Letters about FASNY

See what your neighbors have said about FASNY's proposed project. If you'd like to be heard, please send a letter to one or all of the following:

City of White Plains Mayor & Common Council
	Honorable Thomas Roach Mayor of White Plains
	Honorable Benjamin Boykin II 914.328.7808		Honorable David Buchwald 914.831.3764
	Honorable Milagros Lecuona 914.406.0048		Honorable Dennis Krolian 914.263.1020
	Honorable Beth Smayda 914.419.6891		Honorable John Martin 914.686.0239
	SEND YOUR LETTER TODAY!

Gedney Association President
	Terence Guerriere

Sent: Tuesday, February 21, 2012
Subject: FASNY conservancy plan
To: Hon. Mayor Tom Roach, White Plains Common Council

Hon. Mayor Roach and Council Members:

We were deeply troubled and alarmed by the latest FASNY proposal for a nature conservancy for a portion of the former Ridgeway Country Club property. These plans were presented at a local realtors luncheon by FASNY representatives. As presented, the property will be accessed by multiple entrances throughout Gedney Farms.

Not only are we worried about having a "Saxon Woods" type facility maintained by volunteers in our backyard but we are concerned about what this plan would do to property values city wide. If property values decline in Gedney, one of the more desirable locations in WP, this will have a ripple and chilling effect on property values throughout WP. As it is now, it is near impossible for anything on the market in Gedney to sell because of uncertainty about FASNY's special permit status.

As you consider the multitude of complex issues surrounding the special permit, please keep the primary stakeholders, the citizens of WP, foremost in mind. We are the people that have lived here for years and, in many cases, for generations. Our dream is to live in a city where deep-pocket, outside special interests do not influence our elected representatives' decision making.

Thank you for consideration of this letter,

Truly yours,

Anne Casey MD and Charles Diamond PhD



Sent: Monday, February 20, 2012
Subject: Ron Rhodes on Presidents Day Traffic
To: Hon. Mayor Tom Roach, White Plains Common Council

Dear Mayor and Common Council,

Happy Presidents Day!

My name is Ron Rhodes and I've voiced my complaints to you before about the FASNY trying to move into and build in my residential neighborhood.

With today's national holiday and our schools being closed for vacation, for me it was a pleasant and uneventful morning jog from my home thru our Gedney Farms streets (without sidewalks) to Mamaroneck Avenue where there are sidewalks. . .I've been doing essentially the same jog every day since moving here in 1979.

My surprise today was a person on Hathaway Avenue outside the entrance to Burke Rehabilitation "counting the number of cars going by". My thought going by was who in their right mind would count cars on a day few cars are on our streets. . .then I realized it is probably someone with a whole different agenda than the rest of my White Plains neighbors. Any guesses on whom that could be?

As someone who is on foot on our Gedney Farms streets every day. . .one new driver cutting thru our streets texting while balancing a coffee is a real risk to me personally and to my neighbors. If you are measuring traffic on Mamaroneck or Main Street where there are sidewalks you can count cars and consider % increases or decreases. In a residential neighborhood without sidewalks. . .just a few more cars can be a problem while a lot more cars would be disaster!

When I moved to my current home in 1979 one of the reasons I did so was because I was moving into a 100% residential neighborhood. . .and one of the protections that we have as individual home owners is our current residential zoning. As I taxpayer and voter I'm asking the Common Council to protect mine and my neighbors' 100% residential zoning and veto any efforts by the FASNY, who are not taxpayers and voters, to change the current zoning.

Thanks for your continued support,

Ron Rhodes



Sent: Saturday, February 18, 2012
Subject: FASNY Plans
To: Hon. Mayor Tom Roach, White Plains Common Council

We've just been given an update about FASNY's plans from the Gedney Association. The prospect of four buildings and six athletic fields (our house on Oxford Road would be in right field) is ominous enough but now let's add the "Nature Conservancy" - 16 access points in the neighborhood and three parking lots. That isn't nearly enough to accommodate the Gedney Association estimate of over 150,000 visitors a year so they'd park on our neighborhood streets. Please picture that, Council members. Anyone who says that these plans will not hugely and negatively affect the nature of our neighborhood and our lives is either delusional or lying.

Ted and Connie Armstrong



Sent: Sunday, November 6, 2011
Subject: FASNY - Gedney Preserve
To: Hon. Mayor Tom Roach, White Plains Common Council

To the White Plains Common Council:

You've no doubt seen the flyer that FASNY has distributed, describing this "unique opportunity to enhance biodiversity within the region". It sounds pretty good and there might be hundreds of people from White Plains and surrounding towns who'd like to visit this Preserve. What it doesn't address, however, is the resulting traffic - the cars and, perhaps, the busses that would carry the visitors through our neighborhoods. And, by the way, where would they park? The Preserve simply expands the unwanted impact of the FASNY proposal.

On another note, this morning I noticed that the FASNO sign I had in my front yard was gone - as were the signs of at least three of my neighbors. Are we now going to be subjected to midnight raids on our property?

I continue to see no plusses to the FASNY proposal. Instead, I see the deterioration of a really nice part of White Plains if they are granted the right to proceed.

Ted and Connie Armstrong



Sent: Friday, November 4, 2011
Subject: Opposition to FASNY
To: White Plains Common Council Members

Dear White Plains Common Council Members,

I am writing to you to raise our objection to FASNY's application to develop the former Ridgeway Country Club. The proposal for their multi campuses here in the Gedney Farms neighbourhood is on the scale of a grand compound to say the least. It is not fair or reasonable to subject a small neighbourhood to the congestion of traffic that will affect this area greatly. We live on Hathaway Lane and the traffic will be great along our street and on Ridgeway. Traffic lights will need to be installed. We do not know how all the extra buses will cope.

We moved to this neighbourhood not to have it turned into a multiple campus school compound. We feel FASNY is hijacking our are!!! With the increase of infrastructure needed to accommodate all their facilities there will need to be an increase of taxes which is too difficult to bear during these financial times. We chose White Plains as it is fair with its taxes and FASNY's application will surely turn us and many others against living here.

FASNY has a very strong public relations campaign due to its wealth and they are misrepresenting many facts. It is not if they are building homes or apartments to bring more revenue to the city. New families to the area will just buy houses that are for sale. We feel they are trying to say they could give so much to the area in terms of revenue but this is a fallacy. Instead they are going to dismantle our neighbourhood and our quality of life here for what was surely a great property deal for them. Imagine buying Ridgeway Country Club knowing that it wasn't zoned for a school? This is an outrage to our community.

I believe that FASNY will add a burden to the city of White Plains and make living in this neighbourhood burdensome. It will be great for the private school children if their application is successful but what about the quality of life for all those who live here? It will only decline and make it difficult to take our own children to school as well as making the roads unsafe for them.

It is our hope and prayer that you will vote "NO" to FASNY's proposal.

Respectfully yours,

Tara Wayne



Sent: Friday, November 4, 2011
Subject: FASNY Scope
To: clerk@whiteplainsny.gov, Gedney Association

Hon Mayor and Council:

Please consider for the FASNY scope the following.

Although the draft scope proposes a diversion analysis as part of the traffic study, more is needed.

An "origin and destination" survey should be taken of existing conditions in order to analyze the potential for existing traffic to seek new routes in order to avoid congestion on Ridgeway.

In the proposed diversion analysis, license plate surveys will be taken for existing traffic on potential "cut-through" diversions or bypasses already identified by the city. This will be used to assess potential impacts if project-generated traffic would also use these bypasses to reach the project site.

That analysis is however directed at traffic generated to and from the new school alone, and does not address the impact on existing areawide traffic.

A true understanding of the traffic impacts on the surrounding neighborhood depends on a detailed knowledge of existing traffic. In simple terms, this means understanding where the traffic is coming from and where the traffic is going. If FASNY causes traffic on Ridgeway to increase sufficiently to cause unacceptable congestion, existing traffic on Ridgeway will seek new routes, such as Rosedale, Maplemoor/Sammis and Bryant.

An origin and destination survey is necessary to predict those routes and the resulting impact on the city.

Thank you for your attention to this matter.

John Kirkpatrick



Sent: Thursday, November 3, 2011
Subject: Written Comments on the FASNY Scoping Document
To: clerk@whiteplainsny.gov, WP Common Council, Gedney Association

Dear Ms. McPherson,

A native of the City of White Plains, I grew up in Gedney Farms on Oxford Road. After getting married, my husband and I wanted to raise our children in White Plains and settled on Hathaway Lane where we have been living for the past 38 years. Choosing to live on Hathaway Lane was not by accident. The Gedney Farms area of White Plains has always had the reputation as one of the most serene and beautiful areas in the City as a result of the existence of Ridgeway Country Club. Overlooking the golf course is one of the main features of our home. Now The French American School (FASNY) has purchased the 129.69 acres and is seeking a special permit from the White Plains Common Council to create "a low-density, park-like campus" that will enable FASNY to consolidate all of their school divisions. If the permit is approved, the beauty and value of Gedney Farms will no longer exist. In addition, I personally am concerned about the impact that this project will have on our neighborhood as well as the residents of the City of White Plains for the following reasons:

• TRAFFIC
  Currently Hathaway Lane is used as a through street for cars traveling from Ridgeway to Bryant Avenue and Bryant Avenue to Ridgeway. Not only do blind spots exist on Hathaway Lane but there are no sidewalks. Although FASNY claims that access to their schools will be on Ridgeway and will be routed to keep off side streets, what makes them think that Hathaway Lane will not be used as a short cut as it is now...creating even more traffic and accidents waiting to happen on Hathaway Lane?



• CONSTRUCTION
  It is inevitable that during the years that FASNY will be erecting their buildings and developing the land that the construction will create intolerable noise levels in the neighborhood and potential vibration to our homes. Additionally, the congestion on the streets in the neighborhood caused by construction vehicles is a concern. When Solomon Schechter and The German School moved to White Plains, they purchased existing schools and did not inconvenience their respective neighborhoods as FASNY will do in ours.



• CITY OF WHITE PLAINS
  As a non-profit organization, FASNY will be exempt from paying property taxes. How will the City of White Plains make up the deficit? FASNY's claim that they would generate approximately $15.4 million annually to the City of White Plains believing that their population will patronize businesses in White Plains is clearly a fallacy. If they wish to shop in White Plains, they are doing it now because of their existing proximity to White Plains. If, in fact, the FASNY families choose to move closer to their schools they will be purchasing homes that are currently paying taxes and will not add to the tax base. Additionally, FASNY's proposed project would result in additional demand on our police and fire resources as well as on municipal water, sewer systems and electricity and gas supplies.



• USE OF LAND/GEDNEY PRESERVE
  Looking at the FASNY Proposed Overall Site Plan that calls for a low-density, park-like campus that will preserve 60 acres of permanent, publicly accessible open space and almost double the amount of designated comparable publically accessible open space now available in the City of White Plains may sound appealing to the City. However, living across the street from a section of this proposed area as well as the pond/lake causes other concerns and raises several questions. Where will all of the individuals who choose to take advantage of this publicly accessible open space and Nature Preserve park their cars as I haven't heard or seen this addressed on FASNY's website and/or in their publicity? Will they be parking on the side streets in the neighborhood? Who will be responsible for regulating who is using this space and how will they be using it? Will we have undesirable individuals hanging out?

Although FASNY claims that they will maintain their property, their current performance leaves much to be desired. During hurricane Irene large trees fell and are currently lying on the ground. The lake/pond that once provided an added appeal to the view from our home is now covered with algae and a potential danger of overflowing during heavy rainfalls.

Additionally, FASNY claims that they will be making ball fields available to the community on weekends and in the summer. Does White Plains really need more ball fields when every school in the City as well as the City parks is currently being used for this purpose?

Honorable Mayor and members of the Common Council, for 70 years I have witnessed and experienced the changes and growth of the City of White Plains. I have always put my trust in the decisions that are made by our elected officials to provide the best possible environment for its residents. I therefore request that, in this situation, you will think about the residents who live in Gedney Farms and not approve any Plans submitted by The French American School.

Thank you for your attention to this critical situation,

Carol H. Corbin



Sent: Thursday, November 3, 2011
Subject: FASNY proposal
To: Hon. John Martin

We are opposed to the proposal put forward by the FASNY school; (1,200 students in the future); We believe it is to large for our neighborhood and would set a negative precedant now and in the future. We think it would alter the quality and cohesive balance between traffic congestion and the true character of Gedney Farms that we cherish (for over 55 years) so very much. We urge you to help protect Gedney Farms and and all neighborhoods in White Plains.

Sincerely yours;

David & Nancy Wolff



Sent: Tuesday, November 1, 2011
Subject: 1 More "Rhodes" question for the Scoping Study
To: clerk@whiteplainsny.gov
CC: Mayor Tom Roach, WP Common Council

Dear White Plains City Clerk,

First, I would like to give thanks to the Major and City Staff for their quick response to Saturday's storm which I'm sure caught everybody by surprise. In doing this year's budget and monthly plans I'm guessing an event like last Saturday was not anticipated for October so all the City's rapid response efforts and the continuing work on the cleanup is really appreciated.

Back on October 6th I submitted a list of 20 questions that I wanted to see addressed in the Scoping Study for the Ridgeway Golf Course. This past weekend's surprise October snow storm and its destruction of trees in White Plains and Westchester brought to mind another question which I'll call Question 21 - Trees.

21. Since the Ridgeway Golf Course and surrounding area has a lot of historic and irreplaceable trees, could the Scoping Study require FASNY to identify individually which trees they plan to cut down including the type of tree, its location and the total number?

The subject of "tree" destruction is of interest in these major developer projects because they raise concerns at the time of individual project review and consideration. . .and then we tend to lose track of our concerns after a project is not approved. For example, I remember years ago Burke Rehabilitation submitting a proposal for a Marriott Senior Living Facility to be located, not near Burke's existing buildings, but in an undeveloped area off Mamaroneck Avenue near their exit road. I don't recall the specifics of why this project was rejected by the City perhaps it was because it was another non-profit proposal that would not generate any future property tax revenue for the City. However, I do remember a lot of discussion about Burke's plan to cut down 60 or so trees. What's relevant for today's FASNY discussion is that since the time of the rejection of the Burke/Marriott project, Burke appears to have cut down a fair amount of the original 60 trees. So if this Burke project were to resurface today as a new proposal the subject of "trees" may not be an issue since they have been taken down over the years.

Over time the key management of Burke Rehabilitation I'm sure has changed as have the members of the Common Council so things can get forgotten and overlooked. The reason this Burke proposal came to mind now is that to date in my opinion the FASNY has been less than forthcoming, loose with facts and misleading with their PR Spin so the City is going to have to nail down all the issues in the Scoping Study.

As a side note while the City and its residents are busy cleaning all the fallen trees and limbs from Saturday's storm, it would be nice is the FASNY could address the fallen trees on their property that are still there from Hurricane Irene!

Thanks for your consideration,

Ron Rhodes



Sent: Thursday, October 27, 2011
Subject: French School
To: Mayor Tom Roach, WP Common Council

To Whom This May Concern
(Mayor, Common Council Members, Gedney Association):

We would like to be on record in opposition to the development of the Ridgeway Golf Course property by the French School.

Numerous reasons for opposing this inappropriate plan have been stated and published by multiple residents and Gedney Board members. It is a totally inappropriate location for such a large complex of students, teachers, support staff, traffic, and buildings.

It is our hope that the Common Council will not support the project.

Thank you,

Karen and Richard Trepp



Sent: Saturday, October 22, 2011
Subject: STOP FASNY
To: Mayor Tom Roach, WP Common Council

As you know the Gedney Farms residents are in a battle of a lifetime. I have only lived here 2 plus years but chose this beautiful neighborhood to spend the rest of my years here and hopefully pass it on to my children where hopefully they will raise their families. It is a place of tranquility amongst the great city of White Plains. There is no other place like it. It is a rare gem. Allowing the construction of three major buildings, FASNY or otherwise, would permanently destroy this neighborhood. There are so many buildings, school closings that can service new schools without the need for more construction especially in such a peaceful area.

Trying to explain this to FASNY is just useless. During their visit I literally walked them to my yard and asked them to visualize from my view what would be back there instead of the beautiful space and the birds and bunnies that were there. I asked them to explain what I would have to look at and even hear or even smell (perhaps gas fumes). After pressing some more they said "well maybe a line of school busses" Im not sure what to make of that. I asked if they can send me what will be on my property line and I have yet to receive it. They tried to say "Well we might let Gedney residents use the building but not White Plains residents." First I would not want to use their building for anything but secondly the "only Gedney residents" felt very uncomfortable. I will be a good neighbor regardless but I hope at least they plant some trees or beautify all of their property line. I realize you have an enormous amount to consider but if we don't have quality of life then what do we have? I am no 1%.

Thank You!

Vilma Marano



Sent: Saturday, October 22, 2011
Subject: FASNY Scoping Document
To: WP City Clerk

[A five page letter written by Ellen Alzerez which addresses Traffic, Open Space, Environment, Stormwater Management Basins, Parking & Lighting, and Attitude can be downloaded in .pdf format here.]



Sent: Friday, October 21, 2011
Subject: French American School
To: Mayor Tom Roach, Common Council

Dear Mr. Roach:

I own 3 Murchison Place – a piece of property that is 0.56 acres.

I recently requested from the Planning Board permission to subdivide my property. My architect’s plans for the subdivision included a 3,500 square foot house.

Subdividing the land would have provided White Plains with a new source of needed property and school tax revenue, but it would not have impacted the neighborhood traffic pattern or flow. Nor would it have impacted the environmental esthetics. In fact, it would have mirrored the properties across the street from me.

Nevertheless, the Planning Board denied my application. Commissioner of Planning, Ms. Susan Habel, angrily told me that my planned subdivision was not in keeping with the town’s Open Space plan.

Based on my experience, I am incredulous that the City or Planning Board would seriously consider the French American School’s application to build an enormous facility on one of the few pieces of open space left in the City.

In my opinion, the City should do as other Westchester towns have – purchase the land and use it as a semi-private golf and pool club for the use of its citizens. Fees would be based on income. The land would remain open space and the town would reap a profit. Recall the opposition to covering the ice rink? Yet doing so made "cent$" and the rink became profitable.

I hope you will consider my opinion when you debate the French American School’s application.

Respectfully yours,

Charlotta A. Gilbride



Sent: Sunday, October 16, 2011
Subject: FASNY Scoping Letter
To: Mayor Tom Roach, Common Council

Hon. Mayor Roach and Council Members:

Sale of the Ridgeway Country Club to FASNY will disrupt the economic stability of the Gedney Farms and entire White Plains community. It is important to view the situation up to the time of the sale of the property in January 2011. To this date, the Gedney Farms area was a stable neighborhood that featured among other characteristics a longtime country club with fairways and greens interwoven with houses. Housing prices in the community reflected the fact that RCC existed for a long time as a compatible use alongside and between the area’s housing.

Sometime in and around January 1, 2011 a sales agreement was reached between FASNY and RCC with an interesting contingent clause that encapsulates perfectly the controversy attendant to the sale of the property. According to accounts, the sale price was $8 million with FASNY promising to pay an additional $2 million to RCC if land use permits and variances were obtained. From the viewpoint of the seller and buyer of the land the configuration of the sales contract amounted to risk sharing related to the outcome of the public vetting process. For example, if the sales agreement had been about an exchange of owners and continuance of a country club/golf course there would have no need of the contingent sales contract. However, the existence of the contingent contract is recognition on the part of the buyer and seller that their simple exchange now involved other parties: homeowners in Gedney Farms and all the citizens of White Plains. This exchange has created winners (RCC and FASNY) and losers (Gedney homeowners and White Plains residents).

It is our opinion, that the $2 million represents a lower bound on the compensation/restitution required from the sellers and buyers (RCC and FASNY) to the other parties affected by their exchange, the homeowners of Gedney Farms and residents of White Plains.

The $2 million that RCC is willing to give up (sales of $8 million vs. $10 million) partially reflects the incompatible use of the land relative to its former use as open space and country club blending in over the years with the surrounding homes. RCC is essentially selling to FASNY irregularly configured land that is ideal for a golf course with the hope that it can serve as an ideal site for a regional-educational complex with approximately 1200 students. RCC because of a number of issues was failing financially for a number of years and had attempted to find buyers for the property. From their viewpoint, they were under no obligation to the Gedney homeowners or citizens of White Plains. In fact, they may have felt like they were providing a beautiful landscaped area free of charge to the area’s residents.

The $2 million is a lower bound on the damages to the third parties Gedney Farm homeowners and citizens of White Plains is self-evident or why else would RCC take the lower amount for its property? The sale of the land was contingent on FASNY successfully shifting costs of its development to Gedney homeowners and citizens of White Plains in decreased property values and zero property tax revenues (FASNY tax-exempt status) that will to a large degree reflect attendant socio-economic negative externalities.

RCC had the option of waiting for a potential buyer of the entire golf course or managing the development of the subdivision of the golf course into 35 home sites which appears to be the extent of possible residential development. FASNY has this option upon failing to obtain zoning variances.

Zoning is intended to preserve public health and safety and the general welfare of the community, including economic stability and aesthetics. Speaking in a non-technical manner, the purpose of zoning has been largely to avoid the “scrambling” of districts with non-compatible uses (rather than non-conforming uses) and to “unscramble” such situations where they existed with the view to value preservation. Whether the regulations of the use of real property creates or dissipates the confidence of the property owners depends upon the viewpoint of those affected, or interested.

In the final analysis, a responsible decision to allow a change in the zoning of a specific tract of land comes down to determining what the effect will be on adjacent property and owners. To a large degree the direct effects can be measured in terms of their expected effects on future property values. In fact, FASNY without any proof has asserted that because of their development, property values in Gedney Farms would rise. We would stress that our observation has been that property values are taking a hit besides that from the current economic conditions.

It is our suggestion after reviewing the Scoping Document that the plans are incomplete and need to undertake both a professional appraisal of existing property values and an assessment of socio-economic costs. These costs include but are not limited to a massive increase in traffic on Ridgeway, a major two-lane traffic artery, increase in traffic in the residential neighborhood of Gedney Farms despite protestations from FASNY that they will control their parents and students from using the quiet, sidewalk-less streets as a cut-through, the increased noise from a 1200 student body regional educational complex, the environmental impact of the enormous development on the sensitive watershed where the project is sited, the incomplete plans for the ‘Gedney Preserve’ including location, parking, who controls and maintains the property.

Our concerns are manifold regarding FASNY’s plans to develop the former RCC site. As our elected representatives, we understand that you must consider the complexity of the special permit change however, as our elected representatives, we expect you to act as stewards of the land and of the rights of all White Plains citizens. The interest of White Plains should come first and not the special interest of developers. Thank you for your consideration of this letter,

Best regards,

Anne Casey, MD and Charles Diamond, PhD



Sent: Monday, October 10, 2011
Subject: FASNY Permit Appliacation Vote NO
To: Mayor Tom Roach, Common Council

I am writing to you today to express my deep concern over the FASNY building application permit request. I have been a resident of Gedney Farms for more than 30 years and urge each of you to VOTE NO to the proposed building permit application from FASNY. The application and the building plans that this school is requesting are not in anyway compatible with the current Gedney Farms residential neighborhood and zoning rules.

I hope that each of you will listen to the people of White Plains and the Gedney Farms residents and vote NO to any building plans from FASNY.

I look forward to your views over this proposed application and I will be monerating this application very closely over the next several elections years.

Respectfully,

Brian C. O'Connor



October 12, 2011
Dear Common Council Member:

We have lived at 1 Macy Avenue, at the corner of Heatherbloom Road for 5 years. We moved here from the Highlands because we wanted a quieter neighborhood with less traffic and fewer parked cars lining the streets. We love the area except for the large amount of traffic that travels on Heatherbloom on weekday mornings and afternoons. Cars cut through this winding street to go to the high school and middle school, often at a high rate of speed. We cannot walk our dogs on Heatherbloom at these times because it is too dangerous.

The addition of 1200 FASNY students will definitely increase this traffic exponentially. Even though the French School says that the traffic will be confined to Ridgeway, this is not realistic. The traffic that comes through now should be on Bryant or Ridgeway but drivers have figured out that they can miss a traffic light by cutting through Heatherbloom. The only difference is that, if the French School is built, they will also be speeding down Macy Avenue to get to the campus.

Furthermore, on the end of Macy Avenue, a ball field will be built directly behind the homes. Since the parking lot is a good distance from the field, people will be driving on, and parking on, Macy Avenue and cutting through yards to access the field. This, plus the overall deterioration of the green space that used to be the golf course, will definitely decrease our home values. At the same time, taxes are bound to increase since the school will not contribute to the tax base but the green space and infrastructure of the area will require costly upkeep and repairs.

To counteract the complaints of residents like us, the French School studied the traffic pattern and the results are part of their proposal. I remember watching them do one of these studies the morning AFTER both the High School and Middle School held their graduation ceremonies when there was no traffic for these schools on the road. Because of studies like this, we have no assurance that FASNY will keep to any of their promises regarding traffic (or anything else). No matter what they say or do, they can't stop parents and teens from traveling on our quiet residential side roads if it will cut a few minutes off their travel time. It is human nature.

Please consider the residents of Gedney Farms when you review FASNY's proposal. For us, it is more than a school and parking lots; it is a threat to the very reason that we moved here- to be part of a quiet, safe, and peaceful neighborhood.

Carolyn Ryan
Dwight Ryan



Sent: Monday, October 10, 2011
Subject: VOTE NO TO FASNY BUILDING PERMIT APPLICATION
To: Hon. Mayor Tom Roach, White Plains Common Council

I am writing to you today to express my deep concern over the FASNY building application permit request. I have been a resident of Gedney Farms for more than 30 years and urge each of you to VOTE NO to the proposed building permit application from FASNY. The application and the building plans that this school is requesting are not in anyway compatible with the current Gedney Farms residential neighborhood and zoning rules.

I hope that each of you will listen to the people of White Plains and the Gedney Farms residents and vote NO to any building plans from FASNY.

I look forward to your views over this proposed application and I will be monitoring this application very closely over the next several elections years.

Respectfully,

Patricia C. O'Connor



September 24, 2011

I, like many other Gedney Farms residents was quite disturbed by the promotional brochure dropped off to neighborhood homes by representatives of the French American School of New York last weekend. While the brochure has a slick appearance it regrettably once again is another misleading presentation by FASNY. On a positive note it appears that FASNY is getting more concerned about the future of their plan. Interestingly, every one of the serious concerns raised by the Gedney Association and other residents with the FASNY plan have been turned around in the brochure so that they are highlighted as positive features instead of elements that will very adversely affect the neighborhood and City. In the brochure FASNY stresses that their development plan is:

• Low Density. In fact it will be the largest private school in White Plains with an estimated student population of 1,200 plus faculty, administrators and other support staff. The school will be at a density more like a college or university which are prohibited in the underlying zone;
• Environmentally Green. The school and buildings would cover much of the acreage between Ridgeway and Gedney Esplanade with surface parking areas and buildings. Not only is this area subject to periodic flooding now but also a major stream corridor runs through the center of the development;
• Traffic will only modestly grow. Studies produced by the American Association of Traffic Engineers have highlighted that private schools with student populations coming from all parts of a region generate substantially more traffic that a public high school. Furthermore, the brochure does not comment on the existing conditions of Ridgeway and other local streets which are all narrow and not designed for the level of traffic envisioned for this property. Nor does the brochure indicate that Ridgeway is essentially a residential street, hardly a means of access to a regional school;
• FASNY will be a tax generator for the City. How many times have we heard this argument for large-scale commercial development downtown that was not borne out. Here FASNY would have us believe that a non-profit school that would pay no real estate taxes would do otherwise;
• No Infrastructure Costs to the City. Keep in mind that our sewer and storm-water sewer systems are already at maximum capacity. Can one believe a development of this magnitude not put additional stress on our local roads and streets thereby requiring additional road improvements. Also, would not a school of this size expand the burden for other municipal services such as police, fire and water service.

Lastly, and importantly the brochure wrongly attempts to convey the notion that the proposed school is permitted and the Special Permit that is required is almost pro-forma. Not true. The point of the Special Permit review by the Common Council is to determine if the school in question is consistent with the comprehensive plan and not incompatible with the underlying zoning. We are fortunate to have a well-informed neighborhood that is not susceptible to slick "marketing efforts" but to the real facts of the proposed FASNY regional school.

Sincerely,

John Sheehan
Gedney Association, Vice President



Sent: Aug 5, 2011
Subject: FASNY Care of Lake on Former RCC Property
To: Hon. Mayor Tom Roach

I have recently noticed the deterioration in the condition of the lake on the former RCC property. Yesterday, I drove on Hathaway from Bryant and saw that the entire lake is covered in algae. This means that there is no oxygen in the lake and any acquatic life will die, if they are not already dead. Last week, about a third of the lake was covered in algae. It is my understanding that in their zealousness to "mothball" the property, FASNY has turned off a flushing mechanism that would have prevented this situation from occurring. If it is not corrected, over time, the body of water will eutrophy and eventually become a swamp. I hardly think that is a desirable situation, no matter how green FASNY wants to be.

I thought it was important to bring this situation to your attention. Is there anything that can be done to make FASNY keep this lake clear of algae? If they keep on "going green" through neglect, the next thing to go might be the trees due to a lack of water. I hope the rainfall, scant as it has been, will suffice.

Respectfully,

Ellen Alzerez



Sent: Aug 2, 2011
Subject: RE: "Expansion Plan Promoted"
To: Ben Rubin, Journal News
CC: Gedney Association, White Plains Common Council

Dear Mr. Rubin,

I am writing re your July 7th article "Expansion Plan Promoted". While I understand it was a "puff" piece for FASNY I would have expected just a tad of journalistic rigor in reporting on two of the statements you commented on.

You reported Mr. Zabotin's stated "that property values around the (proposed) school would likely increase, since an expanded school would raise demand for housing in the neighborhood". Mr. Zabotin has been promoting this totally absurd idea for some time. I wonder if the man still believes in the tooth fairy. There is not one shred of information to support or ground this statement. It is totally the figment of his imagination. The last time I checked FASNY's three current schools are sited within easy driving distance of White Plains. Whatever makes Mr. Zabotin think his employees are going to want to re-locate. Another ungrounded assumption! Did it occur to you or to anyone in the audience to question the logic of such statements? I guess not.

Toward the end of your article you wrote "the presentation has been "well received" by residents, said Geoff Thompson, a spokesman for the school." Does he know any??. Come on Mr. Rubin – what else would you have expected him to say with the source of his meal ticket at his elbow. Once again, did you consider this comment was outrageous and an insult to a rational person's intelligence? Mr. Thompson, principal of Thompson & Bender, the go-to PR firm in Westchester for real estate developers (the Cappelli's of the world) is an interloper on the scene and has no standing on the issue in our community. The question you might have asked him is what his reaction would have been if FASNY had decided to site its school adjacent to Teatown Lake Reservation in Ossining, Mr. Thompson's neighborhood. I bet it would not have been "well received".

I have two final comments:

First, if you are going to again write on this subject please consider ferreting out all the facts. They may be had by talking to us in the community or going to the Gedney Association's web site at http://www.gedneyfarms.net. There you will find accurate, timely, factual and truthful information on this issue.

Second, you might consider doing an article on FASNY's current effort to site its school in our neighborhood. The school has contracted for an "independent and confidential" survey of White Plains residents in an attempt to influence opinion on the subject. What I have read would best describe the survey as specious. For example, why is a question being asked about one's attitude towards White Plains Common Council members? One wonders what is being spun here.

Please feel free to call me if you care to talk further on this issue.

Very truly yours,

James A. Cunningham



Sent: Jul 26, 2011
Subject: Moratorium - Ridgeway Golf Club
To: White Plains Common Council

All,

I am writing to you once again to voice my opposition to FASNY's plans to build their campus in Gedney Farms.

By now, you are well aware of the issues Gedney Farms' residents have. However, it is very important that you realize opposition to their plan is broader and deeper than just those people living in close proximity to the proposed school. The Gedney Association has received support from individuals and neighborhood associations from across the city.

It is also important that you realize that the public relations efforts FASNY has undertaken contain quite a bit of "spin". In fact, I have read information from the school that has been inconsistent and clearly misrepresentation of fact. I understood they undertook a traffic study at a time when many of the schools in the area did not have classes. PR firms are not paid necessary to "fight fair"; this is a reality. A recent survey they are conducting is methodologically flawed with regard to phraseology, and clearly intended to generate positive results for them.

I would ask that you look past their "spin", and focus on the realities. A school that big, that close to a residential neighborhood will no doubt lower the quality of life of the residents of that neighborhood. It does not take traffic studies to realize that 1,500 students and staff streaming into this neighborhood will negatively impact Gedney Farms. As the city has grown, traffic has become an issue in Gedney Farms, especially during the school year. A FASNY complex will exacerbate this, and clearly present safety and environmental issues.

I encourage you once again to align with the residents of the city who do NOT want FASNY to be allowed to proceed with their plans, and to do what is in your power to oppose their plans.

Thank you.

Jeff Fischler



July 25, 2011

SECOND LETTER TO MAYOR ROACH & COMMON COUNCIL RE: FASNY

We the residents of Gedney Farms are locked in a David vs. Goliath battle with the French -American School of New York. "David" -- Gedney Farms -- is fighting for its proverbial life to prevent an invading army, which seeks to grow in size, from destabilizing a treasured, peaceful, residential neighborhood. "Goliath" -- FASNY -- with deep pockets and an endowment fund, has made an all-cash purchase of the Ridgeway Country Club property. They are single-minded in their desire to put their large regional school system on this property, the least appropriate location. FASNY does not care how many Gedney Farms home owners are sacrificed on the altar of their mega dream plan. To achieve their goals, we are expendable.

Gedney Farms has the strong support of other neighborhood associations, organizations and residents citywide who also oppose the school's plan.. FASNY has the support of their students' parents, their hired legal and public relations teams, and those who portray themselves as neutral, but upon investigation, are found to have close ties to FASNY and have been deceitful. Of their supporters, only a handful are residents of White Plains.

Neither side is disinterested in this battle, but one side, FASNY, has launched a propaganda campaign meant to incite class warfare and thereby divide the city. It is trying to win by making war on Gedney Farms residents, demeaning and discounting them, particularly those whose homes abut the golf course. It makes me angry that they attack us with a completely manufactured issue. That is, in the words of Mischa Zabotin, Chairman of FASNY's Board of Trustees, that we are "a small number of neighbors who enjoy living next to a defunct private golf course, and don't want that to change." I am one of those neighbors whose property abuts the golf course. I know there are many REAL issues which are hugely important both to Gedney Farms and to the City of White Plains. They include the following:

1. Zoning: The property is not zoned for a school.
   
   
2. Traffic: All FASNY traffic would be on Ridgeway, a 2-lane road already clogged by school and rush-hour traffic. Ridgeway is considered a "significant major street and entrance corridor linking the regional roadways." It cannot absorb the added traffic that FASNY would create.
   
   
3. Environment: FASNY proposes to build on and pave over acres of open space. The property has large areas of sensitive wetlands.
   
   
4. Flooding/Drainage: Flooding, both locally and downstream, is a documented and well-known problem.
   
   
5. Municipal Services: Use of police, fire, sanitation, water and sewer services at no cost to FASNY.
   
   
6. Infrastructure: Increased water and sewage needs requiring costly improvements. Possible need to widen Ridgeway to accommodate increased traffic.
   
   
7. Noise Pollution: Unacceptable levels of noise from the multiple athletic fields the school plans to build over a large and widespread area of the property.
   
   
8. Air Pollution: Increased auto and school bus traffic will raise pollution levels.
   
   
9. Home Values: The massive school campus planned by FASNY will severely lower the value of property in Gedney Farms. Those abuting or near the golf course will be especially hard hit. I have been told by realtors that this is already happening.
   
   
10. Destruction of a Neighborhood: Does White Plains want to oversee the death of a neighborhood? Potential buyers are already shunning Gedney Farms. If FASNY is permitted to build its high-density school in low-density Gedney Farms, it will set a precedent and cause a domino effect throughout the entire city. Current low-density residential zoning would be considered meaningless. Why would anyone pay a premium to live in Gedney Farms or in any other low-density residential neighborhood if zoning laws are not upheld?
    
    
11. Open Space: We cannot afford to lose more open space to development. Once bulldozed and paved over, it is lost forever.
    
    
12. Real Estate and Sales Tax: FASNY is a tax-exempt entity. In just three years, loss of these taxes will exceed $1 million . The taxpayers of White Plains will be asked to pay additional taxes every year to replace these lost taxes and to carry FASNY. To place this additional financial burden on taxpayers, especially when the economy is reeling, money is in short supply, and City of White Plains employees are losing their jobs, is untenable and unconscionable. To do this for the benefit of a wealthy, exclusive, private school with deep pockets and no connection to the city is TOTALLY UNFAIR to the taxpayers of White Plains. Furthermore, there could be huge tax losses to the city as home values in Gedney Farms plummet and residents file for tax reductions. Revenue from home sales will dry up as homes will not be marketable and buyers will seek to purchase in some other locale.
    

FASNY'S SUPPOSED BENEFITS

I would like to address FASNY's claims of the benefits of their presence in residential Gedney Farms. These claims are as follows;

1. INCREASED HOME VALUES. What facts can FASNY offer to back up their often stated claim that their presence would increase home values? They say that values would rise because parents of students would want to move close to the school. While we love our neighborhood and our city, what makes the FASNY leadership think that wealthy parents will want to leave their tony Sound Shore towns to move to White Plains? Besides, White Plains is just a short ride from these towns and FASNY's three current locations would now be one. As it stands, thanks to FASNY, our home values are already falling much lower than the drop caused by the current housing slump. Bear in mind, FASNY's proposed plan would forever change the fabric of Gedney Farms. As I noted in Items #9 & #10, it is already reported by realtors that values are down significantly because of FASNY. In fact, sure sales have been killed specifically because of FASNY. My new next door neighbor recently told me that she never would have bought her home last year had she known FASNY wanted to build a school campus here.
   
   
2. GEDNEY PRESERVE. FASNY says it will "dedicate", not "deed", 60 to 80 acres for residents to use, with walking, jogging and bike paths. "Dedicate" means they will retain ownership and could take the Gedney Preserve back at any time. If that is the case, then it is bye bye Gedney Preserve! To ensure that this does not happen, will FASNY put in writing that White Plains citizens can use Gedney Preserve in perpetuity? If they will not, one can assume that their real intentions are not what they are telling us.
   
   
3. ATHLETIC FIELDS. FASNY places unwarranted importance on its offer of the use of its athletic fields by residents. According to their own published information, the athletic fields could be used "when available." Considering their extensive after-school programs, their teams playing at-home games, and year-round use of the school, including holidays and vacation time, the availability of the athletic fields is questionable. FASNY's argument that their offer of these fields for residents' use is such an important benefit, is laughable. White Plains has lots of athletic fields. There is no justification to throw the residents of Gedney Farms under a bus for the promise of use, "when available", of athletic fields that are not needed.
   
   
4. NEIGHBORHOOD SCHOOLS. If FASNY succeeds in its quest to build its huge school complex, it will certainly be "in a neighborhood", but as a private, bilingual school with very high tuition and only a handful of students who live in White Plains, it can hardly be considered a "neighborhood school" White Plains has many neighborhood schools of all kinds, both public and private. In fact, there are eight schools in and around the Gedney Farms neighborhood. A few are located on Ridgeway.
   

In his opinion article concerning the zoning proposal, which appeared in The Journal News and LoHud.com on 7/16/11, Mischa Zabotin, asks, "What contributes more to the City of White Plains, a private country club or neighborhood schools, recreational fields and publicly accessible open space?" The answer is obvious – a private country club contributes more because it PAYS TAXES. A school is TAX EXEMPT, and thus a burden on municipal services.. He goes on to say, "That is the underlying question raised by the new zoning concept put forth by the city that places an extremely high value on private members-only golf courses, while placing virtually no value on schools, neighborhood ball fields and playgrounds."

His questions are totally disingenuous, and they ignore the well-documented importance White Plains places on saving the remaining open spaces in the city, which pre-dates FASNY's purchase. He is clearly wrong and completely out of line when he says that White Plains places virtually no value on schools, neighborhood ball fields and playgrounds. The city has these in abundance. What White Plains no longer has in abundance is open space, which will further shrink if the city issues a Special Permit to FASNY to build on environmentally sensitive land that is not zoned for a school. Furthermore, putting aside the school issue, why would any responsible municipal government participate in the destruction of a prime neighborhood just to get part-time use of some ball fields and playgrounds that are not needed?

Once again, as in my first letter, I conclude with the request that you exercise your good judgment and common sense and deny the Special Permit request of FASNY to build their enormous school complex -- large enough for a small city -- in Gedney Farms.

Respectfully,

Ellen Alzerez



Sent: Tue, Jul 23, 2011
Subject: Re: "Golf-course zoning proposal would be bad for White Plains"
To: The Journal News

Re "Golf-course zoning proposal would be bad for White Plains," July 16 Community View:

How dare Mischa Zabotin criticize our City of White Plains, and suggest that its citizens have a negative view and approach to our neighborhood schools, recreational fields and open space.

Her slanted view of "… placing virtually no value on schools, neighborhood ball fields and playgrounds" is irresponsible.

Our city is proud of its schools and understands that we must continually work toward improving our educational goals.

White Plains has wonderful, maintained recreational space, and is always seeking ways to maintain, improve and expand open space.

I applaud our mayor and Common Council in their efforts to consider the larger needs of its homeowners and the safety and protection of all our neighborhoods.

The suggestion that "... (our city's) ill-conceived zoning proposal" does not contribute to the overall benefit of our city is misguided, ridiculous and offensive. I am proud of our city, we love living here, and I respect that our neighbors and elected officials continuously work toward making White Plains a great city and a wonderful place to raise our families.

Thomas Masotto



Sent: Tue, Jul 21, 2011
Subject: A Response to Mischa Zabotin of the French American School
To: The Journal News

The recent article written by Mischa Zabotin of the French American School that was highly critical of the City of White Plains' prospective new zoning for certain open space parcels contained some very misleading comments that require a response.

First, let's review the facts.

• The French American School purchased the former Ridgeway County Club facilities on a non-contingent basis or not conditional on governmental approvals. This is almost unheard of when a purchaser requires a Special Permit which is a discretionary approval. Highlighting the School's understanding of the uncertain outcome of such an approval is that they agreed to pay the Seller additional funds if they received City approval of its development plan;


• Some months ago The French American School invited residents of the City to a reception to view its plans for the property. First, the invitation was received by most residents after the presentation date. Furthermore, since the reception the School has completely altered its plans without informing City residents;


• Mr. Zabotin asks what contributes more to the City, a private country club or a private school. The answer is clear. Ridgeway paid hundreds of thousands of dollars in real estate taxes as well as sales tax revenue. The French American School will not pay any taxes and only burden the City in terms of municipal services;


• Notwithstanding overwhelming evidence to the contrary Mr. Zabotin and his PR advisors continue to state that those opposed to the school's plan are "a small number of neighbors who enjoy living next to a defunct private golf course and don't want that to change." The reality is that hundreds of City residents have attended various meetings regarding the school's plans and have overwhelmingly voiced strong opposition to the School's plan. Furthermore, neighborhood associations in other parts of the City as well as other community-wide organizations have formally registered concerns with the plan;


• Throughout Mr. Zabotin's article he seems to question the right of Gedney Farms residents to have input on what transpires on land that flows through their neighborhood. Let it be clear to Mr. Zabotin that the 455 families of Gedney Farms will not relinquish their right to express what they believe is in the long-term best interests of a low-density single-family home neighborhood.

The City's southern end already has a considerable number of institutional, non-profit uses including numerous schools, both private and public. We believe that the density and scale of the French American School's plan for a regional educational complex is entirely inconsistent with the City's Comprehensive Plan and Zoning Ordinance. The School's plan will have unacceptable adverse impacts on the environment and traffic conditions while placing an unreasonable burden on municipal services and imposing significant infrastructure costs on the City.

We do not question Mr. Zabotin's right to advance his position. We only ask that he and his PR advisors avoid making statements that misrepresent facts. We firmly believe that a full and open hearing of all the real issues is essential for one of the most critical land use decisions that the City will make in determining the future of its neighborhoods.

John Sheehan
Vice President
The Gedney Association



Sent: Tue, Jul 19, 2011
Subject: Community View
To: Herb Pinder

Mr. Pinder,

I left you a message on Saturday but have not heard from you. I would like to know the requirements of a "Community View" article in your paper and the possibility of an opposing view being featured in the near future regarding a recent article.

On Saturday you featured Mr. Mischa Zabotin's "Community View Article" regarding FASNY's proposed project in White Plains, yet Mr. Zabotin does not live in White Plains and incorrectly gives the reader the impression the zoning proposal is a choice between "private, member-only golf courses and....schools and neighborhood ball fields and playground." This is a fundamentally false choice as a "private, members only golf course" is not presently being considered under any proposal.

In the spirit of being fair, I would request that you feature a Community View from a White Plains resident who does not agree with the chairman, board of trustees, of the French American School.

Please advise.

Ellen Lee



Sent: Saturday, July 16, 2011
Subject: FASNY Journal New Article
To: Gedney Association

We read today the Journal news Op the-ed submitted by FASNY, and believe that it warrants a response. The article is consistent with the FASNY tactic of making personal attacks on our neighborhood and its residents, distorting the facts, and advancing outright falsehoods. With respect to outright falsehoods, the article states that the taxpayers of White Plains will "…spend millions of dollars subsidizing one neighborhood's desire to preserve and maintain its private backyard country club." This is an outright lie since taxpayers have not, and will not, subsidize a golf course, or this neighborhood. To the contrary, White Plains taxpayers will be subsidizing FASNY, a tax exempt entity which will forever place financial demands upon the city infrastructure and services. Secondly, apparently for the first time, FASNY states that it will maintain the Gedney Preserve "…at no cost to White Plains taxpayers." This is the first time that we have heard that FASNY will pay for the continued maintenance of this property. We question whether this is true, as all prior plans indicated that FASNY would simply give the city a right to use the property, without any financial support by FASNY.

The article also contains a significant distortion with respect to the use of the term "low density" to describe the FASNY development. The school has continuously misrepresented its development as compying with the Comprehensive Plan by use of the term "low density" without reference to the fact that the plan mandates low density housing, and does not permit a development such as a regional educational center.

Finally, we continue to be very disturbed by the attempts by the school to attack us on a class warfare basis, and to divide the city on a neighborhood and income level. We believe that FASNY's attempts to divide neighbor against neighbor demonstrates the absolute lack of merit which its plan has for both the city as a whole and for this neighborhood. (While we believe that it is improper to bring up issues such as relative wealth, it is indeed ironic that a private school which charges more than $20,000 per student would be attacking the residence of this neighborhood as the privileged few).

Quite simply, if the school will present a significant benefit to the city as a whole, there would be no need for its campaign of class–based attacks on a single neighborhood. We believe the time has come to respond objectively but aggressively to FASNY. We recognize that FASNY controls the Journal News through the relationship of its public relations firm to this newspaper, and that the reporting by the Journal News has been overwhelmingly in favor of FASNY. Nonetheless, we believe it is very important to continue to respond to FASNY, and point out the absence of a benefit to the city as a whole, and the burdens that it will place on the city as a whole. In this day and age of short attention spans and a 24/7 news cycle, we believe it is critical to respond rapidly to the FASNY machine.

We believe that the proposed development will endanger not only this neighborhood, but all neighborhoods in the city. To allow this development will set a dangerous precedent when developers seek to build in any other part of the city. We understand that all of the neighborhoods in White Plains have expressed opposition to this development. We wonder whether the time has come for the citywide organization to respond publicly on this issue, to educate the city as a whole on the issue. We appreciate everything that the association has been doing to protect the neighborhood, and simply wish to relay our thoughts and concerns to you. If there is anything that we can do to assist, please let us know.

Joseph and Denise DeMarzo



Sent: Tue, Jun 28, 2011
Subject: Ron Rhodes comments
To: Sue Habel, White Plains Common Council

Susan Habel, Commissioner of Planning

Susan,

You have Ben Rubin's column in yesterday's Journal News to thank for alerting the people of White Plains to drop you a note on the French American School's proposed project.

And when you run into Ben Rubin again "Could you ask him when he will…for the first time…be reporting in one of his columns that this FASNY project will "increase taxes for all White Plains taxpayers"?

My name is Ron Rhodes and before I moved to WP 32 years ago I hired an independent inspector to give me all the positives and negatives on the house and property I was buying…before my closing.

Apparently the FASNY…with no historical ties to White Plains…did no upfront due diligence before they closed on the Ridgeway Golf Course. And now when they see the approval process and costs in front of them, they start threatening the City, claiming discrimination and putting out other misleading information along the way.

The only "unshakeable" facts I see in the FASNY project for White Plains is that:

…taxes will be higher for all WP taxpayers or City services will have to be reduced;

…traffic in residential areas around Ridgeway will increase substantially;

…open space will be significantly reduced.

And covering the golf course with buildings and ball fields will probably cause more water to flow into the basements of those of us who live nearby.

I haven't heard of one real Benefit to WP from this FASNY project…although their PR people continue to throw out a lot of nonsense.

Thanks,

Ron Rhodes

P.S. Does the City of White Plains have any restrictions or ordnances with regard to the purchasers of property who try to change from a tax-paying to a tax-exempt status?

I remember reading an interesting article earlier this year about the City of Boston trying to deal with the cost of its city services when about 50% of their property base has a tax-exempt status.



Sent: Jun 28, 2011
Subject: Journal News Article "French-American School's $60M plan in limbo over open space"
To: Journal News

Responding to the Journal News 6/27/11 front page French School article, "spokesman" Mr. Geoff Thompson - never identified as FASNY's paid public relations expert who enjoyed a long successful career at the Journal - should know his tactical accusation "schools are less valuable to (Gedney Farms) neighbors than golf courses" won't work.

You've no doubt read my wife Ellen's recent on-line letters. We live in the little brown ranch looking down the muzzle of the French school's cannon. Recall it was Mr. Thompson demonstrating one of the early "plans" who unwittingly admitted, while chuckling quietly, 'yes - the [little brown ranch] has a problem but look at the open space everyone else gets'.

Wrong house, wrong neighborhood and now Mr. Thompson is realizing wrong City so he's lashing out. They thought my wife and I would cut and run, maybe others would but not us. They thought my neighbors would stab me in the back, maybe others would but not mine. So they attack my neighbors like they attacked us. There's public relations for you.

They thought the City neighborhood associations would trash us 'rich folk' and help the little school children…but the neighborhood associations knocked them back on their heels. Mr. Thompson was confident, under this guise, he'd dock this private, exclusive French Regional Education Center juggernaut right in our historic Gedney Farms.

Minimize, isolate and then attack your enemy - that's their plan. White Plains, Mr. Thompson? You're kidding right?

Padraic Lee



June 28, 2011

LETTER TO MAYOR ROACH AND THE COMMON COUNCIL RE: FASNY

The audacity and arrogance of the French –American School of New York just takes my breath away. Each plan the school has presented (now #3) has grown exponentially in size and scope – pushing out the proposed buildings and sports fields ever further to encompass more land. The end result is more impermeable hardscape and more Gedney residents who are directly impacted. As many of them have already said, this is FASNY's dream, but it is our nightmare!

There are many issues for you to consider concerning approving the Special Permit sought by FASNY. Here are some of them:

TRAFFIC

As a longtime resident living at 424 Ridgeway, just three houses from the Ridgeway club house, I can attest to what a disaster traffic would be as a result of FASNY's presence. When I moved into my home in 1971, Ridgeway was open all the way to Westchester Ave. Traffic was so heavy because of this access, that residents had great difficulty exiting their driveways, particularly during rush hour. Only when the access to Westchester Ave. was closed did normalcy return to Ridgeway, as traffic was greatly reduced. The residents of Gedney Farms most emphatically do not want this traffic nightmare to return.

It is also critically important for the city to know how increased traffic would affect the response time of the fire station located at Ridgeway and North St.

NEIGHBORHOOD/CITYWIDE IMPACT, INCLUDING TAXES

FASNY's grossly inappropriate plan would destroy our residential neighborhood. (If it were Harvard University applying for a Special Permit, it would still be inappropriate to build a campus here). The plan would bring with it not only the above mentioned traffic, but air pollution, noise pollution, environmental destruction, increased water drainage problems, increased pressure on the White Plains infrastructure, fire, police and sanitation needs, possibly decreased water pressure, increased sewer usage, and increased taxes citywide to cover these costs.

FASNY is tax exempt -- they do not contribute to the city's income. Tax revenues could be further reduced if property values in Gedney Farms drop because of their school. Long range, property owners could pay increased real estate taxes due to FASNY's presence. This is UNFAIR to tax payers. Also, at a time when city employees are losing their jobs because of revenue shortfalls, can White Plains afford to lose almost $300,000 in real estate taxes year after year?

QUALITY OF LIFE

Completing this picture is the destruction of our neighborhood's peace and tranquility. We who live on Ridgeway, in close proximity to the former RCC property, will be immediately and directly affected by the FASNY plan, as will other property owners whose land abuts the proposed school athletic fields. I and my Ridgeway neighbors will be strongly affected by both traffic on the Ridgeway side of our property, and buildings and noise on the golf course side of our property. According to FASNY's latest rendering, the Nursery School and Elementary School building would extend all the way to the eastern edge of 432 Ridgeway, as well as one of the three proposed play area/soccer fields for those grades. Their latest schematic, shown on the new FASNY website, www.fasnynewcampus.org, dated 6/24/11, doesn't show much in the way of screening trees behind half the above mentioned houses and none at all for the remainder of the houses. FASNY talked a lot about planting trees and shrubs as a buffer. On my side of Hathaway, most of the plantings are shown in front of the building and in the parking area, which has greatly increased in size since the earlier presentations.

Aside from the visuals of all these buildings and playing fields on both sides of Hathaway, and playing fields behind Murchison, Hotel Drive, Oxford and Macy, we will be assaulted by the noise of games and play periods in progress over a wide area from the students at all levels. I can state from experience that I can hear the Ridgeway Alliance Church Nursery and Kindergarten children all the way to my house when they have outside play. I even hear noise from White Plains High School. The noise will be much louder and much more di sturbing and intrusive for home owners living close to FASNY'S school buildings and outdoor activities, and will extend far out into the Gedney neighborhood.

SCHOOL AND OTHER PROGRAMS

FASNY's school day extends beyond 3:00 pm, and can go as late as 8:00 pm. It offers programs during non-school hours, vacations and holidays. If you look at the school website, you will find that FASNY offers After-School Clubs; Extended Day Care and Study Hall; Fall, Winter, Spring, and Summer Vacation Programs; Adult Classes; and Workshops for Adults and Children. FASNY athletic teams play both away and home games. All these activities ensure that there is no relief from their constant presence. When the Ridgeway Country Club was operating, I was barely aware of its activities. The only reminder might be a golf ball landing in my back yard.

Because of so many after hour activities and vacation activities, I find it hard to believe in the feasibility of FASNY's offer of access to their facilities for the citizens of White Plains.

OTHER COMMENTS

I think of FASNY as a group of Pinocchios. Their collective noses must be growing as they spin their ever changing plans, while they try to gain acceptance from The City of White Plains, its residents and its business community. Their public relations efforts to influence the business community with unsubstantiated promises of commerce are just what they seem -- a PR fairy tale.

Regarding FASNY's claim that they would be good neighbors, have you seen all the "Keep Out – No Trespassing" signs? Does FASNY think we want to invade their space? It is knowing how they are the invaders here that makes them so unneighborly.

For all of the above reasons, I do not want FASNY as my new neighbor. If a solution cannot be found to leave the former RCC property as open space, I would rather see homes built where allowable. In this way, the tax rolls would be increased. New homes would not create overwhelming and dangerous traffic on Ridgeway, a two-lane road with a hill and blind spot right off my driveway, not far from the proposed school entrance. We would not have the air pollution, significant noise pollution, and water drainage issues, nor have significant additional stress on our infrastructure, police, fire and sanitation. We would not have depletion of tax rolls from a tax exempt entity. We would still have the peace and tranquility we have enjoyed over the years in beautiful Gedney Farms.

In conclusion, I ask you to please exercise your good judgment and common sense and deny the Special Permit request of FASNY to build their enormous school complex -- large enough for a small city -- in Gedney Farms.

Thank you.

Respectfully,
Ellen Alzerez



June 24, 2011

Honorable Mayor and City Council,

Just when I thought things could not get any worse with FASNY's proposed Regional Education Center plan at the site of the former Ridgeway Golf Course, they have. And once again, FASNY has proven to be an unscrupulously deceptive opponent.

I invite you all to review their newly launched website, www.fasnynewcampus.org as all of my comments are directed towards the information contained therein.

First and foremost, I have attached the plan that FASNY presented at their open house to the citizens of White Plains which most, if not all of you attended. I am also attaching the plan that they have recently posted on the website and I presume has been submitted to the City in their application. THE PLAN, ONCE AGAIN, HAS CHANGED!!!!! This new plan has become denser, more intrusive and more dismissive of the citizen's concerns. This is another example of FASNY's attempt to deceive the residents with their duplicity.

1. The proposed elementary school complex on the east side of Hathaway Lane now includes, but is not limited to:
   
   • Larger structures set back further into the neighborhood.
   • An additional ball field.
   • Three additional playgrounds.
   • Increased and more invasive parking areas.
   • The open green space and screening ratio between the school and the neighborhood has increased in favor of the school, AGAIN.
   
   
2. The main regional education complex on the west side of Hathaway Lane now includes, but is not limited to:
   
   • Larger buildings with new extensions and a massive parking lot setback further into the neighborhood to afford vastly increased green space around their school buildings.
   • This parking lot is no longer adjacent diagonally to our home but has moved so as to fully abut our western property line and its roadway entrance runs along the southern property line. This parking area now literally encircles our home with roadways including Gedney Esplanade and Hathaway Lane. We simply can't ignore the retaliatory appearance of this particular change.
   • Contains an additional baseball field.
   • Contains an additional basketball court.
   • The open green space and screening ratio between the school and the neighborhood has increased in favor of the school here as well.

In summary, as we told you they would, FASNY is increasing their size, pushing their unsightly infrastructure deeper into the neighborhood and surrounding their buildings with more and more green space at the neighborhood's expense.

How could they possibly get away with holding an open house to propose their plan to the citizens of White Plains and then submit to the City a plan that has changed considerably? This really is more of the same though, isn't it? They met with Gedney Association Board and showed them a plan that was far less dense (elementary school buildings off of Bryant Avenue.) This is what the board brought back to the residents. Without any warning the Association learned for the first time, at FASNY's open house, the plan had changed considerably. Now, for the third time, the plan has changed again. This is intentionally misleading to the residents. As leaders of this City, one of your duties is to explore with the residents whether support exists for projects that have been proposed. You have been told by FASNY that there is overwhelming support throughout the City. Not only is this patently false, with citizens confused about which plan is even before the City, but which plan is FASNY claiming has this 'support'?

FASNY has spent the last several months trying to pressure support for their project as well. They have contacted and supported numerous independent associations, businesses and groups throughout the City. They have volunteered for various "feel good" projects while wearing their FASNY t-shirts and to quote Paula Ungar who posted on Patch recently: "My husband lawn bowls with the Old guard and the French school has offered to permit them to use part of the golf course each week to lawn bowl. So they are trying to become part of the community." Obviously FASNY's plan is to divide and conquer with empty promises and misleading propaganda. If it's such a great project then there would be no need for these underhanded practices.

Their website has additional deceptive comments that should be pointed out as well:

1. Donate the 60-acre "Gedney Preserve", worth $8 million. How could it possibly be worth $8 million? They paid $8.5 million for all 129 acres and some if not all of that 60 acres is unbuildable wetlands! And they are not "donating" anything because they are not "deeding" the land.
   
   
2. School ball-fields available for community use. Originally they had stated their gymnasium and "performing arts" building would be available as well. Seems they have taken that away. Also, the ball fields will be "available" only when FASNY is not using them. FASNY is a school that is open and operating 6 days a week, as late as 8pm and during the summer. So when will they be available?
   
   
3. Residential Development: "at least" 80 homes could be built on property under current zoning. Mr. Zarin has stated in the past this information came from a prior planner for the city who is presently a real-estate agent. Have they bothered asking our planning commissioner? This figure is not based on information obtained from the city directly and has been disputed by many, well informed, very involved citizens. FASNY is using a "boogeyman" tactic to "scare" the residents into thinking that what might happen could be much worse if they are not allowed to develop.
   
   
4. New York State Law promotes and favors building of schools in all zoning districts, and as such, they must be "accommodated". This is case law that not only is taken out of context but certainly can be challenged. This does not mean that FASNY can come into a residential area with 1200 students, 300 plus faculty, 700 + cars as well as buses in and out of the area twice a day, pave over green space and severely impact a flood zone area.
   
   
5. If school is not permitted, FASNY would mothball the land and seek to repackage and sell for investment purposes. Not only is this more of the same threatening "boogeyman" technique FASNY has down to a science, but they already claimed that NY State Law holds they have to be "accommodated." So why are they even talking about "mothballing" the land if they really believe that's true?
   
   
6. Property on market for 2 years, FASNY only purchaser to reach closing. Obviously, only one purchaser can reach closing. I have personally spoken to two real estate agents who had clients interested in running the parcel as a golf course. One party was in it until the very end. I have been told representatives of Ridgeway Golf Course were looking for a quick deal and FASNY had more cash available adding a bonus of $2.5 million dollars if their permit was approved within 2 years.
   
   
7. Studies surrounding the Solomon Schechter and German School support our conclusion that property values in the neighborhood would, at a minimum, be maintained and likely increase. We have asked to see those "studies", to no avail. Have they spoken to those people living in and around Solomon Schechter and German School? They are not happy. Second, you can't compare Solomon Schechter, German School and the Scarsdale campus (previously St. Pius) to this proposed Regional Education Center project in White Plains. All three of those sites operated as schools prior to being leased by the present schools.
   
   
8. Our Team consists of AKRF-planning and environment services, James G. Rogers-Architects, John Meyer Consulting-site developer, Zarin and Steinmetz-attorneys. Did they purposely leave out a very integral part of their "team"; Thompson & Bender: their public relations firm? It was Mr. Thompson himself who I met personally at the open house. Mr. Thompson (previously employed by the Journal News according to his own website) was showing a couple of residents the (second) proposed site plan, pointing out all of the open space that would be available to the residents. As he spoke, I zeroed in on my home which was looking down the barrel of their cannon. Mr. Thompson was unaware of who I was or where I lived. I calmly responded, "wow, it's a great plan unless, of course, you live in this house right here" pointing to my house. He gave a chuckle, leaned in towards me and quietly said, "Yeah, they do have a problem, but look at all this open space everyone else is getting…" I turned to him and said, "That's my house. That's MY house!"
   
   The following morning I was on the phone to reporter Ben Rubin of the Journal News and I told him my story. He told me he was going to try to print this exchange in his story about the open house but it was never published.
   

For several days during the week of June 6th, a traffic study was being conducted on Ridgeway. I have been told the young people "counting" cars along the roadside were doing so on behalf of FASNY. I have not been able to confirm this but I can tell you I drove up and down Ridgeway several times each day throughout that week. What I witnessed were many of these individuals talking on their cell phones, texting and doing everything but counting cars. Also, during that week, (1) Solomon Schechter had early dismissal one day and they were closed for two days in observance of the Shavuot holiday, (2) the public schools (including Ridgeway and the high school) had early release on 6/8, (3) Stepinac seniors had already graduated and their last day of school was 6/8 with early dismissal. Was this really an appropriate time for anyone to be doing a traffic study?

My husband and I invited all of you to our home in our last letter dated April 8th and we heard from some of you. We would be sincerely honored to have each and every one of you come to our home so you can see for yourself. Come get a three dimensional, boots on the ground view of the site to help form your own independent opinion of the impact this development would have on our home, our neighborhood and our City.

We hope you come; our home is open to you.

Ellen Lee
57 Hathaway Lane
White Plains, NY 10605
(914) 906-2676



Sent: Monday, June 13, 2011
Subject: Against the French American School's Plans
To: Mayor Tom Roach, White Plains Common Council

Honorable Mayor and City Council:

I support the Gedney Neighborhood Association in their view that the French American School's plans for the former Ridgeway Country Club property are inappropriate and their expected application should be denied.

I am concerned about the additional tax burden on White Plains residents, as well as the environmental impacts, traffic impacts, and impacts on the fire, police, sanitation departments.

I ask that you deny the French American School's application for special permission to build and operate a school on the former Ridgeway Country Club property.

Sincerely,

Julie



Sent: Tuesday, April 26, 2011
Subject: Re: FASNY - Letter to the Mayor and Common Council
To: Gedney Farms Association

I had written to the Common Council after the meeting at Ridgeway School and only heard back from one member, like Ellen. I have lived in White Plains for over 40 years and moved to my present home at 39 Oxford Road in 1976. My husband and I have raised 3 wonderful boys in White Plains, and they all attended our White Plains schools. They are successful dedicated young men. At the present time my oldest son bought a home in White Plains and is sending my grandchildren to our schools.

My husband and I enjoyed the serenity and beauty of the Gedney Farms area. My husband recently passed away from a long battle with Alzheimers's disease at the age of 69. My one comfort is that he never knew about this situation. While he was sick he walked the golf course in the evening hours and smiled at the good fortune and fore-sight he had to purchase a home right on a golf course. He would have been horrified that Ridgeway sold its golf course to the French school. I also know about the offer to purchase the club because Harvey was an attorney and knew the man who was willing to make it into an extraordinary place, to enjoy golf and meet friends. Harvey did some legal work for him and they had offices right next to each other. My home is located on the 17th green. Please feel free to send this brief note to all members of the Gedney Association, it's from the heart.

Thank you,

Arlene Friedman



Sent: Fri, April 8, 2011
Subject: White Plains Common Council
To: White Plains Common Council

Honorable Mayor and City Council,

Trying to be patient, I have waited for the proper time to address the mounting misinformation FASNY has been providing the public, but after their recent Journal News Editorial Board meeting I can wait no longer. FASNY's proposal to develop the Ridgeway Golf Club property is something my husband and I take to sleep with us every night and wake to every morning. Their "dream" has become our shared nightmare.

We have worked hard to make our home and if FASNY is going to build their multi-school campus, they should at least be honest with the information they distribute. Mr. Leonhardt has repeatedly stated "the truth is concrete" then he, and other FASNY representatives, give us everything but. This is what has prompted me to write you.

All of the following FASNY claims and corrections can be referenced in (1) the Journal News Editorial Board Meeting (online at http://www.livestream.com/editorialspotlight ), (2) The Journal News 2/10/11 article, (3) the CNA meeting of 3/8/11 (Mr. Bauchwald and Mayor Roach's assistant in attendance) and (4) the Council meeting of 3/7/11. Also, importantly, please refer to FASNY's website.

1. Mr. Zarin (counsel for FASNY) stated that the school starts around 8am but they are "completely out of there by 3-4 o'clock." This was to support the school's traffic arguments and to show how the school would be "available" for the City's use. Their website, however, clearly demonstrates that this is an expensive, full service and busy private school with clubs, activities and even adult classes being held Monday through Saturday as late as 8pm. That begs the question, exactly when will they be 'sharing' their school property with us?
   
   
2. Mr. Zarin claims that the property presently has almost 300 parking spaces (he stated "over 300" at the CNA meeting and "over 275" to the Editorial Board). This is patently untrue and such a dismissive attitude towards something so easily verifiable points to a deeper problem with Mr. Zarin, and the other FASNY representatives. I have personally walked the entire property and there are exactly 161 spaces. If you count the number of spaces FASNY shows on the plans they have presented to the public, there are a little over 300 of them. Still, that is not even enough to provide for their staff let alone visitors and upper classmen driving to school. This begs yet another question, exactly how many more spaces will they demand and where do they plan to put them?
   
   
3. The Editorial Board asked them if it were true that they would be bringing about 700 cars and 20+ buses onto Ridgeway twice a day - every morning and every afternoon. The FASNY representatives, looking at each other quizzically, responded that these numbers were "really high" and the "real numbers are much lower than that". Those numbers, however, came from their own planning consultant, Mr. Graham Trelsted, who was quoted in the Journal News (2/10/11).
   
   
4. FASNY keeps claiming they will use 'pervious' (porous) pavement materials for the massive parking lots to cope with the serious water problems at the site. This, coming from such a well funded and driven group, can only be intentionally misleading. Local engineers with knowledge of such pervious materials warn against its use in this climate because it quickly becomes clogged and impervious with grit, sand, and other local matter.
   
   
5. FASNY repeatedly claims that there are no complaints about traffic at the facilities from which they presently operate. That may well be true because those facilities were previously operating as schools, before FASNY arrived. Why would neighbors complain about school traffic to which they had already become accustomed?
   
   
6. Mr. Zarin misquotes the comprehensive plan, time and again, stating the recommendations were that development should be "clustered". He even says, "and I quote…" but he conveniently leaves out the word "residential". He says they are following the recommendations of the CP by "clustering the development". Again, the recommendation and clear intent in the CP refers to "residential clustering" not commercial clustering.
   
   
7. FASNY has repeatedly stated their school would bring "sophistication" and "culture" to White Plains. That they teach "tolerance" and look forward to bringing their "culturally diverse outlook of tolerance to our public schools." Their children come from 40 to 50 different nationalities and follow all major religions but they all get along. Their children attend colleges like Princeton, Cornell, Amhurst and Columbia (did I mention more that half of the graduating class are attending McGill in Canada?) I too graduated from a high school that was culturally diverse, we were taught tolerance. My classmates came from 40 to 50 different nationalities and I had friends that followed all the major religions. My classmates attended Universities like Princeton, Harvard, Yale, Columbia, NYU, Boston College as well as SUNY Schools and WCC. I graduated from White Plains High School.
   
   
8. Mr. Zarin wants you to believe this has been an "open" process. Believe that they "reached out" and met with a number of the neighborhood associations and even had an all day open house to bring their "plan for us" to the entire city. What he failed to mention is that after FASNY met with the Gedney Association they moved the elementary school from Bryant Avenue to Ridgeway, condensing the project further, without letting anyone from the Association know. The Association did not find out until the open house.
   
   
9. Mr. Zarin states there were no viable proposals to keep Ridgeway as a golf course. Again, Mr. Zarin is simply not being truthful. I have spoken directly with a local realtor (whom you should all know). There was a qualified buyer interested in running the parcel as a golf course. However, because the seller wanted a "quick sale", and would not wait for funding to be secured, the offer (which I am told was more then FASNY but not cash-I am unable to verify) was denied.
   
   
10. FASNY speculates about the "economic benefit" they would bring to White Plains. They advised the Editorial Board that the families of FASNY are a very "affluent population" who will shop in our stores. I take this exclusive private school at their word on that, especially after seeing the tuitions FASNY charges. But, which is it, are they homogenously affluent or diverse?
    
    
11. Mr. Leonhardt stated that if the FASNY school moves to White Plains, so will the "parents". He claims we will not only see property values go up because people will pay a premium to live by the school, but they will shop in our stores. As support for this claim, Mr. Leonhardt points to Larchmont with its large population of French residents, he claims, because of the FASNY school there. To the contrary, a June 29, 2003 New York Times article entitled, Rediscovering Things French, (wherein Mr. Leonhardt is quoted) details how the French congregated to Larchmont with critical mass being reached in the mid-1970's. FASNY was not founded until 1980. Incidentally, in the same article, Mr. Leonhardt bragged that half of their students had both parents holding French citizenship. Again, so much for diversity.
    
    
12. Mr. Zarin claims they did a traffic study around the Solomon Schecter School as well as the German School and found that the families of these schools bought homes in and around that immediate area. I would love to see that study. Living in White Plains all my life, I have three friends that live in the German School area and five friends that live by Solomon Schechter….Mr. Zarin's comment is not even remotely true.
    
    
13. Mr. Zarin stated to the editorial board they are "dedicating" (but importantly note: not deeding) to the City about 60 acres of 'land' supposedly "worth 7 to 8 million dollars". This is just a silly comment. Does that mean FASNY could get 7 to 8 million dollars for the un-developable wetlands they want to 'dedicate'?
    
    
14. Mr. Zabotin responded to a concern about the junior and senior students driving through the local neighborhoods but, he replied that "our children" would not do that (you see, they are much different than other children). He also said that "when you come here for just 2 or 3 years…", as many of their upper classmen do, "you are not buying a car for your child." So, they won't be here long enough to justify purchasing a car… but they will be buying up all the houses in the neighborhoods?
    

The FASNY "team" (Leonhardt, Zabotin and Zarin) told the Gedney Association they would reach out to my husband and I back in January, before their open house. We heard not a word. They told us – to our faces - in front of the entire room at the CNA meeting on 3/8/11 that they would be calling us to "listen to our concerns". We have not received so much as an e-mail. Now, with threats of lawsuits over our City's right to have an untargeted moratorium, I think I know exactly how they will 'listen' to my husband and I.

This group simply has not been very nice at all and has not been telling the truth, nor have some Ridgeway representatives who still have interest in the final project. When my husband and I first walked into the open house, Ridgeway Golf Club's president grabbed my husband and pulled him aside. He asked my husband how he would react if the French school offered to buy our home "at a very good price".

I walked away from the conversation to look at the plan and for the first time saw what FASNY wants to do to our home. The FASNY representative (Mr. Thompson) began to show me the plan, unaware of who I was or where I lived. He pointed out all of the open space but I calmly responded "Wow, it's a great plan unless, of course, you live in this house right here," pointing to my home. He chuckled and quietly said to me, "Yeah, they do have a problem, but look at all this open space everyone else gets…" In a nutshell—that's FASNY!

All this aside, the most arrogant and painfully cruel comment made recently by this group was made by Mr. Zabotin to the Editorial Board of the Journal News when he stated "A dozen houses are immediately impacted because the view out of their back windows will change but there are 52,500 people who will benefit from [our]…culturally enriched school." Three schools, hundreds of cars and buses, over twelve hundred people - everyday, ball fields and massive lit parking lots… and Mr. Zabotin dares to say our concern is about a view?

I have lived in White Plains all of my life and I do not recall White Plains ever being known as the "City of Schools" as the FASNY School representatives have claimed. White Plains has always been known as the "City of Neighborhoods" because of the large number of dedicated and involved Neighborhood Associations. I think FASNY is hoping if they repeat that enough, it will become the truth.

My husband and I invite, and would be sincerely honored to have, each and every one of you come to our home so you can see for yourself. Come get a three dimensional, boots on the ground view of the site to help form your own independent opinion of the impact this development would have on the neighborhood. Mayor Bradley responded to our invitation when the City was considering the site and he told us it was a useful and informative visit. We think the same will be true for you.

We hope you come; our home is open to you.

Ellen Lee

(For more information on the above letter, please visit the article "FASNY: Moratorium Unfair, Will Cost White Plains")

Sent: Fri, Mar 11, 2011
Subject: Ron Rhodes on Ridgeway Golf Course Water
To: White Plains Common Council

Dear Common Council:

I know you don't want to hear anything about the French American School project until the six month moratorium is over. However, with the rain we got today I couldn't let this opportunity pass.

The picture below is on the Ridgeway Golf Course right outside my house. It's not a permanent lake as it only forms when we get heavy rains like today and last Sunday. Today the Canadian Geese are enjoying the water and in warmer weather you might ever see some of the neighborhood kids in it. This temporary lake is not a problem when the golf course is in operation as the water evaporates in a few days.

However, if instead of a golf course there was a school buildings, houses or some type of "AstroTurf" soccer fields …where will the water go? …to mine and my neighbors' basements or would it flow to other neighborhoods? …or maybe over to homes in Mamaroneck that are already in flood areas?

So with the FASNY coming into our city some of us will get more water in our basements and all of us will have to pay more in taxes to make up for the $388,000 that the FASNY doesn't want to pay White Plains. Isn't there something very wrong with this picture?



Thanks,

Ron Rhodes



Sent: Thursday, February 10, 2011 10:47 PM
To: Rubin, Benjamin (Journal News)
Subject: Re: FASNY vs City of White Plains

Mr. Rubin,

I re read your article which convinced me of your bias toward the FASNY. You portray the school as existing in a pathetic state with: classrooms looking like an all-white bare-walled basement, steerage accommodations, humble facilities, teachers sharing classrooms,no auditorium, one small sports field, one gymnasium for six grades, a music classroom in a modular trailer, no storage room, no theater, two first-grade classes in modular space,bemoaning,parents and faculty,a crowded cafeteria,complaining students in the lounge and I ask myself to what end is a journalist writing this pitiable litany other than to support the FASNY project You wrote to me earlier today that I do not agree with your choice of language and that I should not take literally your comment about the audience at the Gedney Association meeting a few weeks ago "was roaring against the school's plan". Words count, Mr. Rubin.

I find it so interesting how differently you characterize those people associated with FASNY with words like soft-spoken, full of pride. I understand the desires, wishes and dreams of the FASNY but I strongly disagree that the Ridgeway Country Club is the place to make their dreams come true. I am not at all confused about the newspaper taking a side in this matter contrary to what you think. As a reporter you have not just written about the school's issues but have glorified their aspirations.

Sanford S. Zevon, M.D.



Date: Wednesday, February 09, 2011
Subject: Re: GNA: FASNY Open House
To: gedneyfarms@optonline.net

My name is Stanley Baron and live on Gedney Esplanade and spend the winters in Florida. I have several extra thoughts about the French American School situation. Will the city of White Plains bear the burden of available Fire Department support, extra Sanitation dept. support, extra Police Dept. support and many other amenities that we have available to us. Will we need extra traffic lights to support all the new cars and buses coming into the area. Who is going to maintain the grounds and paths that will be there. What about sewer pipes,water pipes, fire hydrants and many other items necessary in such a major undertaking. I do not believe this is the right project for our beautiful community. We will lose our peace and tranquility with a school of 1200 students and 200 teachers. Please pass my thoughts on to the mayor and the board.

Stanley Baron



Date: Wednesday, February 09, 2011
Subject: French American School Proposal
To: bboykin@whiteplainsny.gov

Dear Councilman Boykin,

In the last few days a number of residents of Gedney Farms told me that they were feared that you were supportive of the French American School proposal. They cited your comments on the John Bailey Web site and at the Common Council meeting this week where you specifically mentioned that any moratorium would not postpone any application by the school. While I personally did not think you showed any specific support for the French American School proposal I am also not aware of any concerns that you have raised publicly regarding the proposal. I recognize that no Common Council member wants to show any pre-judgment but given the almost unanimous opposition of the Gedney Farms neighborhood because of the absolute incompatibility of the proposal with the existing neighborhood I think some statement by you raising concern would be appropriate. We view the proposal as an affront to the Comprehensive Plan, the current zoning and the neighborhood.

The meeting we had at Ridgeway School with the overflow crowd only began the neighborhood understanding of the extent of the French American school plan. It's a regional school with a density level that is totally incompatible with the low residential density of the neighborhood. The fact that the school is now proposing to concentrate that density at one section of the property does not change the nature of the proposal in the least. Keep in mind that the immediate area has already reached the saturation point with institutional uses. We have three regional schools and numerous other institutional uses in the immediate area. The French School anticipates a student population that is more than double that of these other regional schools.

Councilman Boykin, you are one of the senior Council members and we need you to take leadership in this critical matter now. The residents of the City should not have to take the lead in matters such as this. I think you would agree that by not raising any concerns publicly one could infer, albeit maybe incorrectly, that you are not opposed to the school's overall concept. In the residents view the School proposal is totally unacceptable and we expect our Common Council to unanimously reject this intrusion into our neighborhood.

Very truly yours,

John E. Sheehan


Sent: Thursday, February 03, 2011 4:12 PM
To: Common Council President Tom Roach
Subject: FASNY

Dear Tom,

I have been very frustrated in the weeks following the Gedney Farms Association meeting in that you and other Common Council members have not raised concerns with the plan. I recognize that you do not want to be accused of pre-judging a pending application but I do think the proposal is so completely out of character with the neighborhood that some general comment from you and other Common Council members would not be inappropriate. I saw recently that you spoke out negatively with regard to the Metro North garage proposal for North White Plains. I think your speaking out was totaling appropriate and not prejudgment. I see the French School proposal as a very analogous situation.

Tom, we need your leadership in this matter.

Regards,

John Sheehan



Date: February 02, 2011
Subject:
To: abradely@whiteplainsgov.ny

As a member of the Gedney Farms Association I am opposed to the purchase of the Ridgeway Country Club grounds by the French American School. This is not a non-profit association and will add to our rapidly rising tax burden, not to mention the huge number of bodies and cars it will bring to our neighborhood daily. (It will be twice the size of Stepinac and make Ridgeway Road impossible to traverse during school arrivals and dismissal. More public hearings are in order so we can express additional concerns and objections. This would never happen in Scarsdale where I lived for 25 years. We taxpayers need more of a voice in this matter,

Ms. Elaine Taylor-Gordon


Sent: Thursday, February 03, 2011
Subject: Re: GNA: FASNY Open House
To: gedneyfarms@optonline.net

Dear Terrence,

Thank you for the update and I assume that this has been sent to the Common Council. We did not go to the meeting, not because we couldn't but because we really don't want to lend an ear to their, (FAS of NY), obvious propaganda and care not to reap the niceties they are feeding us.

It is now time to once again let all hear how, NOT, welcome this plan is. So yes we will gear up and talk and write.

Linda Jane Eisen


Sent: Thursday, February 03, 2011
Subject: FASNY
To: gedneyfarms@optonline.net

Terry,

Your latest email dated yesterday, 2/2 is quite startling since we live on Macy Avenue 2 houses from the Esplanade and back up to the 13th hole. We could be looking at the athletic facilities.

Was this email sent to the mayor and Common Council members? In spite of the fact that you suggest that residents contact them, your email spells out the issues quite clearly.

Gerry Eisen


Sent: Friday, February 04, 2011
Subject: Re: GNA: FASNY Open House
To: gedneyfarms@optonline.net

Dear members of the Gedney Farms Association,

I wrote a similar version of this e-mail to the Common Council and the Mayor's office. The following e-mail is to Terence Guerriere.

Dear Terence,

First of all thank you for your time and effort to the matter of the French-American School of New York. After reading their letter and your response, I'm in total agreement with you, especially on the issue of traffic congestion. I would like to point out FASNY?s feeble attempt to ease our concerns regarding traffic congestion. They claim that, "unlike a school, a country club generates traffic seven days a week." Comparing people driving to a country club to play golf mainly on weekends to 1,200 people coming and going to school five days a week is an insult to our intelligence. No matter how they stagger their school sessions and share buses, anyone doing a traffic study would conclude that the school would have a dramatic impact on traffic in our neighborhood. We are also concerned because of their plans to construct the school at the southern Ridgeway end of the property. We live on Ridgeway Circle off of Ridgeway Avenue.

Sincerely,

Jon DeMartin


Sent: Thursday, February 03, 2011
Subject: Re: GNA: FASNY Open House
To: gedneyfarms@optonline.net

Dear Terrence,

Thanks again for sending a copy of the letter you sent to all the Gedney Farm Members. You certainly did a great job in covering the objections to FASNY. We are concerned about another important issue that was no doubt inadvertently omitted. We reside on Murchison Place and have experienced extensive flooding of the golf course and our yard after heavy rainfall. Often, our property is converted from golf view to waterfront property causing our yard to be wet, and very muddy, and therefore not usable. We have photos of our "waterfront property" and showed them to many FASNY representatives at the meeting. The impermeable surfaces created as a result of the of the construction of the tennis courts only exacerbated the flooding condition. The solution to this wetland issue is complicated, requiring engineering studies that will probably result in construction of extensive subsurface holding tanks and concrete piping circulation all at great cost, probably not anticipated by FASNY. In this regard I spoke to Frank Rossi, of Boswell Engineering (330 Phillips Avenue, South Hackensack, NJ 07606, 201-373-8905) about these issues. I understand that Boswell Engineering is doing work in White Plains relating to the 287 Highway construction.

I retained Boswell Engineering on behalf of a client to solve a wetland issue problem in Totowa, NJ. I worked with Frank for about a year regarding the required studies needed, and the ultimate construction approval for the Totowa site. I realize that New Jersey regulations concerning wetlands are very different from those in New York. Nevertheless, I suspect that City, County and State approvals will be required for the improvements to the golf course that FASNY contemplates making.

I believe that the city of White Plains should retain an independent engineering firm ie. Boswell to protect the city's and Gedney Farms' interests in this important FASNY proposal.

I believe the wetland issue should be added to the Gedney Farms Association's FASNY concerns.

Thanks for all your help and continued vitally important and professional input in this matter.

Sincerely,

Phil Blumenfeld


Sent: Thursday, February 03, 2011
Subject: FASNY Proposal
To: milagroslecuona@gmail.com

Dear Councilwoman Lecuona,

I was recently disappointed to hear that after the Gedney Farms Association meeting on January 6th, where the capacity crowd of residents of the community overwhelmingly indicated their strong opposition to the French American School proposal, you stated that you wanted to hear from other residents of the City before voicing any opinion.

While I recognize that all residents of the City will be concerned with the plan in that it will remove more open space from the City, add congestion to our streets, take the property off the tax rolls and add infrastructure costs to a financially struggling City I think the proposal must first and foremost be evaluated on the impact to the Gedney Farms neighborhood.

As you know Gedney Farms is a low density, single family home neighborhood. Any Special Permit use has to be in keeping with the underlying density of the neighborhood. The French American School is proposing a regional school that will be at a density level which is totally inappropriate with the underlying neighborhood. The fact that they are proposing to concentrate the density at one end of the property does not satisfy the problem. Schools of this size should be located on major thoroughfares and not on narrow secondary roads such as Ridgeway which has single-family homes fronting on its entire length. We already have more than our share of Special Permit uses in the neighborhood.

Councilwoman Lecuona, I received my Masters in Urban and Regional Planning from New York University and was formerly the Assistant Town Planner of Greenwich Connecticut and I cannot see how this proposal in any way is compatible with the Comprehensive Plan, the Zoning Ordinance and the underlying density of the Gedney Farms neighborhood. I trust that you and the other members of the Common Council will adhere to the same in denying this overreaching proposal.

Very truly yours,

John E. Sheehan


Date: Wednesday, February 02, 2011
Subject: FASNY open house at Ridgeway
To: gedneyfarms@optonline.net

Your summary of the "open house" was just right, and echoed all our impressions. For instance, when I asked about the care of the "open space" gift and my concern about policing, security etc., they had no response.... My worst fears re: unregulated use of the land... e.g. large groups with picnics, spontaneous celebrations, vandalism and PARKING ON THE ADJACENT STREETS to mention a few were certainly heightened. In general, I think we need to have access to expertise which can counter FASNY's obvious and enviable cadre of professionals to present our case to the Council. I would like to help you in any way I can and would be happy to meet with you to discuss that. I'm a retired M.D. and apart from WP Hospital Board responsibilities and a few other things I have the time. Judy is Chair of the WP Library Foundation Board and is an articulate savvy "white plains citizen" for 42 years, and also eager to participate. We will contact the Council again and again (we know some members quite well) and the Mayor who for all his problems is still a factor until and if he is replaced. (Have known him for decades.) Please let us help you. We would also welcome you and others to sit down soon to discuss strategy. Look forward to hearing from you.

Thanks for your superb commitment and efforts.

Stuart and Judy Nevins


Sent: Wednesday, February 02, 2011
Subject: Re: FASNY Open House
To: mailto:gedneyfarms@optonline.net

Thank you for sending this email to apprise us of what transpired at the Open House. It has made me more alarmed than ever, especially since all of the proposed buildings would be at the Ridgeway end of the property, and the fact that the school would not take care of the undevelopable property but would expect some other entity (Gedney Association, the city) to maintain it. Add to this the traffic congestion and no property taxes, and there you have it.... Outrageous!!

My husband Rod has written an email to the mayor and Common Council expressing our opposition to the school's location on this property.

Thank you again for keeping us informed on this matter.

Barbara Carlson


Sent: Wednesday, February 02, 2011
Subject: Our Appreciation
To: mailto:gedneyfarms@optonline.net

This is just a note of thanks to all of you for what you do to maintain the integrity of our neighborhood. Attached please find a copy of the letter we sent to the Common Council.

Dear Members of the Common Council:

We are residents of Gedney Farms and feel fortunate to be able to live in this community. We grew up in the area, attended White Plains High School and targeted this neighborhood when we moved back to the area.

We have attended meetings regarding the possibility of the French American School purchase and relocation to the site of Ridgeway Country Club.

We consider this a poor use of this property for the community, environment, taxpayers of White Plains and surrounding area. The issues discussed at our last meeting regarding the size of the structures, the number of people attending the school, the impact on traffic infrastructure were reason enough to keep this school out of the neighborhood.

Now the school is sending our misleading information in an effort to sway opinion in their favor. And they expect the City of White Plains residents to maintain the land they purchase that will not be occupied. Ridiculous and insulting! There is no regard for the residents of White Plains in the school's plans.

We strongly object to the School's application and hope you will agree with us.

Sincerely,

Susan Z. Kaufman
Daniel W. Kaufman


Sent: Wednesday, February 02, 2011
Subject: Re: GNA: FASNY Open House
To: gedneyfarms@optonline.net

Dear Terence,

Thank you for keeping the neighborhood up to date. My husband and I attended the Open House, the representatives are indeed nice and courteous people. The renderings of the buildings are all acceptable and attractive. However, I don't think they have a realistic grasp of the traffic issues. They hadn't thought about the fact that their High School is an open campus. That's quite a few cars driving through the neighborhood at lunchtime. And the idea that all of the cars entering the campus would use Ridgeway isn't realistic. They obviously have never been to Ridgeway during a Bar Mitzvah or a wedding. Drivers will quickly get fed up with the wait and find other ways to get to the Hathaway parking lot entrances. I will be writing to our Common Council regarding these and other points. And thank you again for your hard work.

Best regards,

Angela Tobin


Sent: Wednesday, February 02, 2011
Subject: FASNY
To: gedneyfarms@optonline.net

Terence:

Re: your memo Feb.2, 2011

What is FASNY's proposed bus access, circulation and parking? How is capacity calculated. Over what interval(s)?

At 1,200 pupils this would be twice the size of Ridgeway and more than that of Post Road each of which is a traffic and pollution (idling) abomination twice a day.

Are pupils permitted to have cars? Ask the WP Traffic Dept. about Stepinac student parking problems along Gedney Drive. Remember?

Based on a reasonable extrapolation of FASNY current practice, what school-wide events (intramural athletics, PTA, open school, etc.), are likely to generate the heaviest extra-curricular parking requirements.

Etc., u.s.w.

Robert Levine


Date: Wednesday, February 02, 2011
Subject: GNA: FASNY Open House
To: gedneyfarms@optonline.net

Dear Terence,

This is clearly and totally unacceptable. This will drastically affect the community in terms of quality-of-life and home values, both of which will be significantly diminished.

Please advise as to when this matter may be taken up by the Common Council with regards to issuing a Special Permit. In the meantime I will contact my neighbors and Common Council members.

If there is anything specifically that I can do, please do not hesitate to call on me.

Regards,

Steve Hamburg

Date: Wednesday, February 02, 2011
Subject: Re: GNA: FASNY Open House
To: gedneyfarms@optonline.net

Thanks for the update. We were concerned about some of statements FASNY wrote in their letter to the Gedney Farms homeowners. You did a great job refuting their "propaganda." Again, thanks to you and the Board for your dedicated work to keep our neighborhood free of FASNY.

Sincerely,

Doris and Marvin Dingott


Date: Wednesday, February 02, 2011
Subject: Re: GNA: FASNY Open House
To: gedneyfarms@optonline.net

Hi Terence,

Thanks so much for your leadership and for keeping the Gedney Farms neighborhood informed. It seems like given all of the potential options out therefor the Ridgeway Club, based on what I am reading that it could be much worse (could be better, but not as bad as some of us feared). That said, do you have a sense that the proposed Athletic facilities behind Murchison, Hotel Drive and Macy properties are going to draw traffic into the residential sections of the neighborhood? It sounds like Ridgeway is going to be the main thoroughfare for the academic buildings, but I am trying to understand to what extent Gedney Esplanade is also going to be a potential artery for traffic, for example when parents need to attend and athletic event. Was any of this addressed/discussed? Gedney Esplanade already suffers from terrible speeding issues.

Thanks again!

Gail Rauner


Date: Wednesday, February 02, 201
Subject: Re: GNA: FASNY Open House
To: gedneyfarms@optonline.net

Dear Terrance,

Although I have been unable to attend any of your scheduled events, or last Saturday's FASNY open house, I remain very concerned with these plans. I have emailed and telephoned members of the City Council numerous times. Never received either a response to my emails or a return phone call. I think our concerns are falling on deaf ears. Until I received your email today, I was under the impression that it was a done deal - which is what it seems FASNY would have us believe. You make it sound as if there is still a possibility of turning this around. What about legal action to to force them to stop until all issues are made crystal clear to the residents, and all implications are clarified? Thank you.

Paul R. Scheer


Sent: Sunday, January 30, 2011
Subject: French American School
To: gedneyfarms@optonline.net

Hi,

Yesterday my husband, Bill and I, Myra, went to the open house for the French American School. Although the people were offering information, there was a wealth of information that was left out, but noted on the Gedney Farms Association meeting notes. The most striking , was the cost to taxpayers and the lack of revenue to the city. I hope some members of this association were sprinkled in the crowd to get a complete picture of what the residents were hearing.

It was most upsetting to me, to see the number of sports fields and their location, literally in the backyards of our neighbors. Trees will not buffer the noise or distraction to our White Plains students and families. Let me further explain. Fields are used during school hours as well as after hours, Middle school and high school sports require daily practices as well as inter school games. These games last until six o'clock, and baseball, till eight o'clock or until noone can see through the darkness. At times, there is a weekend game as well. Kids with raised voices, coaches blowing whistles and screaming to players, does not make for a peaceful neighborhood nor for our students studying after school.

The German School and Solomon Schecter schools were originally built by White Plains to service our community. When the enrollment declined, the schools were sold resulting in revenue going to the city. In addition, these schools were only elementary schools. There are no high schools in residential areas in White Plains that were not originally planned for: nor should there be. High school students drive and bring a different set of issues to any environment.

I am in agreement with the association's viewpoint that there are enough institutional uses in our Gedney Farms. From your news letter, it appears that the school must get special permission to build and operate a school in this area as the land was not zoned for such.It appears to me that the city looses revenue, the neighbors gain an invasion of noise and inconvenience as construction takes place,,traffic and associated pollution increases. This is in addition to the already stated objections from the association. I cannot see any advantages as a home owner and a resident for over 30 years to allow this school to continue it's endeavor to build.

I thank you for advocating for the community and shedding information on this subject.

Myra Hersh


Date: Tuesday, January 25, 2011
Subject: FASNY
To: White Plains Common Council

Honorable White Plains Council Members:

I am writing to you concerning the French American School's plan for the Ridgeway Country Club property. As a resident of Gedney Farms (for the past 5 years) I am very concerned about the Council granting a special permit for the School to build and operate a large school on the property.

I went to a private school with an enrollment of about 900. It was and still is a busy, yet beautiful campus, but we had 700 acres. The French American School's plan to bring 1,200 students plus faculty and staff to the MUCH smaller property concerns me for the loss of neighborhood open space, the traffic and noise during for drop offs/pick ups, sports games, as well as other times (and the building, of course!). This could be a significant detriment to our neighborhood. Additionally, has research been done to see if we really need another school in White Plains, especially one with interests developed by those outside our community?

Allowing the school to build on the Ridgeway property will cost White Plains taxpayers money, at a time many do not have more to give. The expense of road improvements, infrastructure, and increased support services (e.g., White Plains public schools, fire and police) will add to our already burdened city departments. I've also heard that they won't need to pay real estate taxes, which is certainly a burden to all of us who are paying ever increasing taxes to live here. Our tax money is sorely needed elsewhere to keep our city safe, clean and a wonderful place to live.

Please vote to deny the School's application and for a moratorium on any changes to our large open spaces until a plan can be formulated to protect them as well as my neighborhood, Gedney Farms.

Thank you.

Loren Ivler


Sent: Tuesday, January 25, 2011
Subject: GNA: FASNY News
To: gedneyfarms@optonline.net

Terrence:

I met with our Board last week (North Street Area Civic Assoc.) and there was a unanimous vote against the presence of the French School on the Ridgeway CC property.

I believe the Havilands Assoc feels the same way but I will let them speak for themselves.

We will start a move to have as many of our members e-mail or write the Mayor and the entire council. If we can be of further help call me or e-mail me and we will try to help.

Stan Markovits
President, North Street Area Civic Association (NSACA)


Sent: Tuesday, January 25, 2011
Subject: RE: GNA: FASNY News
To: gedneyfarms@optonline.net

I suspect that you are aware of the flyer which FSANY sent out re: its open house. A friend who lives outside of Gedney received it. They tout the cultural and recreational benfits they will provide to WP; that it will ncrease the property values in Gedney(!); and that it will provide open access to open space. With resepct to the last item, one wonders if this is true and what impact it will have on the neighborhood.

We assume that you are aware of this but just wanted to mention it.

Finally, we have sent a letter to the Common Council - but we are unsure that many others are doing so, based upon casual discussion with neighbors.

Joseph Demarzo


Sent: Tuesday, January 25, 2011
Subject: Re: GNA: FASNY News
To: gedneyfarms@optonline.net

How can they condone taking that property off the tax rolls, at the same time that it will clog up one of the few remaining White Plains neighborhoods that is both bucolic and appraised at the highest tax rate. I am surprised that Westxchester Hills CC did not put up more opposition!

But I think you are doing a great job.

I experienced a similar fight when Hoff Barhelson doubled in size on School Lane in Fox Meadow despite solid opposition. They won. The homeowners and tax rolls lost.

Elaine Taylor Gordon


Sent: Tuesday, January 25, 2011
Subject: Re: GNA: FASNY News
To: gedneyfarms@optonline.net

Dear Mr. Guerriere,

I apologize for not writing sooner. I wish to thank you for a wonderfully informative Jan 6th meeting and for generating what we hope is a successful plan to stop the proposed FASNY school.

Per your previous email, we have sent letters to the Mayor and to the Common Council members.

Thank you so much,

Wayne Groh


Sent: Friday, January 21, 2011
Subject: Re: GNA: Letter from Terence Guerriere, President of Gedney Association
To: gedneyfarms@optonline.net

Please note that FASNY's marketing team cleverly sent news of the Ridgeway sale to Channel 12 NEWS today and throughout the day it was reported that they were going to consolidate their school population & build all the schools on this property. The time frame would take several years etc.... incorrectly leading the public to believe that this is a reality. They neglected to report on the approval of permits/environmental studies necessary to move forward. EXTREMELY MISLEADING on FASNY's and CHANNEL 12 news part.

It was also brought to our attention that the Common Council will be voting this coming week on rezoning the golf course for recreational use. A strong showing by our association and other concerned citizens would be beneficial to our cause. Please send an email with the pertinent details.

Many thanks for all that you and the board are doing. You are doing a phenominal job!

Jennifer McCarthy


Sent: Sat, 15 Jan 2011
Subject: Response to "What do Ridgeway project foes want?"
To: letters@lohud.com

TO THE EDITOR:

With all due respect to the White Plains resident who wrote "What do Ridgeway project foes want?" I write this as someone who doesn't even live near the golf course.

I know what I'd want: A creative way to preserve the land without having to shell out $11 million on my own.

I hear the response: "You want taxpayer's to finance your neighborhood's issue?"

Actually, I think open land in White Plains is ALL of our issue. We have so little of it. We let the Boy Scout property become housing. Will we one day watch Burke and the New York Hospital property become housing developments as well?

One has to wonder: How do dense municipalities save rare and magical land parcels that sparkle like crown jewels? How do they protect open space that winds its way through neighborhoods from inevitable private development?

I've read about people laying down in front of bulldozers and Caterpillar excavators. But I've also read about communities that find creative solutions for preserving land until the right purchaser surfaces– one who will preserve the open space in its entirety. (Will the economy never turn around and golf courses never again be in demand?)

"Oh come on," skeptics say. "Let it go. Move on. The school has already promised not to build on half of it."

Promised? Where I grew up, a beautiful estate property sold to a private school. Eventually the school moved and the property became a corporate headquarters, which sold off huge parcels one by one for development.

It's inevitable. All anyone now says is, "Remember when there was beautiful green parkland in between this neighborhood?"

The clock is ticking. And there will be no turning it back.

Dean Hacohen

White Plains



Sent: Monday, Jan 10, 2011
Subject: Please Deny the French American School's Application
To: Mayor Adam Bradley, White Plains Common Council

To all Common Council Members:

I am writing to you concerning the French American School's plan for the Ridgeway Country Club Property. I am against the city granting a special permit for the school to build and operate a school on this property. My opposition is not based on the "NIMBY" (not in my backyard) principle, but rather on real, legitimate issues that seem difficult to refute. These include:

1. The development of this property is a violation of the City's Comprehensive Plan, which calls for the preservation of significant parcels of open land. The fact that the school has offered to keep less than half the property as open space is deceptive - fact is, much of the property is not developable - it is too wet and environmentally unstable. The comprehensive plan calls for the least dense use of the property as possible. 1,400 people (students, faculty, staff, visitors) into this residential area every school day is clearly a very dense use of this property. This area is already heavily skewed toward institutional use - there are many schools, houses of worship, hospitals, YMCA, etc. Another large institution would be devastating to the residential character of the neighborhood. The City's Comprehensive Plan was put in place to avoid the type of situation we are now confronted with.
   
   
2. The property has never been developed because it is wet; the Mamaroneck and Sheldrake rivers run through and beneath this property. The size of the school proposed (the equivalent of two more Stepinacs or three more German schools) will have a significant negative impact on flooding issues in the neighborhood - and importantly, to other downstream communities (other downstream communities, Mamaroneck, in particular, ought to be consulted with regarding this plan to provide them a chance to respond to the potential negative effects this will have on flooding in their communities).
   
   
3. There is no real benefit to the city of White Plains. It will only cost taxpayers money. The school will not pay tax. There will need to be significant traffic issues dealt with; road improvements, etc. Our taxes are high enough already. Significant infrastructure changes needed to accommodate the school will cost taxpayers money.
   
   
4. Quality of life will erode in this community. Already, I can no longer let my young children walk our dog in the neighborhood. Cars travel down Hathaway Lane at over 40mph, cutting through from Mamaroneck Avenue to get to Bryant. Or they cut through from Ridgeway to get to Bryant. Making a left turn onto Bryant from Hathaway is next to impossible already, and the Early Childhood Center the school is proposing to build on Bryant will only exacerbate this situation. There are no sidewalks to walk safely on, and the increased traffic will have significant negative consequences for both quality of life and safety issues. With the vast majority of students travelling from other cities, the traffic issues must not be downplayed.

Please do not allow this to happen. You can vote to deny the School's application and for a moratorium on any changes to our large open spaces until a sensible plan can be formulated to protect them. I urge you to take this course of action.

Sincerely,

Jeff Fischler



Sent: January 10, 2011
Subject:
To: Hon. Thomas M. Roach, Council President

Dear Councilman Roach,

We are writing to you to protest the French American School's plan to develop the Ridgeway Country Club property. My wife and family and I am strongly opposed to the City granting the special permit the School has requested to build and operate a facility on this property.

The Ridgeway property must be preserved as open space. As it is White Plains has little open space to justify sacrificing such a large property for the development of a private school especially one that will not benefit the community as a whole nor will it generate tax revenues for our city. The thought of bringing 1,200 students plus faculty and staff to the area will eliminate a large open space and overwhelm our streets with an excess of cars and buses that our neighborhood could not possibly handle.

Further this project will cost the taxpayers money. The cost of the property and road improvements, the infrastructure, and the increase in support services such as fire and police protection as well as the aforementioned loss of real estate tax income to the city that the school will not pay will place unfair and undue burdens on all the residents of White Plains. As we are all made aware on a daily basis this city needs that money elsewhere to keep our city safe, clean and free of choking traffic that will detract from the city as a wonderful place to live.

Please do not permit this to occur. Vote to deny the School's application and for a moratorium on any changes to our large open spaces until a plan can be formulated to protect them.

Thank you.

Paul R. Scheer
Metsada Scheer
Sharony Scheer
Shelly Scheer



Sent: Wednesday, December 22, 2010
Subject: RidgewayCountry Club
To: White Plains Common Council

Dear Mayor and Common Council:

We are writing to vigorously object to the potential purchase of Ridgeway Country Club by the French American School (FAS) and its plan to accommodate up to 1,200 students at the site. We strongly contend that the noise, pollution and bus and auto traffic, as well as other offending factors will forever damage one of the few remaining tranquil residential areas of our City, and, as a result, White Plains as a whole.

We have resided at 2 Oxford Road in Gedney Farms for 44 years and have given back to our City in numerous ways:

• As a couple, we were one of the founders of the White Plains Public Library Foundation and have contributed substantially to the establishment of The Trove (children's library), the business center, homework help program, and other enhancements.
  
  
• Harriet was the founding Director of the Museum Gallery at the Library for over 30 years. During that time the exhibitions and allied programming she presented did much to culturally enrich the lives of the City's population.
  
  
• Paul recently completed the five-year term as Chair of the Board of the White Plains Hospital, and among other initiatives, oversaw the building of the expanded emergency department and the opening up of the Cardiac Cath Lab for emergency and elective angioplasty.
  

We moved to White Plains because of its diversity, public school system, library, hospital and its easy assess to New York City. We selected Gedney Farms because it offered us an ideal place in which to raise our three children - peaceful and beauteous. The plan proposed by FAS would, in our estimation, totally change our neighborhood - and not for the better. Moreover, property values in Gedney Farms and environs would suffer and therefore reduce tax revenue to the City.

We understand the City does not want to be in the golf course business. However, we feel the best use of the property is to keep it as a golf course. As a possible solution to the problem, we suggest that the professional expertise of golf course management companies be sought in an effort to maintain the golf course's integrity. In the meantime, we will continue to oppose the FAS plan.

Respectfully,

Harriet and Paul Weissman