Continuum Submits Updated Plan

• Editor's note: The following blog represents the opinion of Barry Graubart, a 12-year resident of Irvington. Online marketer with deep experience in the media and technology space.

After a quiet summer, things are quickly heating up around the proposed Continuum Assisted Living Facility project.

This week, Continuum submitted their revised plan, in response to the critique from the Planning Board and the community to their original DEIS submission.

The new submission came in the form of what is called a Draft FEIS (Final Environmental Impact Statement). You can view the full set of documents on the Turner Miller site. While the documentation is extensive, I’d suggest everyone at least skim through Chapter 1, Introduction and Chapter 3, Responses to Comments.

The submission was the central topic at the October 3 Planning Board meeting. At that meeting, attorney Anthony Veneziano presented the revised Continuum plan to the Planning Board.

The revised plan submitted by Continuum does not reduce the size nor scope of the proposed facility in any way. It still proposes 121 units and 168 resident beds and a total of 105,000 square feet, although in this new version, they have moved parking and several common areas below ground.  Coverage in the new plan is at 18.8%, nearly double the 10% allowed under present zoning laws. The new plan calls for the removal of 129 of 188 trees on the property.

Members of the Planning Board raised a number of questions and concerns. During a somewhat heated discussion, Board member George Boyle continuously asked the Continuum representative to show the proposed development as compared to what is there today, rather than what they had previously proposed.

Noted Boyle “As I see it, we have to decide whether what you propose is so much better than what it otherwise could be that we would be willing to change our zoning laws to allow it” later adding “your job is to convince the Board that this is the best possible use for this location and that you’ve come up with the most minimal impact plan of how to do it”.

 Chairman Hoffman added that “we want to see a comparison to what’s there now, not a comparison to the DEIS which was a failed plan”.

The next steps in the plan will be for a working session of the Planning Board (the public is invited to observe), tentatively scheduled for Tuesday, October 30 at 7pm; followed by a Public Hearing at the November 7 Planning Board meeting.

Get involved:

• Learn more about the specifics of the Continuum proposal at the Protect Irvington website.
• Volunteer to assist with research, analysis or community outreach by emailing Protect Irvington.
• Sign the Protect Irvington petition - and make sure every adult member of your household, along with friends and neighbors does so.
• Plan to attend the upcoming working session (October 30) and public meeting (November 7) so you remain informed and can share your comments.