What’s Happening in the Village of Pleasantville Update
1. Saw Mill River Parkway Work - The NYSDOT has advised the Village that pile driving work is scheduled to begin this week in Mount Pleasant and Pleasantville between Exit 26 and Exit 30. This work will primarily occur during the day and is expected to take place for approximately two months. NYSDOT is elevating the roadway in order to meet 100-year flood projections. For more information on the project, please visit: https://lowerwestchesterbridges.com/
2. Outdoor Winter Rec. Programs – The Village is running Polar Bear (i.e. outdoor) programs this winter for children in grades K-4. Strict Covid-19 precautions have been implemented and the programs are weather dependent. For class availability, please check the Recreation Department’s website at: https://www.pleasantville-ny.gov/parks-recreation-department
3. Floor Area Ratio Zoning Analysis – The Village is working with a professional planning consultant, BFJ Planning, to explore floor area ratio (FAR) as a tool to address concerns that new residential construction in some areas of the Village is out of scale with the surrounding neighborhood. Setback requirements within the Village's zoning regulations alone may be insufficient to control overall bulk of new homes, especially on larger lots. This problem is not unique to Pleasantville, and many communities are evaluating ways to utilize FAR. Once the analysis is completed, the Village Board will consider adopting a FAR regulation that would apply to residential zones for new construction or existing homes adding floor area. For further information, please visit: https://www.pleasantville-ny.gov/projects-initiatives/pages/floor-area-ratio-far-zoning-analysis
4. Outdoor Dining – Per the request of restaurant owners, the Village Board has voted to extend outdoor dining permits through the winter. Tents require a separate permit through the Building Department.
5. Police Reform Initiative – The Village is in the middle of a state-mandated process to explore police reform. The next public meeting on communications and community policing is scheduled for Jan. 28 at 7:30pm. More information on this process, or to view prior public forums, please visit: https://www.pleasantville-ny.gov/police-reform-reinvention-collaborative. Comments can be submitted to policereform@pleasantville-ny.gov
6. Village Pool – The Village intends to open the Village Pool for the 2021 summer season. We may still need to modify the operations of the pool to accommodate Westchester County Department of Health Guidelines for the COVID-19 pandemic, but we believe these guidelines should allow us to operate the pool facility safely. An unanticipated intensification of the COVID-19 public health emergency or regulatory requirements against opening pool facilities could affect this decision. Information on membership, schedules and registration procedures will be made available in the coming months. As we receive guidance from the WCDOH, we will structure the best possible swimming experience for our Residents this summer. While operational, due to its age, the Village Pool requires extensive investment for either repairs to extend its life, or replacement. The Village formed a task force to research and vet potential options for pool repair or replacement led by Village resident Troy Tassier. A survey of over 1,000 residents has been completed. More information can be found here: https://www.pleasantville-ny.gov/projects-initiatives/pages/pool-task-force. Comments can be submitted to pool@pleasantville-ny.gov
7. Leaf Blowers – As a result of noise complaints from Village residents and a recommendation from the Conservation Advisory Committee, the Village held an online public forum on October 15th to hear from residents. The Village is soliciting more comments on this issue and plans to hold additional public sessions. Please send comments to leafblowers@pleasantville-ny.gov
8. Manville Road Pedestrian Safety Project – This project, to improve pedestrian safety on Manville road from Memorial Plaza to Tompkins Avenue has been postponed until the spring of 2022 due to economic uncertainty. The $1.5 million NY State Department of Transportation Grant partially supporting this project has been extended for a year.
9 Civic Space Project – This project to create a programmed civic space next to the train station has been postponed due to economic uncertainty.
10. Village Elections – The Village will vote on March 16, 2021 for Mayor and two Board of Trustee seats. Independent nominating petitions can be obtained from the Westchester County Board of Elections and must be signed between December 29th and February 9th. Please contact the Westchester County Board of Elections at 914-995-5700 for more information. Those interested may also contact the Village Administrator at 914-769-1940.
11. Reminder Winter Over Night Parking Restrictions in Effect: Per Village Code, no vehicle shall be parked for a period longer than 1/2 hour on any street or highway in the Village at any time between the hours of 1:00 a.m. and 7:00 a.m. from December 1st through March 31st. Cars parked in violation of the code are subject to a $25 fine even if snow or ice are not predicted.
12. Development Update:
- 70 Memorial Plaza – Foundation work is complete on this 4-story building which will contain 79 apartments and street level retail space. The Village is discussing limiting through traffic on Cooley Street temporarily for construction safety. Completion is expected in 24 – 30 months.
- 52 Depew Street – This planned 71-unit apartment structure was approved as of right (under existing zoning guidelines) by the Planning Commission in March of 2020. Demolition work is ongoing with brownfield remediation to follow soon. Construction is expected to start within 6 months. This is dependent on the brownfield remediation work.
- 98 Washington Avenue – This building will have 14 affordable units and is about 90% completed.
Upcoming Meetings and Public Forums:
Jan. 25 – 7:00pm – Village Board Work Session
Jan. 25 – 8:00pm – Village Board Meeting
Jan. 27 – 8:00pm – Planning Commission/Architectural Review Board Meeting
Jan. 28 – 7:30pm – Police Reform Discussion Session – Community Policing
Jan. 28 – 8:00pm – Zoning Board of Appeals
Feb. 8 – 7:00pm – Village Board Work Session
Feb. 8 – 8:00pm – Village Board Meeting
Feb. 10 – 8:00pm – Planning Commission/Board of Architectural Review Meeting
Feb. 16 - 5:00pm - Tax Grievance Night, Village of Pleasantville