Business Council of Westchester Urges Members to Support FASNY

In an email to its members Tuesday, the Business Council of Westchester reiterated its support of the planned French-American School of New York development of the former Ridgeway Country Club in White Plains, and urged members to contact city officials voicing their support.

The proposed school has drawn both criticism and support from residents and officials for well over a year, and the Common Council is scheduled to vote on the latest application tonight in City Hall. Wednesday’s special meeting is scheduled for 7 p.m. in the Council Chambers.

Below is the BCW email to its members:

Dear BCW Member:

On Wednesday the White Plains Mayor and Common Council are scheduled to vote on the plan for the French-American School of New York (FASNY) that has been under review for nearly five years.

Unfortunately, the outcome of the vote appears close but uncertain.

The Business Council of Westchester has been a strong supporter of FASNY’s plan for the former Ridgeway Country Club and we urge our members to contact Mayor Tom Roach’s office (914) 422-1411 to urge a YES vote. Because the property is considered environmentally sensitive, it requires a 5-vote super-majority rather than a 4-3 simple majority.

The school has shown both flexibility and willingness to compromise throughout the lengthy review. A small but well-organized group of neighbors has not. Despite the fact that they have offered no viable alternative, their chronic opposition has apparently led some members of the Common Council to oppose the plan.

There is little doubt that a rejection of the plan after the incredibly thorough, time-consuming and expensive review process will trigger a costly litigation against the city. We believe that exposing the taxpayers to such a suit with a strong possibility that the city would lose, makes no sense and is damaging to the city’s overall reputation as forward thinking.

The new campus will generate $14.3 million in annual economic benefits to businesses in White Plains and an additional $22 million for businesses throughout Westchester. It will also create 530 new construction jobs in Westchester as well as an additional 317 jobs in support industries and businesses. FASNY will also be employing 232 full-time and part-time individuals.

In addition to the economic benefits, 78 of the property’s 130 acres will be preserved as a publicly accessible open space with hiking and biking trails and at no cost to the city, are reason enough to approve this plan. White Plains is already a “city of schools” with numerous highly-regarded public and private schools. The French-American School would add to this educational diversity and to the prestige of White Plains as a leading city.

Please join us in urging the city’s elected officials to support this appropriate use for the abandoned golf club.

Sincerely,
John Ravitz
Executive Vice President/COO