I am going to limit my normally verbose, and sometimes meandering, introduction to the Supervisor’s Report. Simply, it is not my words that matter. It is your voice -- your vote -- that is far more important this coming Tuesday than what any elected official, commercial, mailer, social media post, or friend can say. Exercise your vocal cords in any forum you choose but don’t fail to flex your rights at the ballot box. Should you self-mute, much of what you have fought for, supported, or sought to change may be grounded for the foreseeable future and potentially far longer.
Whether you are registered as a Democrat, Republican, or as a member of a lesser-known political party, it is of little consequence. Non-enrolled? That’s great too. What matters is that you show up, take that black marker, scribble in the bubble, and make your views and opinions heard. Locally, in New Castle, we have candidates running to serve you as Town Supervisor and on your Town Board. Beyond our community, our county and state will find itself on a new, similar, or the same trajectory because of our actions on Election Day.
Should you wish to vote early, you can still do so on Saturday, October 30th and Sunday, October 31st, from noon until 5 p.m. at the polling places found in the link below. On November 2nd, Election Day, remember to vote at your regular polling place.
Further information on early voting, including dates, times, locations, and other frequently asked questions is available here. If you need to find your regular polling place for November 2nd, an easy to use system is available here.
Your voice is your voice. Lend it to Democracy’s Chorus on Tuesday.
In Case You Missed It:
Oct. 26th Town Board Works Session
In addition to referring the FBC legislation to the County and New Castle Planning Board for their comments and review, your Town Board learned more about existing and considered new green policies and projects. As our town continues to lead the way on environmental issues, we took the time to listen to Sustainable Westchester and the importance of our continued commitment to Community Choice Aggregation, a program that facilitates cleaner energy use in lieu of brown energy products and services. In fact, to date, New Castle has been a leader on this front and our efforts have resulted in the mitigation of 80,104 tons of CO2, the equivalent of removing 168,000 vehicles from the road for one year and planting 1.3 million tree seedlings over ten years.
The Town Board also submitted a letter of intent to utilize Recycle Right, an app that provides a “dictionary” of recyclable materials and a local recycling schedule for residents, and set a public hearing for the Stretch Code, a more restrictive energy code ten to twelve percent (10-12%) more efficient than the minimum requirements of the Energy Conservation Construction Code of New York State. Additionally, we passed a resolution in support of an initial investment that will allow for new electric vehicle chargers at the train station and Amsterdam Park.
Your Town Board recognizes that incremental changes at the local level may seem small, but the leadership we and residents exhibit not only demonstrates to other municipalities how to effectuate healthy and positive change, but no matter the scale we can individually and collectively make a significant difference in our lives today and that of generations to come.
I would also like to take a moment to share, after failing to do so in last week's Supervisor Report, that the Town Board, acting on the recommendation of Deputy Supervisor Lori Morton's suggestion, approved creating a line in our budget for the future iteration of the CRE. With all the human capital spent on such an important endeavor, $5,000 is the least the Town Board could do to support the efforts of so many residents.
Thank you CRE members and those who will eventually make the CRE Committee an incredible force for good in our community.
New FBC Modifications:
Town Board Keeps Listening
Throughout the FBC and FGEIS process, residents have offered a variety of opinions in support of, opposing, or offering suggestions to the FBC. We have embraced many of these comments and acted upon them. Some of our amendments include shrinking the FBC to only N. Greeley Avenue, removing five story buildings and reducing four stories to thee on the east side of N. Greeley, and bringing back both the Planning Board and Architectural Review Board in certain circumstances. At this past Tuesday’s work session, the Town Board made further modifications to the proposed FBC in response to calls for clarity over workforce housing and limiting visual impacts of certain parking structures. Some of these key provisions and clarifications include:
Requiring builders go before the Planning Board where four or more lots are combined even if the total acreages is less than .5 acres.
Mandating that stacked parking be constructed within a building to remove the visual impact of such a structure should one be built. Setbacks remain to prevent construction to lot lines and to minimize impacts on adjacent properties.
Requiring that developments with at least 5, but less than 10 units, provide a minimum of one AFFH unit, developments with 10 or more dwelling units provide a minimum of 12% AFFH units, and developments of 25 or more units shall provide one unit of Workforce Housing for every two AFFH. Additionally, all multi-family buildings with AFFH units must have at least 50% market rate units to achieve a mix of affordability to ensure the healthy integration of housing options. The Town Board has pledged since Ivy Pool’s administration, if not far before, to make affordable housing a reality in the hamlet with the FBC. In addition to Acting Deputy Supervisor Lori Morton’s suggestion to increase affordability to 12% from 10%, Town counsel and I continue to explore further potential amendments to make the affordability housing / workforce housing component of the FBC even more robust.
Car share services removed from FBC and authority to allow for parking on municipal land moved to the Town Board instead of the Development Department.
The Town currently has protocols and procedures to address multiple building projects should they occur at the same time to stage them in a manner that limits impact on the hamlet. Remember, unlike the streetscape project, the construction or rebuilding of buildings is not akin to our hamlet infrastructure project.
There are no quick fixes or short cuts to create vibrancy and consistency with 2017’s Comprehensive Plan. However, the Town Board continues to make it best efforts to address residents’ comments and to make the FBC the best zoning legislation possible.
The Form Based Code (FBC):
Current Status, Taxes, & CCSD
When the FBC was first proposed during then Supervisor Rob Greenstein and Deputy Supervisor Lisa Katz’s administration in 2019, I was not initially sure it was the right fit for the Chappaqua Hamlet. In fact, both Ivy Pool, then a Councilmember, and I believed a pause was appropriate and charrettes were necessary for the entire study area before agreeing with Rob and Lisa that we should move forward for reasons including 2017’s Comprehensive Plan. Since that time – during Supervisor’ Greenstein’s administration, Supervisor Pool’s administration, and my tenure as Acting Supervisor – my colleagues and I have taken a “deep dive” into the Generic Environmental Impact Statement (GEIS) that examines environmental issues and both the original and whittled down FBC.
I sincerely believe that the FBC on N. Greeley will facilitate the type of growth that is advantageous to the community and remain open to further modifications. This zoning code will guide any future developer in understanding the parameters of what they can and cannot build should they be able to purchase enough lots to aggregate them into larger ones while aiding current owners in developing their properties in a more efficient manner. Additionally, as corroborated by our consultant’s and Chappaqua Central School District’s (CCSD) consultant’s data, and examined by and further developed with Town staff, the proposed Final GEIS (FGEIS) reflects there are financial benefits to the Town and CCSD even if there is a deviation from tax generation estimates. Read more on the topics listed below:
While the FBC is by no means the only issue of importance in New Castle, it nonetheless is an issue that invokes strong opinions in some and is routinely a topic of conversation across the community. As such, it is critical that even if we disagree, we all try to understand what the FBC is and what it isn’t. As such, I share the following:
There has been talk among some that the FGEIS and FBC will unequivocally open the door to inappropriately scaled projects and multi acre-developments such as those built in other municipalities. Simply, some say, our future is an urban jungle. Instead of listening to any one person, whether it is me or a fellow resident, examine the facts and make your own educated conclusion.
Other than the train station parking lot and a small number of larger privately held properties, the acreage does not exist to accommodate the large scale buildings as seen, for example, in Harrison. As such, numerous private land owners would have to agree to sell to one party who could aggregate adjacent land in the hamlet and/or a future Town Board would have to rezone the train station before leasing or selling the land to a private party subject to a permissive referendum. To assist in understanding the realities of the hamlet, the following information is extremely helpful:
The North Greeley Corridor that is subject to the FBC consists of 21 total parcels. 5 properties are publicly owned. Almost half (10 of the 21) are .1 Acre or less in size, 80% are under .4 acres, and one privately held property is greater than 1.0 acres in size.
The Lower King Street study area contains 79 privately held parcels of which 95% of the privately-owned parcels are less than 1 Acre in size and 63% of privately-owned parcels are 0.25 acres.
The Upper King Street study area contains 15 privately-owned parcels. There is only one privately-owned parcel over 1 Acre and 93% of the properties are under 0.80 Acres
Ultimately, future Town Boards will determine what land, if any, to rezone, the extent of the rezoning, and whether to consider the use of public land, but understanding that merely passing new zoning legislation is only one part of any future potential re-development.
2022 Tentative Budget: Potential 3.03% Increase Due to Refuse Collection
The tentative 2022 budget proposes a 3.03% increase in the levy over 2021 ($672,296) although the total appropriations over all funds increased by $2,015,237. This increase allows the Town to stay beneath the tax cap for the eleventh consecutive year. The tax cap calculation is comprised of 3 components: a tax based growth factor, the allowable levy growth factor, and available rollover from the prior year. When incorporating each of these components, the 2022 increase is in compliance with the NYS Tax Cap requirements. While remaining below the tax cap, the 3.03% increase plainly reveals the challenges we faced in preparing this budget. In short, after going out to bid twice and only receiving one proposal, the refuse component of the levy had an overwhelmingly negative impact on our budget increase. The refuse levy spiked by 19.41%; ($481,600) while the general fund increase was a modest 1.83% or $223,251 and the highway fund increased by only 1.07% or $48,389. Specifically, where the Town had the ability to control expenditures, as with the general fund and the highway fund, the increases over last year were modest as best: 1.83% and 1.07%. However, our refuse costs are subject to external economic drivers outside of our control. The collapse of the international recycling market as well as the loss of local transfer stations and limited avenues for disposal all impacted our new refuse and recycling contract. Although we were aware that market forces would have a significant impact on our new contract for services, we, like other municipalities, were unprepared for the almost $1million increase over our last contract, a marked increase of 32.28% from last year.
The average homeowner with an assessed value of $170,000 or $877,192.98 market value, will see a $110.36 increase over last year, excluding fire protection*. That increase consists of a $23.26 rise over last year or a tax rate growth of .87 for the general and highway fund, and $87.10 for special districts. In past years, the loss of SALT deductions had a negative effect on our housing market. However, the pandemic reversed that trend and continues to positively impact our housing prices and the mortgage tax revenues.
* As part of the special district component of the Town and County Tax bill, Town residents receive fire protection from three different entities. Each carries its own budget. The Millwood Fire District will increase by $18,73 per parcel (tentative budget numbers); Northern Fire Protection will decrease by $14.53 per parcel (final budget numbers); and New Castle Fire District numbers were unavailable at the time of this budget message.
EPIC Opportunity: Part-Time Ambassador Applications Due Nov. 1
New Castle’s Every Person is Connected Committee, aka, EPIC Committee, strives to enhance the quality of life for people with special needs in our community and they know that one of the best ways to get there is increasing awareness and promoting full inclusion. As fortunate we are to have committee members who volunteer to identify and implement a wide variety of services, opportunities, and programs, it is our EPIC Ambassadors – the kids, teens and adults with special needs who live in our community – that make this committee tick while showing us not only what inclusion is all about, but how we can do it together. To that end, I am excited to announce that thanks to the hard work of the EPIC Committee, the Town of New Castle is accepting applications no later than November 1, 2021, for part-time EPIC Ambassadors to staff the Chappaqua Performing Arts Center in jobs ranging from working concessions and on the “Clean Team” to assisting event staff and serving as ushers. Anyone considering applying, know that we need and want you as part of our New Castle team and family.
Further information about the necessary qualifications (you got this!), types of positions, and compensation is available here. A downloadable application is available here.
Saw Mill River Parkway: New Traffic Pattern
The New York State Department of Transportation is advising Westchester County motorists to expect a new traffic pattern along the Saw Mill River Parkway northbound and southbound between Exit 26 (Sprain Brook Parkway) and Exit 30 (Grant Street) in the Town of Mount Pleasant, beginning the week of Monday, November 1st, as part of a bridge replacement and road realignment project, weather permitting.
One lane of traffic will be maintained in each direction at all times. Exit 28 (Bedford Road) on the Saw Mill River Parkway northbound will be closed for the duration of the new traffic pattern. Motorists should expect delays and utilize the posted detour for Exit 30 (Grant Street).
The new traffic pattern is necessary to elevate the Saw Mill River Parkway and replace the two bridges that carry the Saw Mill River Parkway over the Saw Mill River as part of an ongoing bridge replacement and rehabilitation project in Lower Westchester.
For up-to-date travel information, call 511, visit www.511NY.org or download the free 511NY mobile app.
Confidential Paper Shredding Event Saturday, November 6th 10am- 1pm
Please be patient as we are expecting a large turnout. Residents will line up in their vehicles on Joan Corwin Way. Recycling staff will be on hand to direct residents. Proof of residency will be required. Residents are required to remain in their vehicles until it is their turn.
Trucks will be set up with tables to create a barrier, and only Recycling and USA Shred staff are permitted behind tables. When it’s their turn, residents will pull up and load documents on the tables. Residents must wear masks/face coverings. Residents are required to remove documents from their vehicle and place items on the tables, and USA Shred staff will load your paper into truck and shred it. Residents are welcome to watch their documents loaded into the shredder
The Recycling Center Yard will be open. Please note only 4 vehicles are permitted in the Recycling Center Yard lines are expected. Note, access to the Residential Yard Waste Area will be a challenge from 10am-1pm during the event please plan accordingly.
Stay Informed: Nixle, Code Red & Alerts
Since I can’t click my shoes together to magically get the right information in your hands, please remember that you can sign up for alerts such as the NCPD Nixle and the Town of New Castle Code Red online. When you do so, you must specify if you want to receive emails and/or texts. Signup here.
COVID Update: October 29th
Our collective efforts to vaccinate and follow best practices is still commendable but we must all be aware of the uptick in COVID cases and the highly contagious delta variant that continues to be the dominant strain. As of October 28th, Westchester County has 86 confirmed new COVID-19 cases and a total of 1,022 active. Let’s not get cavalier about where we are heading, but while our county numbers are going in the right direction, New Castle’s spiked. Please consider wearing a mask indoors even if you are vaccinated.
10/28/2021: 1,022 Countywide, 21 New Castle
10/20/2021: 1,276 Countywide, 27 New Castle
10/13/2021: 1,423 Countywide, 19 New Castle
10/07/2021: 1,451 Countywide, 21 New Castle
09/30/2021: 1,799 Countywide, 27 New Castle
09/23/2021: 2,231 Countywide, 41 New Castle
09/16/2021: 2,284 Countywide, 42 New Castle
09/09/2021: 2,368 Countywide, 22 New Castle
09/01/2021: 2,655 Countywide, 24 New Castle
08/25/2021: 2,752 Countywide, 20 New Castle
08/18/2021: 2,706 Countywide, 18 New Castle
08/11/2021: 2,326 Countywide, 24 New Castle
08/03/2021: 1,572 Countywide, 21 New Castle
07/26/2021: 929 Countywide, 13 New Castle
07/13/2021: 349 Countywide, 4 New Castle
07/06/2021: 214 Countywide, 3 New Castle
06/28/2021: 202 Countywide, 2 New Castle
06/14/2021: 304 Countywide, 2 New Castle
06/06/2021: 361 Countywide, 2 New Castle
05/03/2021: 1,923 Countywide, 13 New Castle
04/05/2021: 5,458 Countywide, 41 New Castle
03/03/2021: 5,815 Countywide, 59 New Castle
02/01/2021: 9,883 Countywide, 61 New Castle
01/19/2021: 11,372 Countywide, 139 New Castle (Peak)
As of October 27th, 483,633 Westchester County residents have been vaccinated. In Chappaqua and Millwood, 84.5% and 95.5% of your fellow residents respectively have received at least one vaccination dose while 75.9% and 87.8% received two. A special “Thank you” to the men and women of Millwood who are carrying Chappaqua. Embarrassingly, Armonk is still besting Chappaqua with double vaccinations making up 76.1% of the eligible populace. Millwood keeps setting the pace, and Chappaqua’s medal contention seems further out of reach if we don’t get our act together, falling behind to Mt. Kisco’s 79.1%.
Further information for Westchester County is available here.
Get Vaccinated!
COVID vaccines are now widely available at pharmacies, clinics, Federally Qualified Health Centers and other locations across the state. Visit Vaccine Finder or the NY State vaccine appointment website or call 833-NYS-4-VAX.
Help Wanted!
Board of Assessment Review
The Town of New Castle Is Seeking Qualified Candidates For One Open Position on the Board of Assessment Review.
Candidates shall have a solid knowledge of values of all types and classes of property throughout the Town of New Castle as well as a firm understanding of ad valorem taxation.
Members of the Board of Assessment Review (BAR) have been vested with the duty and responsibility of hearing assessment complaints in the first instance. You will be asked to exercise judgment and discretion to render an impartial, objective determination on assessment complaints brought before the board, including a statement of the reasons for the determination.
The Board of Assessment Review (BAR) is a quasi-judicial body and the members of the board are charged with judicial responsibility to get all the facts, and apply appropriate laws and reasoning to the facts in a fair and judicious manner. Accordingly, each member of the board of assessment review should: 1. Possess judicial temperament, patience and tact. 2. Provide a fair hearing. 3. Safeguard the constitutional guarantees of due process of law. 4. Withdraw from a case where he/she deems themselves disqualified by reason of personal or business relationships or interest.
A mandatory training module must be completed after each appointment in order to serve.
The Board of Assessment Review’s primary annual meeting is on the third Tuesday of June (Grievance Day), and members must be available throughout the summer for additional deliberative sessions.
The term of Office is five years.
Millwood West End Advisory Board
Seeking volunteers to join the Millwood West End Advisory Board (MWEAB). The Advisory board monitors land use applications, and the general interests of Millwood and the West End including correcting zoning violations and improving the general appearance of Millwood and the West End. The Advisory Board advises and reports to the Town of New Castle and works in cooperation with the other town boards. The Board meets on the third Thursday of the month at 7 PM. Term of Office is three years.
Interested? Please fill out the volunteer application form HERE.
Questions? Please contact Jill Shapiro at JShapiro@mynewcastle.org
Trick or Treating Downtown
Spooky season is upon us and Downtown Chappaqua is excited to bring back its annual trick-or-treat event! Residents & children of all ages are invited to trick-or-treat at your favorite BOO-tiques Friday, October 29th from 10am to 5pm.
Chappaqua Farmer's Market
Open Every Saturday 8:30 am to 1 pm
Take It or Leave It Shed - Last Saturday!
Saturday, October 30 is the last day this year for the Take It or Leave It "shop". Shoppers are welcome - but no donations will be accepted. TIoLI will re-open in April, 2022 !! The staff volunteers of this popular "shop" are grateful for the town's help, and are glad that so many unwanted items have found happy new homes.
The Take It Or Leave It Shed (TIOLI) is a reusable item “shop” managed by town volunteers. No money is involved – everything is free. TIOLI is open for the season (weather permitting) Saturdays through October, and is located at the train station. Location: 1st left after you enter the station parking area from South Greeley Avenue.
The Take It Or Leave It will be open, weather permitting (no rain or strong winds), on Saturdays until the end of October. Shoppers will be welcome from 9am to noon, although the volunteers will start packing things back into the shed at about 11:45.
Because of the improved Covid-19 situation and TIOLI’s outdoor location, masks will be optional. Tables will be spaced to encourage social distancing. Shoppers may be asked to limit their shopping time to let everyone have a chance at the wares. Children must be supervised, and please, no strollers or dogs.
Screening of Uninvited: The Spread of Invasive Species!
Town of New Castle Conservation Board and VINE SQUAD are hosting a screening of Uninvited: The Spread of Invasive Species!
This will be shown on Wednesday, November 10, at 7pm. We will have a panel discussion of conservation board and vine squad members who will be available to answer any questions. Click here for the Zoom registration/link.
We hope you find this film inspiring and empowering - you, too, can protect our environment and help prevent the spread of invasive species!
Uninvited is an informative documentary about the damage that invasive species are causing to New York’s natural environment, communities, and economy. But it isn’t all doom and gloom - the film also highlights some of the innovative ways New York State is combating these threats, including how our tail-wagging friends are helping out. Uninvited details the collaborative work of DEC and its partners including NYS Department of Agriculture and Markets, the eight Partnerships for Regional Invasive Species Management (PRISMs), New York State Invasive Species Research Institute (NYISRI). You can watch the YouTube trailer HERE.
A Charlie Brown Christmas LIVE ON Stage!
at Chappaqua Performing Arts Center
THE TOURING COMPANY PERFORMS IN CHAPPAQUA BEFORE ITS NYC RUN!
A present the whole family can enjoy! Adapted from Charles M. Schulz’s timeless story of the spirit of Christmas and features the unforgettable music of Vince Guaraldi. Join Charlie Brown, Snoopy, Lucy, Linus and the rest of the Peanuts gang as they mount a play, save a tree and uncover the true meaning of Christmas. After the final bow the audience is invited to join the Peanuts gang in singing traditional Christmas songs and carols. There’s no better way to discover the magic of the season!
DECEMBER 3 - DECEMBER 19 The show is 90 minutes including intermission.
Tickets and VIP packages ON SALE NOW
Visit:ticketmaster.com
Please review covid policy at time of purchase.
480 North Bedford Road, Chappaqua, NY 10514
For Information call the Box Office: 866-806-5777 www.ChappaquaPAC.org Presented by Evening Out, Inc.
New Castle
Recreation & Parks Update
New Castle Recreation Basketball
New Castle Recreation is happy to announce that Recreation Basketball will return this year! Registration opens online Monday, November 1st at 10:00AM
Time for Trivia
Drumming About You
November 7 at 2 pm @ The Chappaqua Performing Arts Center
New Castle Senior Services
More Senior Program, Event & Service Information Available HERE
We look forward to seeing you at future events and programs. Please call the Center at 238-8888 for more information, and continue to check this enewsletter for weekly updates.
Polling Place Rides
Election Day is Tuesday November 2, 2021. Please call Bess Steiger at 238-2093 if you will need a ride to your polling place.
Visit the library website for the most up to date information.
Read the latest Library New & Events Newsletter HERE. Sign Up to receive Library Newsletter direct to your email.
Programs
Town Hall: Learn More and Contact Us
Town Hall Meetings and Board Packets
Agendas, supporting documents, and minutes for Board meetings:
To watch videos from recent meetings recorded by New Castle Community Media Center, click here.
Stay Connected
To stay informed about your local government and community, click here to sign up for Town Hall e-News and Community e-News, and sign up with Nixle and Code Red to receive text messages and/or emails for emergency alerts and community events.
Community e-News Submissions
The Town uses the eNewsletter to keep residents informed about community news, meetings, events, initiatives, announcements and other important information. In addition, civic groups, not-for-profit and charitable organizations are welcome to submit time, place and date announcements for their upcoming events for inclusion in the eNewsletter free of charge.
Click here for Con Edison's Storm Central including outage location maps, storm preparation, and recovery tips!
