SNAP Presidents Urge You to Write to the Governor About Housing Legislation Now!

Scarsdale’s Neighborhood Presidents are alerting residents to proposed legislation that would challenge Scarsdale’s zoning code and permit mass development within a half mile of the Metro North train stations in Scarsdale and Hartsdale.

Below find an email from Melanie Spivak and signed by all of Scarsdale’s Neighborhood Association Presidents, urging you to send letters to Governor Kathy Hochul and State Senator Andrea Stewart Cousins this weekend:

(From Ms. Spivak)

It is urgent that you educate yourselves on what is going on in Albany these last few weeks. Governor Hochul has included a bill in her budget called "The New Homes Target Act". This is a bill that will have a tremendous effect on every individual in Westchester, Orange, Putnam, Dutchess, Rockland and Nassau counties. It will affect every one of us in Scarsdale.

The budget is currently stalled in Albany in negotiations with the Governor and is currently scheduled for a vote this Monday April 17.

Please read the following statement, created and endorsed by SNAP (Scarsdale Neighborhood Association Presidents), which gives a very quick overview of some of the alarming requirements in the bill.

At the request of our representative in Albany Amy Paulin, she has asked everyone to reach out to Senator Andrea Stuart-Cousins and Governor Hochul directly to make your voices heard. We have included a sample letter to help talking points for a phone call, email or letter, along with the contact information for each representative.

Please take the time to read the statement and contact the Governor and Senator. But, please act fast!

I am happy to answer any questions or share the bill with you.

Thank you for your immediate attention.
Melanie Spivak

URGENT
SNAP Statement on Governor Hochul’s New Homes Target Act 4/13/23Governor Kathy Hochul

Governor Hochul has proposed a new law that would require Scarsdale to add approximately 180 new housing units to Scarsdale over the next three years. The New Homes Act has the potential to permanently change suburban New York. The Act is currently advancing through the budget process and is scheduled for a vote on April 17 - in 4 days.

Scarsdale homeowners must be aware that the Act would *require* the following:

First: A 3% increase in housing stock every three years - which amounts to approximately 180 new units in Scarsdale in the first three-year cycle and a greater number in each cycle thereafter; a percentage of these units must be low-income housing as defined in the Act.
Second: High-density housing (eg multi-family homes and apartment buildings). In its current form, the Act requires housing be located within a half-mile radius of a transportation hub. This provision is still being negotiated and could be changed to permit building anywhere within a town, village, or city; with no recourse for a municipalities’ inability to comply.
Third: A severe penalty for failure to comply. If a municipality fails to produce the required number of new housing units per year, the Governor will remove “home rule” (an individual municipality’s right to determine zoning), a right afforded to municipalities in our New York State Constitution.

What does this mean for Scarsdale and what does it mean for you?
• Infrastructure: Our 100+ year old infrastructure - which is already beyond its lifespan - would be stretched even further beyond its capacity.
• Flooding: The addition of high-density housing would further exacerbate Scarsdale’s poor drainage, causing additional flooding.
• Building Limits: The Scarsdale Board of Architectural Review and Engineering department will have to require further building limitations to account for the environmental impact of the increased housing density.
• Schools: Our schools could face an influx of students which might require redistricting of all the elementary schools.
• Loss of local control: Scarsdale has the potential to lose local control of our town.

Governor Hochul’s New Homes Act will totally overwhelm Scarsdale's century-old infrastructure and especially strain our water, sewer and school systems as well as police and fire service, road maintenance and Village center parking and amenities. As a result, the New Homes Act has the potential to lower the value of our homes and take away the unique qualities of small towns.

State Senator Andrea Stewart-CousinsSNAP is urging all the residents to learn more about the potential impact Governor Hochul’s New Homes Act could have on our community. The time to speak up is now - the budget vote is April 17.

Please call, send an email or letter to Governor Hochul and Senator Andrea Stuart-Cousins (see attached) and tell them this is the wrong approach because one size does not fit all. If high density housing is needed, it must be thoughtfully planned and include objective review and recourse which takes environmental, infrastructure and capacity of local services into consideration. Forcing the same high density housing requirements onto small towns and villages is not the answer.

Here's a sample letter that you can complete and email to state leaders:

Sample Letter

The Honorable Kathy Hochul
Governor of the State of New York
New York State Capitol Building
Albany, New York 12224
Phone: (518) 474-8390
Email (fill out the form located here): www.Governor.ny.gov

Senator Andrea Stewart-Cousins
28 Wells Avenue, Building #3, 5th Floor Yonkers, NY 10701
Phone: (914) 423-4031
Email: scousins@nysenate.gov

Speaker Carl Heastie

Dear (Governor Hochul) (Senator Stewart-Cousins):
My name is ____________________.

I am a New York resident and I OPPOSE the New Homes Target Act proposed in the 2023 Budget.

The Act forces high density housing onto municipalities that are not equipped to handle a sudden large influx of building and residents - with no recourse for damage to our infrastructure or environment. The requirements of the Act are short-sighted. Your proposal usurps our constitutional right of “home rule” (zoning autonomy). The building requirements promulgated by this Act are unacceptable and will have the chilling effect of eliminating the suburban landscape of our state.

High density housing should be built in areas that can handle the additional stress on local infrastructure and the environment.

Municipalities must have the ability to provide all residents with a sustainable quality of life free from unnecessary flooding, sewage and overcrowding.

One size does not fit all; high density housing is not appropriate for all communities. New York residents must be able to retain local control of their homes and communities.

This proposal should not be allowed to move forward.
Sincerely,

Your Name:
Your Address:
Your Email: