Open letters to Village boards (posted with permission)
June 1, 2020
To The Nyack Planning Board:
Re: 245-259 Main Street “Diana Place”
We join with neighbors to urge you to deny the project while it includes the open common deck overlooking our homes in our 1-2 family residential neighborhood. This party deck was originally called a garden. Now the developers are calling it “a common roof terrace".
Many municipalities wisely prohibit &/or limit outdoor dining, imbibing, and other gathering places to prevent noises and other foreseeable nuisances and offenses to the quiet enjoyment of neighbors’ homes, backyard privacy, and peace of the neighborhood.
Too often common spaces like this deck are anonymous spaces while individual decks are attributable to the corresponding tenant. Enforcement of quality of life and other crimes is more difficult in a common area.
Can you foresee loud music, boisterous, off-color speech, fireworks or unwelcome light ever coming from this deck? If neighbors call the police as their remedy, the perpetrators may be gone by the time the officers arrive. Who did it? It is often too difficult to identify and thus catch the violator(s). Furthermore, it's too intrusive to have people gather on the deck and look down on some of our yards.
Theses nuisances can be avoided by denying the common terrace. If the same space were fully enclosed as a similar and integral part of the building, it could be a year round all weather common room.
Please deny the common open “terrace”.
Respectfully,
Joseph & Peggy Brady-Amoon
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
To the Nyack Planning Board
Peter Klose Chair
Re: 249-259 Main Street
August 5, 2019
Dear Mr. Klose and the Board:
We are writing to urge you to reject, or at minimum, require modifications of the proposed rooftop gardens that Mr. Silarski has more recently referred to as patios and terraces. We are not concerned about the individual unit patios.
We are concerned about the large common patio they propose to be available to all residents of the building and their guests. Given the size of the space, open concept, and height, we remain concerned about the noise even small outdoor gatherings would likely generate, which would detract from the quiet enjoyment as well as the privacy of the adjoining residential neighborhood. One way to mitigate the likely problems is to require that the common space be completely enclosed. That would also allow tenants to use the space year round.
Thank you for your consideration.Joseph & Peggy Brady-Amoon
From: Julie Agoos
Date: Tue, Jul 10, 2018 at 8:45 PM
Subject: Fwd: removal of parking spaces on Depew
To: dhammond@nyack-ny.gov, louiseparker@nyack-ny.gov, marielorenzini@nyack-ny.gov, donnalightfootcooper@nyack-ny.gov, Elijah Reichlin-Melnick <elijahrm@gmail.com>
Dear Mayor Hammond, Deputy Mayor Parker, and Trustees Lorenzini, Lightfoot-Cooper, and Reichlin-Melnick:
I've written before, and spoken up at a previous meeting, as you know, but am writing now because I'm away from Nyack and can't attend Thursday night's meeting.
Specifically, I'm writing regarding the traffic study conducted in re. the proposed removal of four parking spaces above Anna Street on Depew, and regarding the Board's upcoming vote on the proposal. I strongly urge you and the board to vote no on the proposal.
The traffic study concludes that while the parking spaces on adjoining streets are indeed full at night, the four spaces in question on Depew are not, and suggests that if they aren't being fully utilized, there is by definition no parking 'shortage' in the area, and that their removal would thus have no significant impact on the needs of adjacent and nearby homeowners or visitors, or on the neighborhood itself.
But many of us feel that the parking spaces are necessary to the neighborhood nonetheless, as they in fact serve several functions simultaneously.
First and foremost, they are there -- available as parking spaces to homeowners on both Depew and on surrounding streets, available even if only for perhaps rare occasions of homeowners hosting multiple or extended-stay guests, available for street fairs and middle school events when parking is full to capacity, or even when a film shoot requires home owners to move from their own streets' parking spaces, and even their own driveways, etc. I'm suggesting that being filled does not alone make a parking space; and that as an available residential and commercial amenity, commodity, or resource, parking spaces are indeed valuable and necessary to many of the real needs of a neighborhood. Second, parking spaces and their availability on streets throughout a residential neighborhood help to both constitute and preserve the residential character of the neighborhood, as well as the needs (and rights?) of its residents. Third, in helping to constitute and represent the residential identity and character of the street, much like the 25 mph speed zone that also represents and constitutes Depew, the parking spaces in question undoubtedly help keep speeding down (as an aside I'll note that, curiously, there are no 25 mph speed signs west of Summit St on Depew, though they are frequent from Franklin to that point). As I noted in the public comments of the last meeting I attended, one reason the Village Board voted yes some years ago to adding speed bumps on Depew near Anna and Washington Streets was that residents reported cars frequently speeding downhill on the eastbound side of Depew, the side without parking spaces, often on the stretches approaching school bus stops. Fourth and last, in the absence of adequate sidewalks on either side of Depew, especially from Washington Street west to 9W, parking spaces offer a zone of additional safety to pedestrians. It's perhaps worth considering whether the spaces in question are often left open, while those on the surrounding streets are packed at night, not because there's not a parking problem but because there's a traffic speed and safety problem -- and a different plan, long talked about for a wider sidewalk design which could also support the limited parking existing on upper Depew would perhaps mitigate many of these inter-related problems, and put attention back on the goal of keeping Depew a securely residential street that is also a shared corridor for both cars and pedestrians (and perhaps someday, if we design it wisely, bikes), many of them middle schoolers walking to and from home and school.
I fully recognize that the Board has noted to the public that, in considering the traffic study and the developers' request to remove these four parking spaces so as to create safer sightlines for a proposed driveway granting access to the development from and onto Depew, it is legally bound to consider only the question of the necessity of the four spaces spaces for the purpose/function of parking, rather than any other role they play in the streetscape, or in the overall traffic flow in the area, or any role their removal might play in opening the area to the Main Street development itself, and to the development's own future impacts on traffic flow and congestion, pedestrian safety, and the neighborhood's residential scale, or on any further attempt to look at all of these problems holistically.
Still, many of us have been arguing that this is shortsighted, and have asked the Board nonetheless to look at the elements and ramifications of the overall proposal holistically rather than piecemeal, and to recognize that the streetscape along Depew is one of those elements, and an important one. As such we feel the character of the streetscape should remain consonant not with the commercial aims and needs of a single new development, but at least equally or moreso with other values and needs of the neighborhood, and other professed values throughout Nyack as it considers safeguarding other areas, and conceptualizes and builds its future. Again, some of these goals, acknowledged in streetscape design or preservation in other areas of Nyack, are pedestrian safety; an easing of traffic congestion by promoting sidewalks and bikeways; a sound traffic and parking plan for all of downtown Nyack, of which upper Main Street is certainly a part. Depew, as a parallel, neighborhood point of entrance and egress to Main Street from 9W and the 'gateway' and from the north-south streets, and into the downtown, should receive equal consideration in all planning that impacts it, not to address the exigencies of one developer in one moment, but for the longterm. And, I'd argue,there's also an ethical obligation to work to preserve what is most essential to Nyack, along with its riverfront, even as we innovate and grow -- its many and diverse neighborhoods.
Depew is part of a significant neighborhood, physically and historically and demographically. The pressures on it to expand/dilute into a mere artery are growing, and already eroding the integrity and sense of the neighborhood as a whole at many points between Cedar Hill to Main Street. Let's not erode it further. Let's instead begin to address the longstanding needs of Depew, and its intersecting streets, and its inhabitants and visitors, and Nyack's visitors as they pass through this important passage. (I have sometimes Imagined how it might have been had a thoughtful and holistic longterm vision for Depew's impact on Nyack been championed 25 years ago, say, and produced wider sidewalks, and some sidewalk bumpouts, as in the downtown on Main Street, or perhaps one or two small rotaries and raised crosswalks rather than speedbumps, and an increase rather than a decrease in parking spaces, as is a common 20th/21st century urban planning solution in the excellent and renowned town planning that has preserved the Victorian neighborhoods of fast-growing Melbourne, Australia). My point is that whether or not the four parking spaces in question are in use all or much or even very little of the time is only one measure of the role they play in preserving the fact and sense that people live here, in houses bearing a relationship to other houses in the nearby streets, and bearing a relation to people who might, even if only occasionally, visit them, and need a place to park.
For all these reasons, I urge you to vote no on this shortsighted proposal. Nyack can surely come up with a worthier plan.
Sincerely,
Julie Agoos
To The Nyack Planning Board:
Re: 245-259 Main Street “Diana Place”
We join with neighbors to urge you to deny the project while it includes the open common deck overlooking our homes in our 1-2 family residential neighborhood. This party deck was originally called a garden. Now the developers are calling it “a common roof terrace".
Many municipalities wisely prohibit &/or limit outdoor dining, imbibing, and other gathering places to prevent noises and other foreseeable nuisances and offenses to the quiet enjoyment of neighbors’ homes, backyard privacy, and peace of the neighborhood.
Too often common spaces like this deck are anonymous spaces while individual decks are attributable to the corresponding tenant. Enforcement of quality of life and other crimes is more difficult in a common area.
Can you foresee loud music, boisterous, off-color speech, fireworks or unwelcome light ever coming from this deck? If neighbors call the police as their remedy, the perpetrators may be gone by the time the officers arrive. Who did it? It is often too difficult to identify and thus catch the violator(s). Furthermore, it's too intrusive to have people gather on the deck and look down on some of our yards.
Theses nuisances can be avoided by denying the common terrace. If the same space were fully enclosed as a similar and integral part of the building, it could be a year round all weather common room.
Please deny the common open “terrace”.
Respectfully,
Joseph & Peggy Brady-Amoon
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
To the Nyack Planning Board
Peter Klose Chair
Re: 249-259 Main Street
August 5, 2019
Dear Mr. Klose and the Board:
We are writing to urge you to reject, or at minimum, require modifications of the proposed rooftop gardens that Mr. Silarski has more recently referred to as patios and terraces. We are not concerned about the individual unit patios.
We are concerned about the large common patio they propose to be available to all residents of the building and their guests. Given the size of the space, open concept, and height, we remain concerned about the noise even small outdoor gatherings would likely generate, which would detract from the quiet enjoyment as well as the privacy of the adjoining residential neighborhood. One way to mitigate the likely problems is to require that the common space be completely enclosed. That would also allow tenants to use the space year round.
Thank you for your consideration.Joseph & Peggy Brady-Amoon
From: Julie Agoos
Date: Tue, Jul 10, 2018 at 8:45 PM
Subject: Fwd: removal of parking spaces on Depew
To: dhammond@nyack-ny.gov, louiseparker@nyack-ny.gov, marielorenzini@nyack-ny.gov, donnalightfootcooper@nyack-ny.gov, Elijah Reichlin-Melnick <elijahrm@gmail.com>
Dear Mayor Hammond, Deputy Mayor Parker, and Trustees Lorenzini, Lightfoot-Cooper, and Reichlin-Melnick:
I've written before, and spoken up at a previous meeting, as you know, but am writing now because I'm away from Nyack and can't attend Thursday night's meeting.
Specifically, I'm writing regarding the traffic study conducted in re. the proposed removal of four parking spaces above Anna Street on Depew, and regarding the Board's upcoming vote on the proposal. I strongly urge you and the board to vote no on the proposal.
The traffic study concludes that while the parking spaces on adjoining streets are indeed full at night, the four spaces in question on Depew are not, and suggests that if they aren't being fully utilized, there is by definition no parking 'shortage' in the area, and that their removal would thus have no significant impact on the needs of adjacent and nearby homeowners or visitors, or on the neighborhood itself.
But many of us feel that the parking spaces are necessary to the neighborhood nonetheless, as they in fact serve several functions simultaneously.
First and foremost, they are there -- available as parking spaces to homeowners on both Depew and on surrounding streets, available even if only for perhaps rare occasions of homeowners hosting multiple or extended-stay guests, available for street fairs and middle school events when parking is full to capacity, or even when a film shoot requires home owners to move from their own streets' parking spaces, and even their own driveways, etc. I'm suggesting that being filled does not alone make a parking space; and that as an available residential and commercial amenity, commodity, or resource, parking spaces are indeed valuable and necessary to many of the real needs of a neighborhood. Second, parking spaces and their availability on streets throughout a residential neighborhood help to both constitute and preserve the residential character of the neighborhood, as well as the needs (and rights?) of its residents. Third, in helping to constitute and represent the residential identity and character of the street, much like the 25 mph speed zone that also represents and constitutes Depew, the parking spaces in question undoubtedly help keep speeding down (as an aside I'll note that, curiously, there are no 25 mph speed signs west of Summit St on Depew, though they are frequent from Franklin to that point). As I noted in the public comments of the last meeting I attended, one reason the Village Board voted yes some years ago to adding speed bumps on Depew near Anna and Washington Streets was that residents reported cars frequently speeding downhill on the eastbound side of Depew, the side without parking spaces, often on the stretches approaching school bus stops. Fourth and last, in the absence of adequate sidewalks on either side of Depew, especially from Washington Street west to 9W, parking spaces offer a zone of additional safety to pedestrians. It's perhaps worth considering whether the spaces in question are often left open, while those on the surrounding streets are packed at night, not because there's not a parking problem but because there's a traffic speed and safety problem -- and a different plan, long talked about for a wider sidewalk design which could also support the limited parking existing on upper Depew would perhaps mitigate many of these inter-related problems, and put attention back on the goal of keeping Depew a securely residential street that is also a shared corridor for both cars and pedestrians (and perhaps someday, if we design it wisely, bikes), many of them middle schoolers walking to and from home and school.
I fully recognize that the Board has noted to the public that, in considering the traffic study and the developers' request to remove these four parking spaces so as to create safer sightlines for a proposed driveway granting access to the development from and onto Depew, it is legally bound to consider only the question of the necessity of the four spaces spaces for the purpose/function of parking, rather than any other role they play in the streetscape, or in the overall traffic flow in the area, or any role their removal might play in opening the area to the Main Street development itself, and to the development's own future impacts on traffic flow and congestion, pedestrian safety, and the neighborhood's residential scale, or on any further attempt to look at all of these problems holistically.
Still, many of us have been arguing that this is shortsighted, and have asked the Board nonetheless to look at the elements and ramifications of the overall proposal holistically rather than piecemeal, and to recognize that the streetscape along Depew is one of those elements, and an important one. As such we feel the character of the streetscape should remain consonant not with the commercial aims and needs of a single new development, but at least equally or moreso with other values and needs of the neighborhood, and other professed values throughout Nyack as it considers safeguarding other areas, and conceptualizes and builds its future. Again, some of these goals, acknowledged in streetscape design or preservation in other areas of Nyack, are pedestrian safety; an easing of traffic congestion by promoting sidewalks and bikeways; a sound traffic and parking plan for all of downtown Nyack, of which upper Main Street is certainly a part. Depew, as a parallel, neighborhood point of entrance and egress to Main Street from 9W and the 'gateway' and from the north-south streets, and into the downtown, should receive equal consideration in all planning that impacts it, not to address the exigencies of one developer in one moment, but for the longterm. And, I'd argue,there's also an ethical obligation to work to preserve what is most essential to Nyack, along with its riverfront, even as we innovate and grow -- its many and diverse neighborhoods.
Depew is part of a significant neighborhood, physically and historically and demographically. The pressures on it to expand/dilute into a mere artery are growing, and already eroding the integrity and sense of the neighborhood as a whole at many points between Cedar Hill to Main Street. Let's not erode it further. Let's instead begin to address the longstanding needs of Depew, and its intersecting streets, and its inhabitants and visitors, and Nyack's visitors as they pass through this important passage. (I have sometimes Imagined how it might have been had a thoughtful and holistic longterm vision for Depew's impact on Nyack been championed 25 years ago, say, and produced wider sidewalks, and some sidewalk bumpouts, as in the downtown on Main Street, or perhaps one or two small rotaries and raised crosswalks rather than speedbumps, and an increase rather than a decrease in parking spaces, as is a common 20th/21st century urban planning solution in the excellent and renowned town planning that has preserved the Victorian neighborhoods of fast-growing Melbourne, Australia). My point is that whether or not the four parking spaces in question are in use all or much or even very little of the time is only one measure of the role they play in preserving the fact and sense that people live here, in houses bearing a relationship to other houses in the nearby streets, and bearing a relation to people who might, even if only occasionally, visit them, and need a place to park.
For all these reasons, I urge you to vote no on this shortsighted proposal. Nyack can surely come up with a worthier plan.
Sincerely,
Julie Agoos
Mrs. Antonia Sambevski
572 Babbling Brook Lane
Valley Cottage, NY 10989
June 28, 2018
Nyack Village Hall
To Whom It May Concern:
It has come to my attention that there is a dispute over the potential driveway access being granted to the 26 unit apartment complex planned for 249-259 Main Street.
I am a school bus driver for Brega Bus Company, Valley Cottage, NY. My bus route takes me up and down Depew Ave. several times a day. I can tell you that the traffic during the school year in the morning is hazardous for elementary school children
running to bus stops as well as for middle schoolers who walk to school along Depew. As a Bus driver I already believe that Depew is too small a road for the amount of cars that travel it. I would say that it is the road I am most cautious on while doing my run because of too many cars and pedestrians using it at the same time. The addition of 26-52 cars pulling out onto Depew Avenue in the morning is unfathomable.
It is my opinion that in your zeal to offer more housing units to add to the town, you are disregarding the needs of your families who live along Depew by making a residential road into a main thoroughfare. You may get away with it until the first time a driver pulls out of their new fancy apartment building to go to work; coffee and cell phone in hand forgetting that a 7 year old may be running to her bus stop.
Please err on the side of caution when making this very important decision.
Sincerely,
Antonia Sambevski
572 Babbling Brook Lane
Valley Cottage, NY 10989
June 28, 2018
Nyack Village Hall
To Whom It May Concern:
It has come to my attention that there is a dispute over the potential driveway access being granted to the 26 unit apartment complex planned for 249-259 Main Street.
I am a school bus driver for Brega Bus Company, Valley Cottage, NY. My bus route takes me up and down Depew Ave. several times a day. I can tell you that the traffic during the school year in the morning is hazardous for elementary school children
running to bus stops as well as for middle schoolers who walk to school along Depew. As a Bus driver I already believe that Depew is too small a road for the amount of cars that travel it. I would say that it is the road I am most cautious on while doing my run because of too many cars and pedestrians using it at the same time. The addition of 26-52 cars pulling out onto Depew Avenue in the morning is unfathomable.
It is my opinion that in your zeal to offer more housing units to add to the town, you are disregarding the needs of your families who live along Depew by making a residential road into a main thoroughfare. You may get away with it until the first time a driver pulls out of their new fancy apartment building to go to work; coffee and cell phone in hand forgetting that a 7 year old may be running to her bus stop.
Please err on the side of caution when making this very important decision.
Sincerely,
Antonia Sambevski
April 12. 2018
Dear sirs,
I am writing you requesting you to refuse the proposal to eliminate 4 parking spaces on the Depew Avenue to move forward with Diana place.
I am totally opposed. Why should the neighbors on the Depew Avenue suffer having parking spots removed because there is a new building going up that will:
A. Create more traffic on Depew Avenue than what it can bear
B. Create a hazard for children walking to and back from school on Depew Avenue. Having one or two cars exiting from a house is much different then the possibility of 52 cars exiting from one driveway.
C. Change the character of our town
I urge you not to create a terrible traffic situation on Depew. I urge you to put the safety of our children first. I urge you to keep the character of our town.
Warm regards,
Sonia Berah
22 Summit St.
Nyack, NY 10960
Dear sirs,
I am writing you requesting you to refuse the proposal to eliminate 4 parking spaces on the Depew Avenue to move forward with Diana place.
I am totally opposed. Why should the neighbors on the Depew Avenue suffer having parking spots removed because there is a new building going up that will:
A. Create more traffic on Depew Avenue than what it can bear
B. Create a hazard for children walking to and back from school on Depew Avenue. Having one or two cars exiting from a house is much different then the possibility of 52 cars exiting from one driveway.
C. Change the character of our town
I urge you not to create a terrible traffic situation on Depew. I urge you to put the safety of our children first. I urge you to keep the character of our town.
Warm regards,
Sonia Berah
22 Summit St.
Nyack, NY 10960
From: Julie Agoos
Date: Thu, Apr 12, 2018 at 11:04 AM
Subject: Voting NO on proposed elimination of 4 parking spots on Depew Avenue
Dear Village Board members:
I am following up letters I sent this past Monday and last fall and summer to the Planning Board, regarding the development at 249-259 Main Street and proposed access onto Depew Avenue, to urge you to vote No on the proposed revision to the driveway access site plan, and the proposed elimination of four parking spots on Depew Avenue.
The revised proposal seeks a "compromise" that, in reducing sightlines and eliminating parking for the neighborhood, adds to the negative impacts of the plan overall. The traffic on both sides of the development site, which arrives at a point of east-west traffic flow between the 'Gateway,' residential neighborhoods, and the Village, and of middle school foot traffic as well as recently (desirable) increased foot traffic from downtown and the adjoining neighborhoods to new businesses at the intersection of Midland and Main, has historically choked traffic and presented significant safety hazards. The proposed access plan increases these historic problems and hazards, and thereby reduces the opportunity to redress them; and in both respects is singularly unresponsive to the character and needs of the neighborhood, or to the complexities of the neighborhood's transitional geography in its relationship to the longterm holistic needs governing both commercial and residential development in this area and within the Village overall.
Sincerely,
Julie Agoos
55 Summit Street
Nyack, NY 10960
Date: Thu, Apr 12, 2018 at 11:04 AM
Subject: Voting NO on proposed elimination of 4 parking spots on Depew Avenue
Dear Village Board members:
I am following up letters I sent this past Monday and last fall and summer to the Planning Board, regarding the development at 249-259 Main Street and proposed access onto Depew Avenue, to urge you to vote No on the proposed revision to the driveway access site plan, and the proposed elimination of four parking spots on Depew Avenue.
The revised proposal seeks a "compromise" that, in reducing sightlines and eliminating parking for the neighborhood, adds to the negative impacts of the plan overall. The traffic on both sides of the development site, which arrives at a point of east-west traffic flow between the 'Gateway,' residential neighborhoods, and the Village, and of middle school foot traffic as well as recently (desirable) increased foot traffic from downtown and the adjoining neighborhoods to new businesses at the intersection of Midland and Main, has historically choked traffic and presented significant safety hazards. The proposed access plan increases these historic problems and hazards, and thereby reduces the opportunity to redress them; and in both respects is singularly unresponsive to the character and needs of the neighborhood, or to the complexities of the neighborhood's transitional geography in its relationship to the longterm holistic needs governing both commercial and residential development in this area and within the Village overall.
Sincerely,
Julie Agoos
55 Summit Street
Nyack, NY 10960
199 Depew Ave.
Nyack, NY 10960
April 9, 2018
Dear Chairman Klose and Members of the Planning Board:
Thank you for your consideration of our and our neighbors’ objections to the variances and density bonuses requested in proposals for 249-259 Main Street, particularly access via Depew Avenue. We request this letter be made part of the official record because we are unable to attend tonight’s meeting.
Overall, we continue to urge you to recommend against the proposed variances, particularly access to Depew Avenue. We also urge you to recommend against increased density. The number of units proposed does not work for that site, the neighborhood, or the Village.
We have reviewed the most recent proposals submitted by Robert Silarski on behalf of the owners of 249-259 Main Street. Once again, the developers appear to be offering a false choice between a poor proposal with Main Street access and a seemingly better proposal with Depew Avenue access. However, the proposed access via Depew Avenue access remains seriously problematic for the following reasons:
Similarly, we are strongly opposed to reducing sight distance requirements on Depew Avenue. In addition to vehicular traffic, Depew Avenue is a significant pedestrian thoroughfare, much more so than upper Main Street. Scores of Middle School students walk Depew Avenue to and from school every day. There are also numerous elementary school children who take school buses that stop at the intersection of Depew Avenue and Anna Street, very close to the proposed new Diana Place road. To our knowledge, there are no school children who walk or have a bus stop on Main Street between Midland Avenue and Route 9W.
Further, none of the traffic studies for this project that we have seen have accounted for the speed humps that were installed to slow down traffic on Depew Avenue, or vehicles entering Depew Avenue from Anna Street. These are serious omissions. The speed humps are evidence that Depew Avenue has dangerous traffic problems. The intersection of Anna Street with Depew Avenue, so close to the proposed new road, creates additional traffic conflicts. This is most definitely not the area to reduce standard sight distance requirements.
In his revised narrative to the Planning Board dated November 30, 2017, Robert Silarski suggests that restricting vehicular access to Depew Avenue is consistent with the Comprehensive Plan. However, our review of that same plan clearly provides evidence to deny the proposed variances and density bonuses. For example, both sections 3 and 10 recommend decision-makers “Preserve the current overall built scale of Nyack and its neighborhoods.” Furthermore, section 10.5 recommends developing “a ‘Safe Routes to School’ program to focus on improving pedestrian infrastructure with in student walk zones.”
The recently submitted renderings confirm our concern that the proposed 4th story is inconsistent with the “overall built scale” and the adjoining TFR-zoned neighborhoods. We urge the Board to recommend against this variance as well.
Furthermore, we are still concerned that Village officials “directed” the developers to put the access on Depew Avenue. We urge you to clearly state that any statement of this type was outside the authorized process and is therefore invalid.
This direction is just one of the apparent conflicts of interest related to this project. We once again raise the issue of Marcy Denker’s apparent conflict of interest as a Village official in granting the easement for Depew Avenue (and likely receiving payment) on property she had recently purchased. As a follow up to Walter Sevastian’s memo of November 6, 2017, we urge the Planning Board to request an opinion from the Office of the New York State Comptroller and/or New York State Attorney General to investigate and address these and any other conflicts of interest and/or ethical violations more fully.
In conclusion, we urge you to recommend against the proposed variances and density bonuses, particularly all access to Depew Avenue.
Thank you again for your consideration.
Respectfully submitted,
Joseph & Peggy Brady-Amoon
Cc: Eileen Kuster Collins, Chair, and Members of the Architectural Review Board
Steven P. Knowlton, Chair, and Members of the Zoning Board of Appeals
Nyack, NY 10960
April 9, 2018
Dear Chairman Klose and Members of the Planning Board:
Thank you for your consideration of our and our neighbors’ objections to the variances and density bonuses requested in proposals for 249-259 Main Street, particularly access via Depew Avenue. We request this letter be made part of the official record because we are unable to attend tonight’s meeting.
Overall, we continue to urge you to recommend against the proposed variances, particularly access to Depew Avenue. We also urge you to recommend against increased density. The number of units proposed does not work for that site, the neighborhood, or the Village.
We have reviewed the most recent proposals submitted by Robert Silarski on behalf of the owners of 249-259 Main Street. Once again, the developers appear to be offering a false choice between a poor proposal with Main Street access and a seemingly better proposal with Depew Avenue access. However, the proposed access via Depew Avenue access remains seriously problematic for the following reasons:
- Depew Avenue is located in the TFR zone while the proposed development is in the DMU-2 zone. The developers knew that when they purchased the property. We urge you to defend the integrity of our residential zone. Deny any access to or from Depew Avenue. Keep high density zone traffic on Main Street.
- Homeowners, residents, and others who travel on Depew Avenue should not suffer the hazard of increased traffic to benefit the relatively new owners of 249 and 259 Main Street.
- Do not make the intolerable traffic problem on Depew Avenue worse. The Route 9W/Depew Avenue intersection is the worst in our Village (service level F). Do not add more traffic to Depew and that intersection. Deny any access to or from Depew Avenue.
Similarly, we are strongly opposed to reducing sight distance requirements on Depew Avenue. In addition to vehicular traffic, Depew Avenue is a significant pedestrian thoroughfare, much more so than upper Main Street. Scores of Middle School students walk Depew Avenue to and from school every day. There are also numerous elementary school children who take school buses that stop at the intersection of Depew Avenue and Anna Street, very close to the proposed new Diana Place road. To our knowledge, there are no school children who walk or have a bus stop on Main Street between Midland Avenue and Route 9W.
Further, none of the traffic studies for this project that we have seen have accounted for the speed humps that were installed to slow down traffic on Depew Avenue, or vehicles entering Depew Avenue from Anna Street. These are serious omissions. The speed humps are evidence that Depew Avenue has dangerous traffic problems. The intersection of Anna Street with Depew Avenue, so close to the proposed new road, creates additional traffic conflicts. This is most definitely not the area to reduce standard sight distance requirements.
In his revised narrative to the Planning Board dated November 30, 2017, Robert Silarski suggests that restricting vehicular access to Depew Avenue is consistent with the Comprehensive Plan. However, our review of that same plan clearly provides evidence to deny the proposed variances and density bonuses. For example, both sections 3 and 10 recommend decision-makers “Preserve the current overall built scale of Nyack and its neighborhoods.” Furthermore, section 10.5 recommends developing “a ‘Safe Routes to School’ program to focus on improving pedestrian infrastructure with in student walk zones.”
The recently submitted renderings confirm our concern that the proposed 4th story is inconsistent with the “overall built scale” and the adjoining TFR-zoned neighborhoods. We urge the Board to recommend against this variance as well.
Furthermore, we are still concerned that Village officials “directed” the developers to put the access on Depew Avenue. We urge you to clearly state that any statement of this type was outside the authorized process and is therefore invalid.
This direction is just one of the apparent conflicts of interest related to this project. We once again raise the issue of Marcy Denker’s apparent conflict of interest as a Village official in granting the easement for Depew Avenue (and likely receiving payment) on property she had recently purchased. As a follow up to Walter Sevastian’s memo of November 6, 2017, we urge the Planning Board to request an opinion from the Office of the New York State Comptroller and/or New York State Attorney General to investigate and address these and any other conflicts of interest and/or ethical violations more fully.
In conclusion, we urge you to recommend against the proposed variances and density bonuses, particularly all access to Depew Avenue.
Thank you again for your consideration.
Respectfully submitted,
Joseph & Peggy Brady-Amoon
Cc: Eileen Kuster Collins, Chair, and Members of the Architectural Review Board
Steven P. Knowlton, Chair, and Members of the Zoning Board of Appeals
Dear Sirs,
My name is Sonia Berah. I’m a resident of Nyack and I live at 22 Summit St.
I’m writing this letter to talk to you about the proposed building of Diana Place. From what I understand there is reduced visibility in the proposal for the exit at Depew Avenue.
When school lets out Depew Avenue is swarming with youngsters who walk down Depew and crossing the street at that level sometimes in groups of 10 or 15 kids.
Reduced visibility would put the children of the neighborhood in danger with cars exit and enter that entrance.
That is just one of the issues of building at 26 unit building, Diana place. Please consider how Depew would support the traffic load of 26 more families (up to 52 cars) entering and exiting so close to 9W, where cars already back up and have problems turning left and even now on 9 W from Depew. The traffic is so much that just in the past year a sign has been put up banning people who are heading up Depew Avenue from making a left turn between 4 and 7 PM.
26 more units might imply 52 more cars entering and exiting onto Depew from one driveway heading out and returning from work at peak traffic times.
Please consider that those of us who bought houses in the neighborhood bought them because the streets are quiet and safe for our children. Building this 26 unit building would change the character of our town, adding traffic to streets that were never built for that volume of transit. Depew is already heavily used as an artery to enter or exit Nyack at 9W.
I am unable to attend the meeting because I am working in Washington this week. I would request that my letter be read at the meeting.
Warm regards,
Sonia Berah
My name is Sonia Berah. I’m a resident of Nyack and I live at 22 Summit St.
I’m writing this letter to talk to you about the proposed building of Diana Place. From what I understand there is reduced visibility in the proposal for the exit at Depew Avenue.
When school lets out Depew Avenue is swarming with youngsters who walk down Depew and crossing the street at that level sometimes in groups of 10 or 15 kids.
Reduced visibility would put the children of the neighborhood in danger with cars exit and enter that entrance.
That is just one of the issues of building at 26 unit building, Diana place. Please consider how Depew would support the traffic load of 26 more families (up to 52 cars) entering and exiting so close to 9W, where cars already back up and have problems turning left and even now on 9 W from Depew. The traffic is so much that just in the past year a sign has been put up banning people who are heading up Depew Avenue from making a left turn between 4 and 7 PM.
26 more units might imply 52 more cars entering and exiting onto Depew from one driveway heading out and returning from work at peak traffic times.
Please consider that those of us who bought houses in the neighborhood bought them because the streets are quiet and safe for our children. Building this 26 unit building would change the character of our town, adding traffic to streets that were never built for that volume of transit. Depew is already heavily used as an artery to enter or exit Nyack at 9W.
I am unable to attend the meeting because I am working in Washington this week. I would request that my letter be read at the meeting.
Warm regards,
Sonia Berah
February 10, 2018
Sem M Philippe
P.O. Box: 69
Nyack NY 10960
To The Nyack Land & Use Boards: Planning Board, Zoning Board of Appeals & Architectural Review
Ladies & Gentlemen,
As a resident of Depew Avenue in this Village, I am addressing my citizen concerns about the current proposal and requested variances for (249-259 Main Street). As most of the residents of the area, I think a 4 story 26 units with a 2 way road will have a negative impact on our community.
--First of all, Depew is zoned as Residential neighborhood and should be treated as such.
- Secondly, there is the pedestrians issue. Including neighboring Middle School children daily walking onto and off their site.
--Thirdly we also have the “Traffic Obstruction” on Depew. Whenever, there is an event in town, we must spend sometimes over an hour to get out or in a three blocs living area.
-Fourthly, In additional, what is the potential impact of a (4 story 26- units) additional cars looking for legal on- street- overnight- parking. Does anybody know about that?
For all those reasons, I urge the Village of Nyack Building Department and it’s different above mentioned Boards to reject the current proposal- and requested variances- for 249-259 Main street.
Thank you,
Sem Philippe
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Dear Sirs,
I object to the way the access is set up for this building. Also object to there not being enough parking spaces for this building. Adding so many cars to the Nyack infrastructure without the necessary parking or access roads will change our town irreparably.
Regards,
Sonia Berah
Conference Interpreter English<>Spanish
Member of AIIC
Federally Certified Spanish Interpreter
---------------------------------------------
22 Summit Street, Apt1
Nyack, NY 10960
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
I am writing this letter as a concerned Nyack citizen regarding proposed teardown of two homes on Main Street to be replaced with a modular box building that wants to have an entrance and exit driveway onto Depew Avenue. On so many levels this is a very bad idea. It is my understanding that Main Street is a different zone than the Depew Ave side. This seems to break down the separation of zones. Why do we even have zones if they are not taken seriously?
I am sure most of you have seen how many children walk along Depew Ave to the Middle School in the morning and how many walk home in the afternoon. It is already a dangerous situation, and now the developers want to add more cars entering and exiting onto Depew for their Main Street project. Depew Avenue and all the little streets up there are a wonderful neighborhood full of families with young kids. Let’s not burden them with more traffic. Speaking of traffic I am also very concerned that when the Pavion and Jackson Avenue projects also come online Depew traffic will intensify even more. Have the boards taken all these projects into account while contemplating the Main Street proposal? It is my understanding that the Jackson Avenue project is looking at 50 units which could add close to 100 cars. This is too much for those quiet streets.
This Main Street project is adding another ugly box structure to that area. We are starting down a very slippery slope as more big box buildings are built and small lots are allowed to be combined for the purpose of building these large structures. It is my understanding that in the 2007 Master Plan the combining of lots was discouraged if not prohibited. We need more protection for our beautiful village regarding this subject in our zoning code - the sooner the better.
I am sure you are all aware that grid lock streets are not good for our merchants and restaurants as well. People will hesitate if they feel they will sit in traffic to get to a destination in the downtown. Traffic has always been a concern here in Nyack, and we have to manage this issue with each new proposal.
I am asking that you consider the quality of life of the families in this neighborhood, and vote no to developer request for the driveway onto Depew Avenue.
Thank You
Frederic Weber
Sem M Philippe
P.O. Box: 69
Nyack NY 10960
To The Nyack Land & Use Boards: Planning Board, Zoning Board of Appeals & Architectural Review
Ladies & Gentlemen,
As a resident of Depew Avenue in this Village, I am addressing my citizen concerns about the current proposal and requested variances for (249-259 Main Street). As most of the residents of the area, I think a 4 story 26 units with a 2 way road will have a negative impact on our community.
--First of all, Depew is zoned as Residential neighborhood and should be treated as such.
- Secondly, there is the pedestrians issue. Including neighboring Middle School children daily walking onto and off their site.
--Thirdly we also have the “Traffic Obstruction” on Depew. Whenever, there is an event in town, we must spend sometimes over an hour to get out or in a three blocs living area.
-Fourthly, In additional, what is the potential impact of a (4 story 26- units) additional cars looking for legal on- street- overnight- parking. Does anybody know about that?
For all those reasons, I urge the Village of Nyack Building Department and it’s different above mentioned Boards to reject the current proposal- and requested variances- for 249-259 Main street.
Thank you,
Sem Philippe
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Dear Sirs,
I object to the way the access is set up for this building. Also object to there not being enough parking spaces for this building. Adding so many cars to the Nyack infrastructure without the necessary parking or access roads will change our town irreparably.
Regards,
Sonia Berah
Conference Interpreter English<>Spanish
Member of AIIC
Federally Certified Spanish Interpreter
---------------------------------------------
22 Summit Street, Apt1
Nyack, NY 10960
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
I am writing this letter as a concerned Nyack citizen regarding proposed teardown of two homes on Main Street to be replaced with a modular box building that wants to have an entrance and exit driveway onto Depew Avenue. On so many levels this is a very bad idea. It is my understanding that Main Street is a different zone than the Depew Ave side. This seems to break down the separation of zones. Why do we even have zones if they are not taken seriously?
I am sure most of you have seen how many children walk along Depew Ave to the Middle School in the morning and how many walk home in the afternoon. It is already a dangerous situation, and now the developers want to add more cars entering and exiting onto Depew for their Main Street project. Depew Avenue and all the little streets up there are a wonderful neighborhood full of families with young kids. Let’s not burden them with more traffic. Speaking of traffic I am also very concerned that when the Pavion and Jackson Avenue projects also come online Depew traffic will intensify even more. Have the boards taken all these projects into account while contemplating the Main Street proposal? It is my understanding that the Jackson Avenue project is looking at 50 units which could add close to 100 cars. This is too much for those quiet streets.
This Main Street project is adding another ugly box structure to that area. We are starting down a very slippery slope as more big box buildings are built and small lots are allowed to be combined for the purpose of building these large structures. It is my understanding that in the 2007 Master Plan the combining of lots was discouraged if not prohibited. We need more protection for our beautiful village regarding this subject in our zoning code - the sooner the better.
I am sure you are all aware that grid lock streets are not good for our merchants and restaurants as well. People will hesitate if they feel they will sit in traffic to get to a destination in the downtown. Traffic has always been a concern here in Nyack, and we have to manage this issue with each new proposal.
I am asking that you consider the quality of life of the families in this neighborhood, and vote no to developer request for the driveway onto Depew Avenue.
Thank You
Frederic Weber
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
199 Depew Ave.,
Nyack, NY 10960
October 2, 2017
Planning Board
Village of Nyack
To Peter Klose, Chair, and Members of the Planning Board:
We are writing to express our strong opposition to the current proposal for the development of Diana Place at 249-259 Main Street and urge you to recommend against the proposed design and variances. It is our considered opinion that the proposed development would have a negative effect on vehicular and pedestrian safety as well as the character, appearance, and property values of adjoining residential neighborhoods.
We urge you and related boards to reject the requests for an additional story, increased density, and the proposal to build a new two-way driveway/road that would intersect with Depew Avenue in the residential neighborhood between Crosby and Anna Streets.
In addition to the considering what the proposed complex would look like from Main Street, which we see as too boxy and industrial for the neighborhood, we urge you to consider the Depew Avenue neighborhood perspective. We are particularly concerned about the negative effects of a 4 story building towering over the residential neighborhood that backs up to Main Street, including some neighbors’ backyards, and the removal of the currently existing greenery and beautiful specimen tree to pave the proposed two-way driveway/road onto Depew Ave. We also note the potential conflict(s) of interest(s) as the proposed easement is on property recently purchased by Marcy Denker, the Village’s Sustainability Coordinator.
We also ask you to consider the potential impact of adding another intersection/road for this complex to an already overburdened section of Depew Ave from both design and safety perspectives. This section of Depew Ave functions as funnel for much Nyack and South Nyack traffic and is designated in the Village’s Comprehensive Plan as an arterial road. If this proposed development is not modified, the additional traffic would also have a negative impact on the often congested and dangerous intersection of Depew Ave and Route 9W. Furthermore, a new driveway/road at this juncture would negatively impact the significant number of pedestrians, including middle school children, who walk this route on a regular basis. We are also concerned about the impact that a 26-unit building with minimal on-site parking would have on on-street parking in the neighborhood. Overall, we are concerned that the proposed two-way driveway/road on Depew Avenue would have a negative impact on safety, quality of life, and neighborhood home values in our diverse well-established neighborhood.
It is our considered opinion that any building sited on Main Street alone should include a plan for access to and from Main Street, which would be consistent with the neighborhood of Upper Main Street and would alleviate some of the safety concerns raised above. More specifically, since the proposed development would replace two houses each with its own driveway on Main Street, we strongly recommend rejecting the proposed variances, recommend staying with 3 stories, and making Main Street the only access into or out of the development. If it would be helpful, traffic in and out of the new driveway on Main Street could be restricted to right hand turns only, perhaps with appropriate curb cuts, to facilitate travel for all involved on this important collector street.
Overall, we urge you to recommend against the proposed variance from 3 to 4 stories and the driveway/road on Depew Avenue. Please include this in the official record. Thank you for your consideration and action.
Peggy & Joseph Brady-Amoon
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
199 Depew Ave.,
Nyack, NY 10960
October 2, 2017
Planning Board
Village of Nyack
To Peter Klose, Chair, and Members of the Planning Board:
We are writing to express our strong opposition to the current proposal for the development of Diana Place at 249-259 Main Street and urge you to recommend against the proposed design and variances. It is our considered opinion that the proposed development would have a negative effect on vehicular and pedestrian safety as well as the character, appearance, and property values of adjoining residential neighborhoods.
We urge you and related boards to reject the requests for an additional story, increased density, and the proposal to build a new two-way driveway/road that would intersect with Depew Avenue in the residential neighborhood between Crosby and Anna Streets.
In addition to the considering what the proposed complex would look like from Main Street, which we see as too boxy and industrial for the neighborhood, we urge you to consider the Depew Avenue neighborhood perspective. We are particularly concerned about the negative effects of a 4 story building towering over the residential neighborhood that backs up to Main Street, including some neighbors’ backyards, and the removal of the currently existing greenery and beautiful specimen tree to pave the proposed two-way driveway/road onto Depew Ave. We also note the potential conflict(s) of interest(s) as the proposed easement is on property recently purchased by Marcy Denker, the Village’s Sustainability Coordinator.
We also ask you to consider the potential impact of adding another intersection/road for this complex to an already overburdened section of Depew Ave from both design and safety perspectives. This section of Depew Ave functions as funnel for much Nyack and South Nyack traffic and is designated in the Village’s Comprehensive Plan as an arterial road. If this proposed development is not modified, the additional traffic would also have a negative impact on the often congested and dangerous intersection of Depew Ave and Route 9W. Furthermore, a new driveway/road at this juncture would negatively impact the significant number of pedestrians, including middle school children, who walk this route on a regular basis. We are also concerned about the impact that a 26-unit building with minimal on-site parking would have on on-street parking in the neighborhood. Overall, we are concerned that the proposed two-way driveway/road on Depew Avenue would have a negative impact on safety, quality of life, and neighborhood home values in our diverse well-established neighborhood.
It is our considered opinion that any building sited on Main Street alone should include a plan for access to and from Main Street, which would be consistent with the neighborhood of Upper Main Street and would alleviate some of the safety concerns raised above. More specifically, since the proposed development would replace two houses each with its own driveway on Main Street, we strongly recommend rejecting the proposed variances, recommend staying with 3 stories, and making Main Street the only access into or out of the development. If it would be helpful, traffic in and out of the new driveway on Main Street could be restricted to right hand turns only, perhaps with appropriate curb cuts, to facilitate travel for all involved on this important collector street.
Overall, we urge you to recommend against the proposed variance from 3 to 4 stories and the driveway/road on Depew Avenue. Please include this in the official record. Thank you for your consideration and action.
Peggy & Joseph Brady-Amoon
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
To the Architectural Review Board
199 Depew Ave.,
Nyack, NY 10960
August 28, 2017
Architectural Review Board
Village of Nyack
To Eileen Kuster Collins, Chair, and Members of the Architectural Review Board:
We are writing to express our strong opposition to the current proposal for the development of Diana Place at 249-259 Main Street and urge you to recommend against the proposed design and variances. It is our considered opinion that the proposed development would have a negative effect on the character, appearance, and property values of the surrounding neighborhoods – particularly the Depew Avenue residential neighborhood.
We urge you and related boards to reject the requests for an additional story, increased density, and the proposal to build a new two-way driveway/road that would intersect with Depew Avenue in the residential neighborhood between Crosby and Anna Streets.
In addition to the considering what the proposed complex would look like from Main Street, which we see as too boxy and industrial for the neighborhood, we urge you to consider the Depew Avenue neighborhood perspective. We are particularly concerned about the negative effects of a 4 story building towering over the residential neighborhood that backs up to Main Street, including some neighbors’ backyards, and the removal of the currently existing greenery and beautiful specimen tree to pave the proposed two-way driveway/road onto Depew Ave. We also note the potential conflict(s) of interest(s) as the proposed easement is on property recently purchased by Marcy Denker, the Village’s Sustainability Coordinator.
We also ask you to consider the potential impact of adding another intersection/road for this complex to an already overburdened section of Depew Ave from both design and safety perspectives. This section of Depew Ave functions as funnel for much Nyack and South Nyack traffic and is designated in the Village’s Comprehensive Plan as an arterial road. If this plan is not modified, the additional traffic would also have a negative impact on the often congested and dangerous intersection of Depew Ave and Route 9W. Furthermore, a new driveway/road at this juncture would negatively impact the significant number of pedestrians, including middle school children, who walk this route on a regular basis. We are also concerned about the impact that a 26-unit building with minimal on-site parking would have on on-street parking in the neighborhood. Overall, we are concerned that the proposed two-way driveway/road on Depew Avenue would have a negative impact on safety, quality of life, and neighborhood home values in our diverse well-established neighborhood.
It is our considered opinion that any building sited on Main Street alone should include a plan for access to and from Main Street, which would be consistent with the neighborhood of Upper Main Street and would alleviate some of the safety concerns raised above. More specifically, since the proposed development would replace two single family homes each with its own driveway on Main Street, we strongly recommend rejecting the proposed variances, recommend staying with 3 stories, and making Main Street the only access into or out of the development. If it would be helpful, traffic in and out of the new driveway on Main Street could be restricted to right hand turns only, perhaps with appropriate curb cuts, to facilitate travel for all involved on this important collector street.
Overall, we urge you to recommend against the proposed variance from 3 to 4 stories and the driveway/road on Depew Avenue. Please include this in the official record. Thank you for your consideration and action.
Peggy & Joseph Brady-Amoon
Nyack, NY 10960
August 28, 2017
Architectural Review Board
Village of Nyack
To Eileen Kuster Collins, Chair, and Members of the Architectural Review Board:
We are writing to express our strong opposition to the current proposal for the development of Diana Place at 249-259 Main Street and urge you to recommend against the proposed design and variances. It is our considered opinion that the proposed development would have a negative effect on the character, appearance, and property values of the surrounding neighborhoods – particularly the Depew Avenue residential neighborhood.
We urge you and related boards to reject the requests for an additional story, increased density, and the proposal to build a new two-way driveway/road that would intersect with Depew Avenue in the residential neighborhood between Crosby and Anna Streets.
In addition to the considering what the proposed complex would look like from Main Street, which we see as too boxy and industrial for the neighborhood, we urge you to consider the Depew Avenue neighborhood perspective. We are particularly concerned about the negative effects of a 4 story building towering over the residential neighborhood that backs up to Main Street, including some neighbors’ backyards, and the removal of the currently existing greenery and beautiful specimen tree to pave the proposed two-way driveway/road onto Depew Ave. We also note the potential conflict(s) of interest(s) as the proposed easement is on property recently purchased by Marcy Denker, the Village’s Sustainability Coordinator.
We also ask you to consider the potential impact of adding another intersection/road for this complex to an already overburdened section of Depew Ave from both design and safety perspectives. This section of Depew Ave functions as funnel for much Nyack and South Nyack traffic and is designated in the Village’s Comprehensive Plan as an arterial road. If this plan is not modified, the additional traffic would also have a negative impact on the often congested and dangerous intersection of Depew Ave and Route 9W. Furthermore, a new driveway/road at this juncture would negatively impact the significant number of pedestrians, including middle school children, who walk this route on a regular basis. We are also concerned about the impact that a 26-unit building with minimal on-site parking would have on on-street parking in the neighborhood. Overall, we are concerned that the proposed two-way driveway/road on Depew Avenue would have a negative impact on safety, quality of life, and neighborhood home values in our diverse well-established neighborhood.
It is our considered opinion that any building sited on Main Street alone should include a plan for access to and from Main Street, which would be consistent with the neighborhood of Upper Main Street and would alleviate some of the safety concerns raised above. More specifically, since the proposed development would replace two single family homes each with its own driveway on Main Street, we strongly recommend rejecting the proposed variances, recommend staying with 3 stories, and making Main Street the only access into or out of the development. If it would be helpful, traffic in and out of the new driveway on Main Street could be restricted to right hand turns only, perhaps with appropriate curb cuts, to facilitate travel for all involved on this important collector street.
Overall, we urge you to recommend against the proposed variance from 3 to 4 stories and the driveway/road on Depew Avenue. Please include this in the official record. Thank you for your consideration and action.
Peggy & Joseph Brady-Amoon