April 15, 2013

Dear Neighbors—

Spring is (finally) in the air and there have been developments regarding FASNY.

As we have mentioned in a previous email, FASNY has submitted its preliminary Final Environmental Impact Statement (PFEIS) in connection with its plan to develop the former Ridgeway Country Club property. We were able to obtain a copy of the preliminary FEIS through the Freedom of Information Act. It is a very large document and includes FASNY's response to the comments received during the DEIS (Draft Environmental Impact Statement) review process.

As we did concerning the DEIS, we are asking anyone who is interested to join us to review the PFEIS and help prepare appropriate responses and comments to the Common Council. The DEIS review committee did a fantastic job and I am sure the FEIS committee will also be very effective. You need not have any experience in planning or law. A curious mind, an interest in making a difference and some energy to share with others is more than enough to be able to contribute to the committee. Please let me know if you are interested. We expect to meet for the first time in the next week or two.

If you are interested in a copy of the PFEIS, please contact Ellen Lee at ELee@gedneyfarms.net.

For those who may not have been following the FASNY process very closely, an outline of the FEIS process is below:

The French American School has submitted its draft or preliminary FEIS (Final Environmental Impact Statement) to the City. The next step is for the Common Council to determine if the draft FEIS is complete. As with the DEIS (Draft Environmental Impact Statement) submitted and reviewed in 2012, the determination of completeness is not equivalent to approval. The draft FEIS is FASNY's attempt to respond to all of the comments to its DEIS including the comments from the public and those from the various city boards and departments. There is no time requirement or limit for the City's completeness evaluation; it could take several weeks but is not likely to take longer than two months.

Once the draft FEIS is deemed complete by the Council, it will be substantively reviewed. The City will eventually establish a final version of the FEIS. Although FASNY has prepared the draft FEIS, the Common Council is responsible for the adequacy and accuracy of the FEIS. The FEIS consists of (i) the DEIS including any necessary revisions and supplements, (ii) copies or a summary of the substantive comments received and their sources and (iii) the Council's response to the comments.

Once the FEIS is finalized, the SEQR (State Environmental Quality Review) process requires that the Common Council must prepare its own written Findings Statement. The Findings certify that the requirements of SEQR have been met. A positive Findings Statement means that the FASNY application for a special permit is approvable after consideration of the FEIS. A positive Findings Statement also demonstrates that the proposed development would avoid or minimize adverse environmental impacts presented in the FEIS and weighs and balances them with social, economic and other essential considerations. If the special permit application is not approvable, a negative Findings Statement documenting the reasons for the denial will be prepared. The Council will adopt either a positive or negative Findings Statement.

Enjoy the spring weather and please consider helping with the PFEIS review. As always, we will continue to keep you posted.

Terence Guerriere
President, Gedney Association