New Castle Town Supervisor's Report, Jan. 29, 2015

From Town Supervisor Rob Greenstein

Nixle Alerts
Sign up for Nixle Alerts from New Castle Police Department. Over the past two weeks, 380 new subscriptions for Nixle! If you have not already done so, please register as soon as possible. Signing up is easy! For Nixle text alerts, simply text your zip code to 888777. You can also register for Nixle emails and register for the town’s emergency notification system - codeRED system - wwwMyNewCastle.org. Links to register are also included in every enewsletter.

Master Plan
The Town Board recently hired the Pace Land Use Law Center as a consultant to facilitate the Master Plan update process. On Wednesday night, the Town Board voted to approve Pace’s proposal to complete an economic analysis for both the Chappaqua and Millwood Hamlets. Below is a summary of the New Castle Master Plan update:

· October 2012- Town Request to the Westchester County Department of Planning to Develop the Town’s Background Studies
· December 2012- Westchester County Confirmation that they will develop New Castle’s Background Studies
· March 19, 2013 Master Plan Steering Committee begins to meet monthly (Steering Committee Meetings held on 3/19/13, 4/9/13, 4/21/13, 5/6/13, 6/18/13, 7/9/13, 7/25/13, 8/8/13, 12/8/13, 3/4/14, 4/1/14, and 6/24/14.
· May 6, 2013- Town Visioning Meeting (approximately 20 public participants)
· June 2013- Town Board Resolution appointing members of the Master Plan Steering Committee.
· July 30, 2013- MindMixer (Social Media, LLC.) services engaged
· October 2013- Request for Work Group participants
· December 2013- Mindmixer (Social Media, LLC.) services cancelled
· December 2013- Westchester County delivered draft background studies
· January 2014- Master Plan Steering Committee review of Draft Westchester County Background Studies.
· March 2014- Pace Land Use Law Center Outreach Program contract approved
· April 2014- Pace worked with staff and MPSC to prepare for planned public meetings
· April 2014- MPSC members began working with their work groups to assess Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities and Threats (“SWOT” Analysis) of the 1989 Town Development Plan.
· May 2014- June 2014- Outreach Workshops Held
· July 2014- Final edits to Background Studies submitted to Westchester County.
· August 2014- Pace LULC Outreach Report released
· August 2014- PSB survey services contract approved
· October 2014- Master Plan Steering Committee request to delay PSB survey until after goals and objectives have been formed (Winter/Spring 2015)
· October 2014- Master Plan Steering Committee review of RFP for Master Plan Consultant to facilitate Steering Committee and compile draft plan.
· November 2014- RFP issued
· December 2014- MPSC representatives met with Town Planner to review response to RFP and issued memo regarding preferred consultant.
· January 2015- Town Board approved Pace University Land Use Law Center as Master Plan Consultant.
· January 2015- Town Board approved Pace’s proposal to complete an economic analysis for both the Chappaqua and Millwood Hamlets.

Hunt’s Place
As has been widely reported, on January 22, 2015, Conifer received the building and fire code variances it had requested from the New York State Board of Review for its workforce housing project on Hunts Place. I remain concerned about the issues I raised about this project in 2013, namely, the safety of putting an apartment building at that location, and what that location says about our community. I want residents to know that I previously offered to work with Conifer to find a larger and more attractive location, and I remain willing to do so.

Dog Park at Gedney
On Wednesday night the Town Board voted to approve the hiring of a consultant to study the creation of a dog park in Gedney Park. The consultant will study the pros and cons of two areas under consideration - one adjacent to the pond near the front of the park and one in the rear. A site for pet memorial near to the park would be identified as well. The pet memorial would be funded by private donations.

Snow Storm
To keep residents informed and to ensure that our community is prepared during a snow storm, I have compiled a list of Frequently Asked Questions.
http://www.mynewcastle.org/index.php/chappaqua-news/latest-news/1205-snow-storm-frequently-asked-questions