Letter to the Editor: Ardsley Officials Fought Against Overdevelopment

To the Editor:
A couple of recent letters [in another publication] have criticized “local politicians” regarding the Lawrence Street disaster and, more broadly, development in the area. These ignore the role Ardsley elected officials have played in fighting these developments. Ardsley “politicians” have been in the forefront of the battle against overdevelopment and the failure of the State, the County and our neighboring municipalities to address road infrastructure while approving all sorts of wrongheaded developments that are choking Ardsley.

Ardsley fought the Stew Leonard project, and sued Greenburgh to force opening of local roads. Ardsley fought Ridge Hill and joined with Greenburgh and Hastings to sue the developer. Ardsley fought Saw Mill River Lofts and helped to force a two-thirds reduction in that project. Ardsley fought Rivertowns Square and sued Dobbs Ferry and the developer over its questionable SEQRA proceedings and findings. Long before the State DOT botched the Lawrence Street-Saw Mill intersection, I questioned the State and our State representatives about the DOT’s role in this misplaced project.

What lessons can we draw? One is that the money developers bring to the table can overwhelm the desires of the local residents. The other is that what some call “politicians” are more properly termed “elected officials.” I have seen little in the way of citizen activism in my decade on the Ardsley Board of Trustees, and saw none from Dobbs Ferry in the run-up to the approval of Rivertowns Square. Letters to the editor won’t get the job done. If residents organize, then there may be some hope of bringing rational decision-making to the State, County and local governments.

Peter R. Porcino
Mayor Village of Ardsley