FASNY FEIS Accepted By White Plains Common Council
After months of relative silence the White Plains Common Council voted Monday evening during a special meeting to accept the Final Environmental Impact Statement (FEIS) prepared by the French American School of New York (FASNY) for a proposed regional school development on the site of the former Ridgeway Country Club.
The vote was split five in favor and two opposed, with Council members Milagros Lecuona and Dennis Krolian saying they could not accept the FEIS document as presented.
The two dissenting votes raised concerns about the lack of adequate research and information regarding the impact on traffic of changes to the original plan which proposes busing 50 percent of FASNY students and access to the school property from two points — one from Bryant Avenue and the other from North Street, across from White Plains High School.
The four Council members and Mayor Tom Roach, voting yes, said they were carefully following the SEQRA process and had determined that FASNY had addressed all the issues brought up during the scoping sessions and had in fact presented a completed document. Each also stated that their vote to accept the FEIS as complete did not indicate they would ultimately vote in favor of the project.
This vote will be followed approximately a month later by a vote on findings, which will be followed by an additional public hearing and ultimately a vote on the site plan.
In a letter sent to supporters before Monday’s vote, FASNY expressed optimism that the FEIS would be accepted and indicated that more than a dozen meetings were held between FASNY and the city’s technical staff, and numerous additional studies and analyses, as well as nine additional traffic studies and other reviews were part of its preparation.
According to the FASNY letter, revisions to the school’s plan in response to the public review process include: Implementing a busing program similar to the one used by the German School reducing auto traffic to and from the school by 50 percent in both the morning and afternoon peak times.
Two alternative site access plans are presented as options for consideration by the council. One is from North Street opposite White Plains High School, the other from Bryant Avenue.
Increasing the landscaped and green setbacks for athletic fields, tennis courts and parking lots throughout the site to a minimum of 75 feet from adjacent residential properties, and planting hundreds of additional trees and shrubs as buffers between the school and residential areas.
Building a new High School set back 115 feet from Ridgeway. The current clubhouse, which is 53 feet from the street, would be demolished. Additionally, three existing access points, as well as the driveway from Ridgeway, would be eliminated.
Reorienting the Middle School to increase setbacks from Gedney Esplanade from 290 to 330 feet, and the Lower School to increase setbacks from residential properties from 108 feet to between 115 and 210 feet.
Reducing the number of parking spaces on the site from 428 to 378 and reconfiguring the parking lots to increase setbacks from nearby residential properties.
Creating east-west bicycle pathways and connectivity through the site.
Implementing the publically accessible Greens-to-Green Conservancy including restoration of 40-50 acres of wildflower meadow habitat within three years. A permanent, irrevocable conservation easement would be placed on the Conservancy. Security and maintenance would be provided by the School. A conservation steward would be hired to oversee all activities in the Conservancy.
Incorporating and integrating Green Building measures and design into all school buildings and the Conservancy with the goal of achieving LEED Gold certification.
Full details can be found on the city’s website at www.cityofwhiteplains.com. Also check www.theexaminernews.com for updates as the SEQRA process unfolds.
