Comprehensive Village Plan Approved

The Planning Board of the Village of Scarsdale met on November 18th to consider their recommendation to the Village Board on the adoption of the updated Comprehensive Village Plan. Why was the updated study undertaken? According to the Plan, “the Planning Board initiated the 2009 Village Center Comprehensive Plan (the Plan) to take a fresh  look at the Village Center in the wake of recent development. Incorporating citizen input, the Plan strives to ensure a future in which the best aspects of the Village Center are preserved, valuable aspects are enhanced, and others are rethought for the betterment of everyone. This plan for the Village Center serves as an update to the 1994 Comprehensive Plan’s recommendations for the Village Center, and represents a policy foundation for future planning, zoning, and development actions.”

The current study is an update to a plan written in 2006 that sought to: “Ensure a comprehensive perspective, so planning and development is not an ad hoc process but rather conducted in a coordinated and integrated manner; and, preserve, protect, and enhance the Village Center’s character, function and value.”

At an October 6th meeting with the community, Village Planner, Elizabeth Marrinan, explained the goals of the comprehensive plan and its role in development.

The plan outlines six overarching goals for Scarsdale Village:

- Protect the Village Center feeling, including its scale and character. Adhere to Scarsdale design principles

- Attend to traffic congestion, and enhance walk-ability and pedestrian safety and amenities. Maintain an acceptable level of parking availability

- Contribute to shopping and dining variety

- Provide or connect assets to each other

- Embrace innovation and “green” principles

- Be fiscally responsible

The Comprehensive Plan designates three areas for development; Spencer/Christie Place, Scarsdale Avenue, and the Freightway Lot.  For each site the plan provides three options; one to do nothing, two to ease some restrictions and the third to rezone to allow more uses and density.  For each of the three areas there is the possibility of increased retail and residential use as well parking to accommodate increased traffic.

For Scarsdale Avenue the plan suggests a “Restaurant Row” to give area residents more variety in dining options. The plan addresses the village’s stringent parking requirements that currently prevent restaurants and businesses from opening in our downtown area.  If the plan is adopted by the Village Trustees, a next step could be to adopt zoning changes that correspond with the plan.

At the most recent meeting on November 18th, the Planning Board considered adopting the Plan and making a recommendation to the Village Board to approve it. David Karp, Chairman of the Planning Board explained that the update provides clarification on how Spencer and Christie Place will be developed and calls for staged development to minimize the impact on existing lessees. The new plan also calls for a parking demand analysis.

Members of the community were present to give their input.  The League of Women Voters expressed concern about development on Scarsdale Avenue and the impact of multi-story buildings on views.  They also felt that the plan would increase traffic on Spencer and Christie Place and that it fails to provide for more reasons for residents to visit the Village at night.

Ed Morgan of the Scarsdale Arts Council asked for permission to include a movie theatre or a cultural venue downtown and an Overhill resident expressed concern about potential noise from increased traffic on Scarsdale Avenue.  David Buchen brought up the mandate for workforce housing and questioned how the size of a building at Freightway could be impacted. A shop owner asked how the plan would bring more people into the village at night and wondered how current retailers would be impacted by more construction in the village.

A past president of the Overhill Association let the Board know that he was not in favor of workforce housing on Christie Place and questioned the need for additional commercial space. He stated his support of the “do nothing” option.  Another resident expressed his concern that development on Scarsdale Avenue would increase traffic, exacerbate pedestrian safety issues and actually hurt rather than help shop owners.

Bart Hamlin encouraged the board to take proactive steps to encourage green development at the time that planning is in process.

David Karp warned the group that sometimes “doing nothing” could be doing harm and assured residents that the goal of the plan is to maintain what we value about Scarsdale. He offered to prepare a supplemental letter to address green initiatives, zoning for a theatre downtown, and noise abatement.

The Planning Board approved the Comprehensive Plan and will send it to the Village Board with a recommendation for adoption.