
I've not appeared in front of several of you.

641
01:03:00,468 --> 01:03:01,935
some of you have known me
For for quite some time. Some of you may not know we
Represent a wide variety of

642
01:03:05,034 --> 01:03:08,802
religious institutions
Throughout the county, from churches and synagogues to the
Archdiocese of the state of new

643
01:03:10,667 --> 01:03:14,168
york to islamic centers. So I am not unfamiliar with the
Law that that governs your job

644
01:03:16,901 --> 01:03:20,668
when you're reviewing
A land use application. Religious uses, as your legal
Team will explain to you, are

645
01:03:23,435 --> 01:03:27,101
presumed to have a beneficial
Effect on the community. The case law, one of the
Leading cases, cornell versus

646
01:03:30,869 --> 01:03:33,701
bhagwati, talks about religious
And educational uses, religious and educational institutions.

647
01:03:37,502 --> 01:03:40,601
as a matter of law, you've got
To weigh the benefit against the detriment of the community,
And the law presumes a benefit to the community.

648
01:03:44,034 --> 01:03:45,068
that's why you have 13
Religious institutions in residential zones along
The north street corridor.

649
01:03:48,768 --> 01:03:48,768
they are not anathema to to
Sound government and existence.

650
01:03:53,335 --> 01:03:53,335
and folks, I was amazed when I
Came across this new york times

651
01:03:57,934 --> 01:03:57,934
article from may 10th, 1992.

652
01:04:02,068 --> 01:04:05,401
they say history repeats itself. Well, history is
Repeating itself.

653
01:04:06,834 --> 01:04:09,869
in 1992, the white plains common
Council was wrestling with a

654
01:04:11,935 --> 01:04:14,335
neighborhood group that was
Opposing a buddhist temple on north street and councilman, I
Think then councilman shulman.

655
01:04:18,868 --> 01:04:22,535
he ultimately became mayor. Correct. Then councilman
Shulman took on the cause of

656
01:04:24,734 --> 01:04:28,168
trying to understand the issues and try to mediate
Between the parties.

657
01:04:30,635 --> 01:04:34,201
it was a multi year process
With the neighborhood there opposing that buddhist temple,
Our buddhist temple that's here

658
01:04:38,435 --> 01:04:42,301
in our community today. The same community organization
Had opposed the trinity church

659
01:04:44,068 --> 01:04:47,802
in the 50s that's sitting
At bryant at north street. So again, people have every
Right to come to the microphone

660
01:04:50,301 --> 01:04:54,069
and speak their mind. I know that I'm at too many
Meetings, too many nights a

661
01:04:55,301 --> 01:04:57,568
week, but I'm going to tell you
This virtually every meeting I do with regard to a religious
Institution, there's concern,

662
01:05:00,001 --> 01:05:03,335
there's confusion,
There's mystery. Now try taking on a
Tibetan buddhist temple.

663
01:05:05,802 --> 01:05:08,602
you're going to have a lot
Of people who don't really understand and ask
Your questions.

664
01:05:10,969 --> 01:05:12,668
but I'm telling you this as a
Matter of law, under new york state common law and the
Federal statute, you all have

665
01:05:15,401 --> 01:05:18,567
to give them the benefit of the
Doubt because they're presumed to have a beneficial effect.

666
01:05:21,901 --> 01:05:23,400
the exact same thing
Happened 30 years ago. It's there now.

667
01:05:26,567 --> 01:05:28,835
it was lawfully approved. I say that because I want to
Make sure you all understand.

668
01:05:30,902 --> 01:05:30,902
angela and her group are not
Unaware of of what has been

669
01:05:35,634 --> 01:05:38,801
going on. They have tried to work and

670
01:05:40,235 --> 01:05:43,802
make some adjustments
For the community. They have tried to make some
Changes to their design and most importantly, they've
Cooperated with the city, the

671
01:05:45,868 --> 01:05:48,834
neighbors, and I don't know if all of the new
Members know this.

672
01:05:51,134 --> 01:05:54,567
the neighbors were not happy
With your building department's interpretation that they issued
With regard to their review of this application.

673
01:05:57,767 --> 01:06:01,767
she submitted building plans. The building department
Did what they do. Daimon and his team did what
They do on every application. They reviewed it.

674
01:06:04,168 --> 01:06:06,435
they issued a have
Denial letter. And they told us what variances
We needed in terms of parking, location, setbacks, etc..

675
01:06:09,969 --> 01:06:11,701
okay. The neighbors felt that
Damon and his office did not interpret the code correctly.

676
01:06:14,901 --> 01:06:16,734
they challenged it in their own zoning board of
Appeals application.

677
01:06:19,102 --> 01:06:22,168
the zoning board unanimously
Upheld damon's determination, and the neighbors then sued
The city and challenged that.

678
01:06:26,168 --> 01:06:30,002
you need to know that because,
Again, I would like nothing more, and I think my client
Would like nothing more than

679
01:06:33,235 --> 01:06:34,901
peaceful, amicable coexistence
With the neighborhood. That is their goal.

680
01:06:38,301 --> 01:06:42,235
that's kind of what they
Sort of stand for in terms of peaceful existence. And go read about
Buddhism as I have.

681
01:06:43,401 --> 01:06:47,235
it's really kind of interesting. It's a lot different from
Some other religions. Having said that, you need to
Know we're doing everything we

682
01:06:48,534 --> 01:06:52,101
can to cooperate. The neighbors are going to
Do what they have to do.

683
01:06:52,901 --> 01:06:56,134
I'm sure they will. We are simply asking
For a fair shake. That's it.

684
01:06:59,535 --> 01:07:02,134
finally. Chris knows I've been asking for that wetlands report. Thank goodness we got it
Because it says what I was told

685
01:07:03,601 --> 01:07:07,435
over a year ago. My client had to pay, I think,
Over $40,000 for the city to

686
01:07:08,568 --> 01:07:11,602
get their own report, but
It's now part of the record. Having said that, we are here
Tonight to hear the wetlands

687
01:07:15,268 --> 01:07:18,602
report proposed and or
Presented by your consultant. We're here to answer
Your questions.

688
01:07:21,902 --> 01:07:23,735
I'm delighted that your
Council is the lead agency. I'm sorry that you're going to
Have to deal with some of the

689
01:07:26,735 --> 01:07:30,535
baggage that comes along with
This application, sort of that you guys didn't
Listen to cy shulman.

690
01:07:34,268 --> 01:07:37,801
he would have told you 34 years
Ago that this this may well happen once again. It's here again.

691
01:07:39,602 --> 01:07:41,235
um, we will do what's asked of
Us by your professional staff. I don't think any of them are
Going to tell you that our team

692
01:07:44,969 --> 01:07:47,301
has been anything other than
Cooperative and responsive, so I'm happy to answer any other
Questions other than that.

693
01:07:49,901 --> 01:07:52,568
this was our initial introduction of
This application.

694
01:07:54,201 --> 01:07:57,735
so you know what it's about. And you understand why
We're here with a full team. And we're doing everything
We can to bring a peaceful

695
01:08:00,835 --> 01:08:00,835
religious institution into
The city of white plains.

696
01:08:05,367 --> 01:08:08,969
good. Are we going to hear from
The wetland consultants now?

697
01:08:09,868 --> 01:08:09,868
okay.

698
01:08:16,434 --> 01:08:19,300
thank you. Thank you.

699
01:08:35,968 --> 01:08:38,834
can you guys hear me now? Yes, yes.

700
01:08:40,635 --> 01:08:43,201
hello. Good evening,
Common council. Thank you for having us today.

701
01:08:45,901 --> 01:08:49,668
my name is bill medlin. I'm a senior principal and
Senior technical leader with woodard and I manage our
National environmental planning

702
01:08:53,767 --> 01:08:57,502
permitting practice area. I have worked with me and my
Partner senior level ministry.

703
01:09:00,301 --> 01:09:03,868
thank you again for the opportunity to talk
With you tonight.

704
01:09:05,069 --> 01:09:08,168
I'm going to start by going
Over the scope of work that we engaged with the city of white
Plains on initially back in

705
01:09:11,868 --> 01:09:15,568
march of last year. And uh, and then I'll go into
Some of the key findings.

706
01:09:17,201 --> 01:09:20,568
and I do want to say thank
You again to chris gomez and eileen, uh, as well
As data to their team.

707
01:09:23,735 --> 01:09:27,568
I appreciate the, um,
The feedback so far. So where we started, in terms
Of our scope of work was a

708
01:09:32,335 --> 01:09:32,335
wetlands focus, um, field
Assessment, desktop assessment

709
01:09:36,935 --> 01:09:36,935
and permitting support for this
Project that included review of

710
01:09:41,635 --> 01:09:41,635
the project, documentation
Provided by the client, by the

711
01:09:46,335 --> 01:09:46,335
applicant on to include civil
Engineering design plans that

712
01:09:50,901 --> 01:09:54,535
were current at the
Time we received them. Uh, landscape plans, um,
Environmental documentation and

713
01:09:58,702 --> 01:09:58,702
also a review of other publicly
Available documents, um, to

714
01:10:03,801 --> 01:10:07,502
support our wetlands
Focus analysis. Uh, our scope included
Geospatial mapping, which if

715
01:10:11,134 --> 01:10:11,134
you look at the report, you'll
See, um, we also had a site

716
01:10:15,602 --> 01:10:19,435
visit, uh, as david
Alluded to earlier. Um, a site specific assessment
That we did on april 24th of

717
01:10:23,868 --> 01:10:27,068
last year. Uh, with the whole team there.

718
01:10:28,435 --> 01:10:30,502
uh, and then all of this
Information was synthesized into a technical memorandum and
Had multiple rounds of comments

719
01:10:34,235 --> 01:10:34,235
and coordination, uh, with
The city, uh, and our team.

720
01:10:39,934 --> 01:10:43,735
um, so what were
Our key findings? Uh, so we completed the desktop
Assessment, and when we were

721
01:10:47,735 --> 01:10:51,335
looking at the information that
Was publicly available, we did see national wetlands
Inventory, uh, and national

722
01:10:53,968 --> 01:10:57,735
hydrography data set. Um, information there on the
Site related to the stream

723
01:11:00,268 --> 01:11:03,969
system that was there. Um, but there were no
Previously mapped, uh, new york

724
01:11:05,968 --> 01:11:09,735
state dec wetlands. Um, additionally, we completed
Our site visit, as I mentioned,

725
01:11:12,601 --> 01:11:16,335
in april of 2025 during that site visit.

726
01:11:20,102 --> 01:11:22,435
as david mentioned, we did our
Own independent wetlands and water body delineation, uh,
Following the appropriate

727
01:11:26,767 --> 01:11:30,635
local, state and
Federal methodologies. Uh, we found consistent with
What the applicant's consultant

728
01:11:34,768 --> 01:11:34,768
found, one stream or
Watercourse and two wetlands,

729
01:11:40,134 --> 01:11:43,668
wetland, a wetland we didn't find that was
Completely consultant or

730
01:11:46,034 --> 01:11:49,168
completely consistent. Was wetland b had a small

731
01:11:50,968 --> 01:11:54,102
difference in area
Where we delineated. Towards the north side of the
Site, that was about a, you

732
01:11:56,835 --> 01:11:59,968
know, less than a 10th of an
Acre difference just north of the elevated paddle
Tennis court on site.

733
01:12:02,969 --> 01:12:02,969
um, we noted, as paul noted,
Um, the wetlands consultant for

734
01:12:08,134 --> 01:12:11,602
the applicant, but the site
Is previously developed and disturbed and that the
Resources there are

735
01:12:14,901 --> 01:12:17,968
historically altered. Um, interesting.

736
01:12:21,735 --> 01:12:21,735
we were just provided with
The, uh, october 23rd, 2025.

737
01:12:26,168 --> 01:12:29,802
um, new york state d.c. Freshwater wetlands
Jurisdictional determination,

738
01:12:32,802 --> 01:12:35,969
which we have been
Asking for for a while. And that letter found that the
New york state edc determined

739
01:12:39,835 --> 01:12:43,602
that there are no freshwater
Wetlands on the site. That's an important
Thing to mention

740
01:12:47,968 --> 01:12:51,768
based on our assessment. It is our professional opinion,
As david alluded to, that the

741
01:12:55,235 --> 01:12:55,235
city of white plains should
Utilize a protective rather

742
01:12:59,568 --> 01:12:59,568
than restrictive
Buffer on this project.

743
01:13:05,235 --> 01:13:08,301
our opinion is that the project
Does not have a significant adverse effect

744
01:13:11,634 --> 01:13:14,401
under secret, with respect to wetlands and watercourses
Specifically.

745
01:13:17,035 --> 01:13:19,068
I would remind everybody that
Our scope of the environmental assessment was related
Directly to wetlands.

746
01:13:21,902 --> 01:13:21,902
finally, from a planning and
Permitting perspective, um,

747
01:13:27,802 --> 01:13:27,802
while we are suggesting a
Protective buffer, the the

748
01:13:32,668 --> 01:13:32,668
wetlands that we delineated on
Site may likely require a corps

749
01:13:38,101 --> 01:13:41,802
of engineers permit, uh, which would be known as
Nationwide permit or general

750
01:13:44,735 --> 01:13:47,635
permit, uh, for the wetland
Impacts associated with the removal of the elevated paddle
Tennis court and other work to

751
01:13:51,368 --> 01:13:51,368
be done within the limits of
Disturbance and potentially an

752
01:13:56,068 --> 01:13:59,969
associated clean water act. Section four of or excuse me,
Clean water act of 1st march.

753
01:14:00,734 --> 01:14:04,034
water quality certification. These are the most relevant and

754
01:14:07,401 --> 01:14:10,134
high level findings
From our report. Um, if others have questions,
I'm happy to take those.

755
01:14:13,201 --> 01:14:16,767
at this point in time. Councillor pearson I guess so.

756
01:14:19,901 --> 01:14:23,734
in looking at it, there's. One stream and two
Wetlands, right? Correct.

757
01:14:26,534 --> 01:14:29,835
and if I understood your report
Correctly, and I appreciate all the work that went into it, and
I certainly appreciate that,

758
01:14:32,568 --> 01:14:35,601
that we have a religious
Institution that would be very beneficial to the city.

759
01:14:39,268 --> 01:14:42,802
but if I understand it
Correctly, what you're saying is that all of the building
That would come with building this temple and would come with
Disturbing kind of stuff that

760
01:14:46,502 --> 01:14:50,235
was built in the 1940s and
1950s and wasn't so sensitive, would ultimately not create any
Increased risks of flooding.

761
01:14:55,101 --> 01:14:59,035
and just to belatedly preface
This question, we have a community that's been hit
With a lot of extreme weather

762
01:15:02,235 --> 01:15:05,034
events, a lot of flooding. So there's a lot
Of concern here.

763
01:15:06,835 --> 01:15:09,935
can you just give us a little
Bit more comfort on that point. In terms of an engineering
Analysis for flooding?

764
01:15:13,835 --> 01:15:13,835
you know, that was not part of
The scope that we assessed from

765
01:15:18,001 --> 01:15:21,801
a wetlands perspective,
Specifically the building footprint.

766
01:15:25,535 --> 01:15:27,535
and the disturbance will be
Within the buffers, but the wetlands themselves may indeed
Actually be expanded when they

767
01:15:32,268 --> 01:15:35,869
remove the elevated paddle
Tennis court and the footers and foundation, um, materials
That are beneath it.

768
01:15:41,535 --> 01:15:45,068
there wasn't a
Replant that area. The wetlands may actually
Expand on the site.

769
01:15:46,735 --> 01:15:49,068
so then let me ask you a
Question, which is probably born out of my ignorance.

770
01:15:51,368 --> 01:15:53,701
and I appreciate the
Wetland expansion. There was no looking into what

771
01:15:56,435 --> 01:15:58,268
this will do with
Increased and flooding. Might be an extreme word,
But increased runoff?

772
01:16:00,935 --> 01:16:02,667
it's going to cause problems
For people when we have our, you know, once in a century

773
01:16:05,868 --> 01:16:07,435
storms that we now
Get once a year. We did not evaluate it from
A floodplain management

774
01:16:11,201 --> 01:16:14,901
perspective or a civil
And resource engineering perspective, sir.

775
01:16:17,834 --> 01:16:21,201
okay. Thank you. Commissioner gomez. Yeah. If I could. Just chime in.

776
01:16:22,201 --> 01:16:25,535
um, yeah, I know the
The consultants, right. I mean, this was a very narrow
Scope, mainly because as we do environmental review
Comprehensively on any of these

777
01:16:29,035 --> 01:16:31,435
applications, we have very
Sophisticated flood, you know, sweep requirements through the
Department of public works.

778
01:16:34,935 --> 01:16:37,002
and so we're well versed in
Looking at, you know, flooding issues, what any sort of, you
Know, watercourse issues are so

779
01:16:39,802 --> 01:16:43,602
kind of outside of
What they're studying. But that is definitely part
Of any sort of environmental

780
01:16:44,768 --> 01:16:46,334
review that will be
Conducted by the city. So I apologize.

781
01:16:49,235 --> 01:16:52,635
so we'll get information
On that later. Yeah. Well just like everything. So any time any large
Environmental review, the

782
01:16:53,869 --> 01:16:56,902
stormwater prevention pollution
Plan, pollution prevention plan sweep is a very voluminous
Document that's provided by

783
01:17:00,101 --> 01:17:03,869
applicants to the city. Anything over an acre of
Disturbance, our city, either

784
01:17:04,935 --> 01:17:08,335
internally through our
Department of public works, engineering bureau or
Consultants, depending on the

785
01:17:10,035 --> 01:17:12,934
scale of the project, analyzes
Flooding impacts of every project in the city.

786
01:17:16,602 --> 01:17:19,935
so frankly, that's probably
The biggest part of any environmental review the city
Ever does is looking at these sweeps, which are, again,
Incredibly voluminous, very

787
01:17:22,702 --> 01:17:25,401
technical documents that
Look at existing conditions, hydrology conditions, what
May or may not be impacts of

788
01:17:28,268 --> 01:17:31,869
proposed development, what
Sort of mitigation is required before any sort of approval by
Our public works department?

789
01:17:34,802 --> 01:17:37,735
um, so yeah, it's a much
Broader issue than, you know, wetland a and b in this
Specific thing, which I know is

790
01:17:40,835 --> 01:17:43,568
a very sensitive in terms of
The actual building footprint. So absolutely part of any sort
Of approval or moving forward.

791
01:17:46,101 --> 01:17:49,568
um, so I don't want you to
Think that there's any sort of it wasn't included here
For as an oversight.

792
01:17:51,401 --> 01:17:55,401
it certainly will be studied. No. Thank you. Yeah. Thank you for
The clarification.

793
01:17:55,801 --> 01:17:58,801
when does that. Councilman wolf. Commissioner gomez. So review.

794
01:18:00,534 --> 01:18:03,835
so. The full review, just like
Any site plan application. Um, you know, they have
Submitted a formal site plan

795
01:18:06,201 --> 01:18:09,268
before it gets referred out to
All the city departments and boards and commissions, you
Know, planning board, drb, all

796
01:18:12,068 --> 01:18:15,802
that stuff. Um, there is the full, um,
Completeness review to make

797
01:18:18,101 --> 01:18:22,002
sure that the stormwater
Pollution prevention plan that's been presented meets the
Standards for the department of

798
01:18:23,502 --> 01:18:26,668
public works to
Conduct the review. Um, so that's the
First thing, right?

799
01:18:28,935 --> 01:18:30,535
that's the first check dam,
So to speak, no pun intended. Um, and then once that's done,
Any sort of environmental

800
01:18:34,301 --> 01:18:34,301
finding by you write any sort
Of secre before you can act to

801
01:18:38,468 --> 01:18:41,667
approve something or vote in
Anything, there has to be an environmental finding statement.

802
01:18:44,802 --> 01:18:45,901
and that environmental finding
Statement under seeker looks at everything from air impacts to

803
01:18:49,335 --> 01:18:51,301
hydrology to wetland
Impacts to traffic. Um, basically, there's a
There's a litany of findings

804
01:18:54,301 --> 01:18:58,002
that you make before you vote. So that would be done anytime
Before, in this case, even

805
01:18:59,401 --> 01:19:03,134
before any potential
Variances could be granted. Because, as I said before,
This application needs certain

806
01:19:05,934 --> 01:19:09,668
variances as the
Applicant represented. Um, the zoning board of appeals
Is the only body in the city

807
01:19:11,969 --> 01:19:14,435
that has jurisdiction to grant
Variances from the zoning code, not the common council.

808
01:19:18,135 --> 01:19:19,335
so they have jurisdiction, but
They can't act or even make any formal vote on those potential
Variances moving forward.

809
01:19:22,969 --> 01:19:26,035
until you, as the lead
Agency, who's coordinating the environmental review for the
Entire project, inclusive of

810
01:19:29,468 --> 01:19:33,135
any proposed variances, um,
Makes a finding environmentally that there's not a significant
Adverse impact, you know, um,

811
01:19:37,134 --> 01:19:39,901
that can be mitigated
As part of this project. So.

812
01:19:42,535 --> 01:19:45,101
again, chris, I really
Appreciate commissioner gomez. I appreciate all the
Education you're giving us.

813
01:19:48,201 --> 01:19:49,534
and I'm relatively new at this,
As I think are my colleagues. Sure. But how would we?

814
01:19:52,634 --> 01:19:56,069
it seems to me flooding is a significant environmental issue. So if we're taking care of the
Wetlands, that's fantastic.

815
01:19:57,602 --> 01:19:59,634
and it seems like this report
From the experts gives us a lot of comfort there.

816
01:20:03,201 --> 01:20:07,068
but aren't the wetlands
Inherently disturbed if there is flooding? So how does that all work. Well in her inherently.

817
01:20:10,034 --> 01:20:13,702
now disturbed? No. So if if the if the
Results of making these changes increase the risks of water
Overflow doesn't, that isn't

818
01:20:17,069 --> 01:20:17,069
that relevant to the way in
Which the wetlands are treated?

819
01:20:21,301 --> 01:20:24,668
well, I think and I don't
Want to you know, what. Will or the consultant
Would talk is.

820
01:20:26,101 --> 01:20:29,201
yeah, just. Enhancing the capacity of the
Functionality of wetlands, I

821
01:20:30,435 --> 01:20:31,901
think, is tied in instrumental
Right to the functionality of, of how to retain water.

822
01:20:35,668 --> 01:20:38,168
right. So it's a much bigger
Discussion than just and I don't know if will wants
To chime in about the functionality, right?

823
01:20:40,535 --> 01:20:43,435
disturbed wetlands
Versus purely functional. If there's going to be
Improvements on site and how that delves into what the
Ultimate downstream impacts

824
01:20:46,034 --> 01:20:49,101
will be vis a vis flooding and a much more analysis
Of the watershed.

825
01:20:51,735 --> 01:20:53,969
but it's more of a discussion
For, again, commissioner mignon dpw, in terms of how they deal
With these very, very, very

826
01:20:56,801 --> 01:21:00,468
detailed engineering studies. And frankly, you know, it is
Usually the as I said, the

827
01:21:02,535 --> 01:21:02,535
largest, uh, back and forth or
Or the largest review lead time

828
01:21:07,768 --> 01:21:11,435
item, I would say with any site
Plan that both the planning board and the common council
Evaluate is the stormwater

829
01:21:14,435 --> 01:21:17,869
prevention pollution plan,
And it really is in depth. So I mean, I could I'm an
Expert to a point, but again,

830
01:21:21,069 --> 01:21:23,869
the engineers at public works
And others can speak and will. I don't know if you want
To chime in about the

831
01:21:26,969 --> 01:21:28,400
functionality of wetlands in
Terms of capacity and benefits, I don't know.

832
01:21:32,134 --> 01:21:34,435
the one thing I would say is
That the applicant has done a nice job of avoiding
The wetlands, right?

833
01:21:37,968 --> 01:21:41,235
they've avoided the
Stream that's on the site. The site itself is not located
Within the fema 1% annual

834
01:21:46,968 --> 01:21:46,968
floodplain. So in their
Design, they looked at.

835
01:21:51,535 --> 01:21:55,101
okay, well, here's where our
Environmental features are and stepped back away
From those things.

836
01:21:58,869 --> 01:22:00,902
now the buffer is a is sort of
A separate issue, but there are no direct fill impacts that
Would take up wetland area and

837
01:22:06,069 --> 01:22:06,069
turn it from wetland into
Upland or piping of the stream,

838
01:22:10,168 --> 01:22:13,301
or relocating of the stream. Um, those kinds of things.

839
01:22:16,502 --> 01:22:19,502
so those are typically the the
Types of activities that I see in my experience of planning
And permitting and wetland

840
01:22:22,834 --> 01:22:26,035
science and things like that. Or when fema gets involved
Where you are going to drive a

841
01:22:28,268 --> 01:22:28,268
flooding impact, the the site
Of which is the wetlands.

842
01:22:32,802 --> 01:22:32,802
and then, as I mentioned
Earlier, it has a potential to

843
01:22:37,868 --> 01:22:41,568
potentially even expand
The wetland area. And in terms of the planting
Plan that they put together,

844
01:22:46,634 --> 01:22:50,034
it's going to be improvement from an ecological
Function standpoint.

845
01:22:52,602 --> 01:22:52,602
the site as it is right now is
Particularly wetland b is sort

846
01:22:57,235 --> 01:22:57,235
of a groundwater seepage
Bowl type wetland, right.

847
01:23:01,534 --> 01:23:05,335
and it's all lawn. It's partially filled with
Woodchips and things like that.

848
01:23:06,735 --> 01:23:10,435
if implemented, the wetlands
Will be enhanced by what the applicant is proposing.

849
01:23:13,868 --> 01:23:15,601
there are impacts
To the site, right? I understand that, right.

850
01:23:18,201 --> 01:23:20,068
but when you when you look
At what's going on with the wetlands, those wetlands
Will be enhanced in our view.

851
01:23:23,634 --> 01:23:27,134
and I don't know if you want to add anything from
Your perspective.

852
01:23:28,601 --> 01:23:32,368
um, yeah. I'll just say at a high level
By global, saying the impacts

853
01:23:33,602 --> 01:23:37,502
to wetlands are limited to
Removing the paddle tennis court that has existed there
For decades, which is placed

854
01:23:42,400 --> 01:23:46,235
above a wetland. So when we look at that, if
You look underneath it, you can

855
01:23:47,335 --> 01:23:49,767
kind of see groundwater
Expressing itself, but there's no vegetation growing under it.

856
01:23:52,835 --> 01:23:56,134
um, when that's removed, we
Would anticipate kind of that's what he was talking about with
An expansion of the wetland

857
01:23:59,568 --> 01:24:03,401
area plus the planting
Of native species. On the stormwater question,
You know, we did not review any

858
01:24:06,834 --> 01:24:10,602
stormwater control plans. We talked briefly with the team
On site, and we understand they

859
01:24:11,935 --> 01:24:15,134
have a plan for controlling
Stormwater, uh, from the parking area.

860
01:24:18,635 --> 01:24:19,434
uh, so that will have
To be a separate review. All right.

861
01:24:22,667 --> 01:24:25,035
mr. Mayor, may I respond very briefly to councilman
Fry pearson? Um, first of all, tonight is
Was not really we were not told

862
01:24:27,168 --> 01:24:30,301
tonight was it going to be
About engineering and flooding and stormwater management.

863
01:24:33,335 --> 01:24:35,968
your question is totally
Appropriate, and I'm glad you asked it because I in my notes,
I was going to say something and I passed it too quickly.

864
01:24:38,367 --> 01:24:41,734
you should know. You should all know that there
Is presently no stormwater management on this
Four acre site.

865
01:24:44,668 --> 01:24:46,801
there are no manmade
Contemporary stormwater features that you all and your

866
01:24:49,901 --> 01:24:52,368
planning board and
Your dpw requires. Of all of my clients, when they
Come in with applications, this

867
01:24:54,268 --> 01:24:57,134
site will have all
New modern stormwater. What's the significance of that?

868
01:25:00,935 --> 01:25:02,235
mr. Steinmetz the significance
Is we, my client, cannot increase the rate
Or volume of runoff.

869
01:25:05,768 --> 01:25:09,102
they have to manage
All of that water. That's why when we did this
April investigation with these

870
01:25:11,134 --> 01:25:14,635
gentlemen, you had at least
2 or 3 people from dpw there along with the
Planning department.

871
01:25:18,368 --> 01:25:20,002
so short answer, allow us to
Come back when we come back and we're going to do a night
On stormwater management.

872
01:25:23,668 --> 01:25:25,868
I'm completely aware of the
Flooding issues that have occurred in this community.

873
01:25:29,201 --> 01:25:30,235
I sat in front of your zoning
Board and listen to numerous people lament about
Pre-existing conditions that

874
01:25:33,768 --> 01:25:37,101
you all we all have
In the community. This application
Can't make it worse.

875
01:25:39,401 --> 01:25:41,869
dpw can't allow that to happen. And I'm delighted I didn't
Ask them to say that.

876
01:25:44,401 --> 01:25:47,002
these gentlemen have explained
To you that if we actually enhance the wetlands, we make
Some of nature more functional

877
01:25:50,435 --> 01:25:53,801
in dealing with
Stormwater management. Another night,
Another presentation.

878
01:25:56,001 --> 01:25:59,435
I'll have my engineer here. I will have my wetlands
Biologist explain what will has been talking about I got it.

879
01:26:02,702 --> 01:26:05,069
we're not going to spend
Millions of dollars to build a buddhist temple and have a
Situation where it floods out,

880
01:26:07,802 --> 01:26:10,868
and there's all kinds of poor
Management that you won't your dpw won't let that happen.

881
01:26:14,235 --> 01:26:17,267
regulation concern that at night.

882
01:26:20,134 --> 01:26:22,734
patiently. Thank you.

883
01:26:24,268 --> 01:26:25,568
thank you for your comment. And this is probably a little
Premature, but having lived in

884
01:26:28,301 --> 01:26:28,301
the rosedale area a lot of my
Life and being in real estate,

885
01:26:32,668 --> 01:26:36,535
I consulted with people on
Willowbrook, where the stream runs down from all the way
Up on samuels lane and.

886
01:26:41,401 --> 01:26:44,267
the golf course by the golf. Course.

887
01:26:46,502 --> 01:26:48,568
so I'm very concerned for the
Future, and I don't expect you to answer that now
About the runoff.

888
01:26:51,968 --> 01:26:55,668
about how many roofs? Three buildings, roofs, 37
Parking spaces, how all of that

889
01:26:58,801 --> 01:27:02,735
water is going to be handled. Going down to a little stream
That I walked along on saturday

890
01:27:05,935 --> 01:27:05,935
on rosedale avenue, just
East of brooke hills drive.

891
01:27:10,702 --> 01:27:10,702
and then a bigger area that's a
Catch basin, which both I think

892
01:27:14,868 --> 01:27:18,767
need to be enlarged to
Handle future water. That's all.

893
01:27:22,001 --> 01:27:24,968
just as a suggestion. Totally. Appreciate the question. Let the engineers speak to it. I hear you loud and clear.

894
01:27:26,235 --> 01:27:29,667
I don't live far
From that either. And I've walked the same card. Or you have. Councilwoman santiago.

895
01:27:32,068 --> 01:27:34,801
I would be curious if you
Do present on flooding. We had a historic.

896
01:27:38,101 --> 01:27:41,568
we had two historic snowstorms. What was the current
Impact of that? Would that be included
In your report?

897
01:27:44,201 --> 01:27:45,801
it wouldn't be in the report
That was already submitted. And part of the record.

898
01:27:49,602 --> 01:27:53,235
you already have a stormwater
Pollution prevention plan. But I hear the question. I'll ask our engineers
To respond to that.

899
01:27:55,134 --> 01:27:57,435
and I'm sure you can talk to
The commissioner of dpw and have the commissioner
Of dpw respond to you.

900
01:28:00,168 --> 01:28:02,835
again, having nothing to do
With my client's property. You've got a you've got a
Drainage basin that you've

901
01:28:04,534 --> 01:28:07,668
heard from. The councilman has
Existing conditions.

902
01:28:08,902 --> 01:28:10,668
and I heard in the record has
Lots of folks that live in that area that have
Flooding issues today.

903
01:28:13,868 --> 01:28:17,502
thank you, councilman caruso. And this may be a question for
Later with the engineers, but

904
01:28:20,502 --> 01:28:23,901
do you know, will this project
Create more impervious surface area or less impervious.

905
01:28:26,834 --> 01:28:30,734
on our site. Um, paula, can you can you
Speak to that off the cuff? Just the surface area.

906
01:28:34,335 --> 01:28:37,368
I'm not really sure. Councilman. Let us.

907
01:28:39,735 --> 01:28:42,834
I don't have my civil
Engineer tonight. I told him he didn't need
To be here tonight, so. And I don't want to give.

908
01:28:45,869 --> 01:28:49,401
that's a that's a critical
Question that you deserve an accurate answer. Thank you. Council president presser. Thank you, mr. Mayor.

909
01:28:50,834 --> 01:28:52,869
back to the wetlands. Do I understand correctly that
The report showed that the

910
01:28:57,002 --> 01:28:57,002
stream is not feeding into the
Wetlands, nor is the wetland or

911
01:29:02,001 --> 01:29:05,168
the wetlands draining
Back into the stream? I remember that the draining

912
01:29:07,968 --> 01:29:10,267
part being down into the ground. Is that.

913
01:29:13,435 --> 01:29:14,835
do I have that correctly? Well, it does drain and
It abuts straight line.

914
01:29:17,801 --> 01:29:21,768
oh, it does. The stream on the side, so it
Does drain directly to it, what

915
01:29:22,401 --> 01:29:25,468
can be is isolated in that. It's a depression in
The middle of the sky.

916
01:29:28,835 --> 01:29:28,835
there is a small upland area
That separates wetland d from

917
01:29:33,168 --> 01:29:33,168
wetland a, um, but whether it
Be does receive, uh, what we

918
01:29:39,301 --> 01:29:42,902
believe to be
Groundwater seepage. Although the source of that
Groundwater is unknown.

919
01:29:44,969 --> 01:29:47,634
that seepage comes in, as
We mentioned, goes later to elevated mountain sport.

920
01:29:51,535 --> 01:29:54,368
and it sort of flows through
What would be generally a south southwestern direction.

921
01:29:58,101 --> 01:30:01,934
so there could be subsurface
Flooding that flows towards. Okay. Um. Thank you.

922
01:30:04,301 --> 01:30:05,767
and the another question I
Have, just to refresh my, my memory on the
Benefits of wetlands.

923
01:30:09,969 --> 01:30:09,969
if I remember correctly, a well
Maintained wetlands almost act

924
01:30:15,368 --> 01:30:18,602
like a sponge in terms of mitigating flood
Flooding issues.

925
01:30:23,702 --> 01:30:27,468
if that's a question,
Then I would say yes. Um, there's the analogy I like
To say is that the kidneys are

926
01:30:30,702 --> 01:30:34,301
the watershed, and it's very
Important that by protecting them, you do, um,

927
01:30:38,068 --> 01:30:38,068
you do good for a variety
Of things, including power

928
01:30:42,702 --> 01:30:45,901
recharge, wildlife contract,
Flood mitigation and things like that.

929
01:30:49,635 --> 01:30:53,401
again, not speaking from an
Engineering perspective or hydrology water resource
Management perspective, but wetlands are important
For managing flooding.

930
01:30:56,167 --> 01:30:59,201
yes. Thank you. Thank you.

931
01:31:02,268 --> 01:31:02,268
item seven we're
Going to conclude now.

932
01:31:07,869 --> 01:31:11,568
item seven is a communication
From the commissioner of planning, transmitting the
Technical memorandum pertaining

933
01:31:13,834 --> 01:31:17,401
to one sycamore lane. I moved to file and
Spread the communication.

934
01:31:20,734 --> 01:31:23,467
all in favor? I.

935
01:31:25,268 --> 01:31:28,001
just want to. Before we

936
01:31:29,368 --> 01:31:30,634
conclude our meeting,
I want to remind you. I don't want to mind.

937
01:31:33,535 --> 01:31:36,168
I just want to share with
Everybody that this is a very important and spiritual
Week for most of us. It's easter and passover.

938
01:31:39,069 --> 01:31:41,001
we, on behalf of myself and
The council, we want to wish everybody happy and
Meaningful holidays.

939
01:31:44,035 --> 01:31:46,201
and may we all recommit to
Doing our bit to make the world a little bit better.

940
01:31:49,401 --> 01:31:52,501
that concludes tonight's agenda. Is there a motion to
Adjourn the meeting? So move.

941
01:31:54,234 --> 01:31:57,335
second. All in favor? Hi, carried. Have a great evening, everyone.

942
01:31:58,534 --> 01:31:58,534
thank you.