MINUTES

COMMITTEE ON COMMUNITY AFFAIRS

JANUARY 13, 1997

PRESENT: Chair Bronz, Legs. Stewart-Cousins,

Mosiello, Carsky, Swanson

ALSO PRESENT: Mr. Farmer and Mrs. Keating

ITEMS DISCUSSED:

Chair Bronz called the meeting to order. The Committee reviewed the agenda. Chair Bronz suggested that we have someone in again from the Administration again to discuss the IMA with Yorktown. Item D - Bee Line bus service changes was received and filed. Item E will be discussed at a meeting on January 27 with Commissioner DeSantis. Chair Bronz will write a letter to Ms. Jones about her social security problems. Hon. Feiner’s communication will be sent to Transportation for comment on bike racks on County buses.

Chair Bronz updated Mr. Farmer on the Rory O’Moore Park meeting that was held last week. Chair Bronz asked for a copy of the State bill, which Mr. Farmer gave her. Chair Bronz explained the committee process to Mr. Farmer.

Mr. Farmer is the Special Assistant to the Mayor for Housing and Community Development. This office is due to Judge Sands ruling. One of the provisos of the Judge’s order was for the City had to identify a site or sites for 34 units of housing - of which 17 must be affordable. The City recommended the Rory O’Moore Park site. The famous reverter clause was used when part of this was used for the precinct. On December 17, the State ruled to de-dedicate this land as parkland. The City feels that this particular site would be cost-effective. This is for people earning $50,000 to $68.000 and would be open to Yonkers residents first. The City really wants to move forward. Mr. Farmer spoke to a number of residents and felt that their fears were allayed by maintaining the integrity of the neighborhood. The

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property line is 60 feet from the corner of the property to the edge of the park and it would be 80 to 90 feet from the closest home. The homes will be single-family two-attached homes. There will be a certain amount of greenspace and privacy. They City is committed to maintaining the park and the ball field. A portion of the parking lot north of the precinct will be used so that less land in the park would have to be used. The designs will be similar to the Winchester Housing Development that is in the area. It was done this way due to the terrain, and accessibility. At the School 15 site - the average income is $78,000, where at this site, it is $55,000. Demolition of School 15 would have cost more because of asbestos. The City of Yonkers did not do a title search, per say. They did not feel it was necessary. Chair Bronz stated that we need that before any action can be taken.

Leg. Swanson asked if that information would be in the deed, but Leg. Mosiello explained that there could be codicils that would only be listed in the title. We must find out the original acquisition of the land before we can go any further. Mr. Farmer stated that was already done when the County lifted its reverter on the parkland in the 1960’s when they built the precinct.

Leg. Mosiello stated that since the neighbors have asked questions, we should be able to answer them beyond a doubt.

Leg. Swanson asked if we have seen the deed and Chair Bronz said no. Leg. Swanson shared a deed from her district with the committee which has a reverter clause in it. Leg. Mosiello feels that there may be something in the original title and we should have that before we go any further. Mr. Farmer supplied the Committee with the meets and bounds. Leg. Bronz told Mr. Farmer that we had 15 residents who spoke at our public Board meeting against the land use.

Leg. Mosiello asked Mr. Farmer about School 15 - that it was one of several sites selected. The site has to be in the Northeast portion of Yonkers.

Mr. Farmer stated that the City had options and had to put it somewhere in Northeast Yonkers. Leg. Mosiello wanted to know who’s idea specifically it was to say that we do not use School 15 and who took the Map in John ’s office and use the parkland as an alternative site.

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Leg. Mosiello wanted to know if this NIMBY is relative to School 15. Mr. Farmer stated that he does not have a specific person. The monitor wanted to use that and they wanted a school and they also wanted housing in the same area. A title search is something that we must pursue.

Leg. Mosiello wants to make it understood we do not object to affordable housing, we object to the site change and that is why we object to parkland. The order that the Judge gave them - is the only site to satisfy the school and the housing site.

Leg. Carsky has been around for the entire duration of all these discussions, and she was on the School Board and the City Council when these events took place. I know that the cost has risen up to multi-million dollars and it is terribly unfortunate, but if we lose this opportunity we will open the entire County up for other potential actions.

Leg. Stewart-Cousins stated that she has seen this from all sorts of ways and has children in the schools. She, too, grows weary but we must go forward. I hope we can move this to the next level and satisfy the legislator and to have his constituents represented.

Mr. Farmer asked what could be an impediment, and Chair Bronz stated that it would be the time it takes for a title search.

Chair Bronz states that the County Planning Department will be in at 3:00 P.M. to give us the County’s side.

On motion of Leg. Stewart-Cousins, seconded by Chair Bronz, the minutes of January 6, were approved 2-0.

On motion of Chair Bronz, the meeting recessed until 3:00 p.m.

TAPE ON FILE