Zoning Board of Appeals Denies Application for a Flag Lot on Park Road
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After their application to create a flag lot on Park Road was turned down by the Scarsdale Planning Board in April, a Park Road family took their request to the Zoning Board of Appeals on April 6. Speaking for the Peterson family, attorney Lucia Chiocchio of Cuddy and Feder explained that the property already contains two homes, and that the family wished to divide the property for estate planning purposes. They were requesting variances to create a flag lot and for frontage requirements. Flag lots were outlawed by the Scarsdale Village Board of Trustees in the late 1980's.
The 2.54 acre lot has a guest cottage built in 1914 and large home built in 1925 as well as a pool and a tennis court. Currently it is legal for related family members to live in both homes on the property.
The attorney said that the creation of the flag lot would not result in any changes to the neighborhood, the existing driveways would remain as is and the structures would remain in place. If the property were to be sold, the attorney said that any new construction would need to be approved by the appropriate village boards. She contended that due to the distinguishing factors about this case, permitting a flag lot here would not set a precedent for future applicants.
Owner Lynn Peterson also spoke, saying, "These are two quite storied houses ... the lot is already non-conforming in so many ways that we can't even count them.... So few of the homes in the neighborhood are compliant. We understand that flag lots are not allowed, but we already live on one. There would be no teardowns and there would never be more than two families on the property. If we can't do it we will be forced to sell. We think this would be good for our family but also good for Scarsdale."
Board of Appeals Chair Jeff Watiker, told the applicants, "Flag lots are illegal. The Board of Appeals has never found a way to grant a variance to allow for a flag lot.
The planning board turned it down. Why should our board override two other boards? If we granted the variances why would you get a better audience from the Planning Board to permit the subdivision?" Mary Lou Green asked, "What's to prevent you from living the way you are?"
Two neighbors spoke, saying that they had submitted a letter arguing that the subdivision would "affect the character of Park Road .... one of the very few places left in Scarsdale where there is open space." They continued, "Estate Planning can be achieved through wills." They said that any zoning designation would run with the land, after the sale of the property and permit the construction of two large homes, accessory structures and pools on both of the lots.
The Chair asked the neighbors if they would prefer a flag lot to a subdivision down the middle of the property, (even though that would require a variance as well.) Both said that they would prefer to see no changes at all. Also discussed was the option of creating a cul de sac to access both properties.
Ultimately, though the board members appeared to be sympathetic to the family's request, the application was turned down due to the law preventing flag lots in Scarsdale.
Felicia Wong to Speak on Income Inequality at the LWVS Luncheon May 6
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The League of Women Voters of Scarsdale Annual Membership Meeting at the Scarsdale Golf Club on Friday May 6, 2016 at 11:45 am, featuring Felicia Wong, President and CEO of the Roosevelt Institute, who will speak about The Impact of Economic Inequality in the 2016 Election and Society.
Before joining the Roosevelt Foundation, Ms. Wong worked at the Democracy Alliance, where she led the development and assessment of the organization's strategic investment portfolio. Previously, Ms. Wong ran operations and product development at a venture-funded education services company. Her public service includes a White House Fellowship in the Office of the Attorney General and a political appointment in the Office of the Secretary of the Navy.
Ms. Wong holds a Ph.D. in political science from the University of California, Berkeley. Her doctoral dissertation on the role of race and framing in K-12 public education politics received the 2000 American Political Science Association award in Race, Ethnicity, and Politics.
Tickets are $ 40 if paid in advance and available online at lwvs.org, or by check payable to the League of Women Voters of Scarsdale in the amount of $40, mailed to Anne Lyons, 82 Greenacres Avenue, Scarsdale, NY 10583. Tickets may also be purchased at the door for $45.
In other news from the League:
On Tuesday, April 5, 2016 at 10:00 am at the Village Hall 3rd Floor Meeting Room, The League of Women Voters of Scarsdale will hold its annual membership information session concerning the Village Budget. All LWVS members and the public are invited to learn more about the 2016-2017 Village budget with members of the Village Board and Administration. League members are invited to stay for the consensus meeting immediately following the general membership meeting. For more information contact Janice Starr at VillageBudget@lwvs.org.
Two Scarsdale Students Chosen to Attend Students Inside Albany Conference
Zoe Ewing and Chloe Suzman, both juniors at Scarsdale High School, have been selected by the Scarsdale League of Women Voters to participate in the annual Students Inside Albany conference this coming May.
Students Inside Albany is an intensive four-day conference run by the New York State League of Women Voters Education Foundation. The program is designed to immerse students in the process by which public policy is proposed, enacted and changed in New York State and educate them as to how they can influence and affect this process. The conference will take place this year May 22-25, and will bring approximately 60 students from across the State to Albany to get a first-hand education about their state government. The highlight for most students is the opportunity to shadow their state representatives for an afternoon, with many students getting the opportunity to attend a session on the Chamber floor.
Ewing and Suzman were selected from among a pool of outstanding applicants in a competitive process open to students attending Scarsdale High School or residing in Scarsdale. All expenses of the students to attend the conference will be paid by the State League Education Foundation and the Scarsdale League of Women Voters.
For more information on state and local League youth programs, see www.lwvs.org/youth.html.
Scarsdale Named a 2015 Tree City USA
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For the 33rd consecutive year, Scarsdale has been named a Tree City USA by the Arbor Day Foundation in honor of the Village's commitment to effective urban forest management.
The Tree City USA program is sponsored by the Arbor Day Foundation in partnership with the US Forest Service and the National Association of State Foresters.
Scarsdale achieved Tree City USA recognition by meeting the program's four requirements: a tree board or department, a tree-care ordinance, an annual community forestry budget or at least $2 per capita and an Arbor Day observance and proclamation.
"Tree City USA communities see the impact an urban forest has in a community first hand," said Dan Lambe, President of the Arbor Day Foundation. "Additionally, recognition brings residents together and creates a sense of community pride, whether it's through volunteer engagement or public education."
When properly planted, trees provide multiple benefits including visual appeal, reduced home cooling costs, reduced pollution, increased wildlife and water management. For more information about the program, click here.
Jewish Film Festival Begins March 30
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This year the Westchester Jewish Film Festival at the Jacob Burns Film Center features 34 films from Israel and around the world—both documentaries and narratives—along with a rich slate of guests. Included is a special look at the films of the hilarious, uncompromising, and brilliant director Elaine May, who will come to the center on March 31. And don't miss the sensational Presenting Princess Shaw, which kicks things off on Opening Night.
Here are just a few of the films that will be shown:
If you loved Showtime's Homeland—which was the US adaptation of the sensational Israeli TV series Hatufim (Prisoners of War) —get ready to binge-watch all 12 episodes of Israel's latest hit TV political thriller. Fauda, which means "Chaos" in Arabic, was co-created by The Times of Israel's Middle East analyst Avi Issacharoff, whose deep knowledge of the region and internal conflict brings undeniable street cred to the unfolding stories. This critically acclaimed series follows undercover Israeli agents—a team of mista'arvim, Israeli soldiers who dress like Arabs to carry out a military operation—searching for a Hamas terrorist in the West Bank. We'll show the complete season in three separate programs.
What Our Fathers Did: A Nazi Legacy
"Imagine what it must be like to grow up as the child of a mass murderer." That's the first sentence spoken in David Evans' searing and provocative What Our Fathers Did: A Nazi Legacy. While researching the Nuremberg trials, eminent human rights lawyer Phillippe Sands came across Niklas Frank and Horst von Wächter, the sons of two high-ranking Nazi officials who were indicted as war criminals for their roles in World War II. Sands was astonished to learn that the younger men held diametrically opposed views about their fathers. As the three take an emotional journey through Europe, this powerful film explores those feelings, the complicated connection between the two sons, and the story of Sands' own grandfather, who escaped from the town where the fathers carried out mass killings. This unique view of the father-son relationship ultimately comes to difficult and unexpected conclusions.
The Midnight Orchestra uses humor and compassion to smash stereotypes about Jewish/Muslim relationships. It's the bittersweet story of Michael (played by Moroccan rising star Avishay Benazra), who went abroad as a child amid racial tensions spurred by the Yom Kippur War. Years later he returns to Casablanca to see his estranged and ailing father, who had been a famous Jewish musician. Michael is eventually tasked with giving his father a proper burial, which entails finding and bringing together the remaining members of his father's once renowned orchestra, and coming to terms with his own surprising family history.
The Jewish Film Festival includes 34 films from Israel and around the world and runs from March 30 – April 20 at the Jacob Burns Film Center in Pleasantville. Shows sell out quickly – buy your tickets here today.
Raiders Lacrosse Team Opens Season -Wrestlers Take League Championship
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The Scarsdale Boys Varsity Lacrosse team kicked off its spring tryouts on Monday March 7. It has been a shaky past couple of years for the Raiders. Past seasons have been filled with strings of losses along with big upsets and pockets of consistency, but this season the team aims to take home a title after years of heartbreak.
A large graduating class from last season has opened up spots for new team members hoping to make a big difference on the field. Among these new players are returner Junior William Cabrera. Cabrera who has come back from Canada's Hill Academy, where he spent a year developing his skills in a competitive sports driven atmosphere. Cabrera's dedication to the sport helped him to secure a Division 1 commitment from Yale. When talking about the upcoming season Cabrera said " It's really exciting to wear the Raiders jersey again and play with my friends, it's amazing to be able to compete against towns that I have rivaled for so long. Coach has started a couple preseason practices and has prepared a scrimmage schedule versus some highly rated teams like Iona Prep and Suffern, he has us focusing on playing fast and emphasizing stick skills in the offseason."
Offseason preparation has been essential to success in previous years, and the Raiders are looking to build on this success as the season begins in the spring. One of the team's captains for this year, Senior Andre Cutrim, offered insights about his experience in the past couple of seasons and his outlook on the upcoming season, "We had some pretty tough close losses last year that left a lasting impact on our returning players. This year we have a lot of new players coming onto the team and we are hoping that offseason preparation will pay off especially in our opening games."
It'll be a long season for the Raiders, facing steep competition from high caliber local teams like Fox Lane and Mamaroneck who have also gained reinforcements in the offseason, but the Raiders remain hopeful. Cutrim elaborated on this by saying, "This year we have a lot of good talent and have the potential to be a real threat to top teams in the section. We have some key returning players that know how to compete at a high level, and new additions to the team will only strengthen our talent pool".
Coach Brendan Curran is in his 3rd season as head coach , his second full season, assisted by James Synowiez in his second year as assistant coach, they both have high ambitions for the season and have been pushing the players to reach their potential. This season the coaches have taken a different approach by focusing on stick work and offensive/defensive principles to have an edge over the competition.
With an upcoming scrimmage against Suffern, and their league opener scheduled for March 29th against Brewster, the Raiders are hoping to translate their pre-season momentum into strong performances.
(Text and photos by Justin Barlow)
Scarsdale Wrestlers Take First League Championship Since 1999
Scarsdale Raider Wrestling Team had a banner 2015-16 season. Led by an extremely talented group of seniors, the team placed in the top three of every tournament and brought home 1st place at their own Scarsdale Invitational. The team finished with a 21-7 record. The Raiders brought home the League 1A Championship finishing 5-0 in the league. The last league championship Scarsdale won was in 1999. The team qualified 8 boys for Sections and had three boys place in the top 4. The season was capped off with 113Lbs Michael Dabramo receiving a wildcard for the State tournament where he placed fifth in the State. He finished with an amazing 46-6 record. His only losses came from Nationally ranked wrestlers.
The stats for the eight wrestlers that went to Sectionals are: 99lbs Johnny Keltz,25-14,113lbs Michael DaBramo 46-6,113lbs Jack Ortner 16-13, 132lbs Seth Schulman 25-14, 170lbs Raphael Rogoff 17-16, 182lbs Andrew Braun 31-8, 195 lbs Brendan Knaack 25-10, and at heavyweight 285 lbs Ethan Raff 32-9.
The three seniors who were named All Section were Brendan Knaack, Ethan Raff took and Michael Dabramo.
