The Highway Yard as seen from Route 128. Click to enlarge.
The yard is under excavation and will open to the public March 2010.
North Castle's Highway Yard
I met with Rich Fon, Superintendent of Public Works, Craig Useted, the head of North Castle's highway department, Jamie Norris, his deputy and Jamie Scoli, owner of Westwood Organic, which has negotiated a ten year contract with the Town.
Westwood's deal includes its use of part the Town's highway yard in exchange for the excavation work to improve the yard which is located at the corner of Route 22 and 128. Westwood will make organic soil and mulch available for its own use, and for North Castle residents at no fee.
Discussions between the Town and Westwood started in February 2009. Since then, the Town has changed its leaf program from vacuuming to just the collection of bagged leaves. The deal was struck in an effort to try to reduce costs.
We tried to pinpoint the town's financial savings in leasing the yard to Westwood Organic. A lot of little things add up. The Parks and Highway Departments are looking to cut spending and will use the soil and mulch for various town projects projects. Included in the town board's projected savings of using the yard for recycling collected organic material instead of vacuuming was about $160,000 per year for eliminating the cost of removing the leaves out of town.
In addition , the man hours that would have spent picking up leaves are now being used on many other projects. In the 2008 budget, there was $26,000 in additional highway overtime, which has been eliminated due to this program . This year, the department is down five guys and there would be more overtime and costs if we were still vacuuming leaves. Highway Department head Craig Useted says "the idea is to save money and reduce the town budget. The department is acting responsibly and outsourcing the job at no cost to the Town to reduce the burden of the taxpayers."
Last year's budget also included $12,000 to remove and grind up trees. Dead trees will be accepted and ground up at the site, at additional savings for the town.
Scoli says, "Westwood's goals melded well with North Castle's goal to give services back to save taxpayers' money with respect to organic waste. " Westwood's revenue will be made from charging a fee to landscapers for incoming and outgoing organic material. Westwood is the only privately run company currently conducting this type of operation in Westchester and is headquartered in White Plains.
North Castle's yard will be open to drop-off leaves from anywhere in Westchester for a fee, but Scoli doesn't anticipate big volume here due to various space restrictions and because there are other drop-off sites in Westchester .
A state transfer permit exists limiting North Castle's yard to no more then 1,000 cubic yards of leaves at any one time. To determine a compost pile's cubic yards, the following equation is used: Length in feet X Width in feet X Height in feet, divided by 27 (because there are 27 cubic feet in a cubic yard).
This season the Highway Department is collecting hundreds of bags weekly. Pick-up rotates among the four town zones. Bags are picked up at a resident's curbside, then disposed of at the yard where they eventually will be reused at no cost to the town.
Westwood Organic will process the town's collected leaves and turn it into organic material. Residents will be able to drop off organic waste or can arrange for Westwood to pick it up for a fee.
Contractors will be able to purchase organic material. Compost materials will be in separate bins. Material will be ground up on site and processed at Westwood's various sites. The various other sites are larger and provide more storage room. Westwood will then transport the composted material of topsoil and different types of mulch to the North Castle Yard and place them in bins for residents' use and for contractors to purchase.
North Castle's residents are welcome to unrestricted amounts of topsoil, mulch and chips for no fee. You are encouraged to bring a shovel and large garbage bins or bags.
The new town-wide leaf program has created mixed feelings among residents questioning the town's quality of life and cuts in service. Many residents in North Castle already compost their leaves or blow them into the woods. But what happens when there are no woods on someone's property? Useted encourages all residents to compost. "Composting can occur on any size property and does not require a lot of space."
Check the town's Web site for composting tips. The alternative is to bag the leaves, but some residents are voicing concern about the cost of hiring landscapers to do so, although most likely many of these same residents were already paying landscapers to blow the leaves curbside.
The Town is exploring ways to completely fence its entire complex, looking to hide the yard and make it disappear from view on Route 128. The view is mostly highway equipment that has been there for years. The highway yard has been at this location for more than 60 years. Workmen have planted about 30 7' to 8' evergreen spruce trees along Route 128, and also put up sample cedar fencing. Westwood has offered to donate some landscaping to plant in front of the fence. Town money from the sale of scrap metal was used to purchase the trees.
Rich Fon invites suggestions from the public regarding the design to screen out the yard along Route 128. Please click here to comment.
"The preparation to excavate the site was extensive," says Scoli. "The excavation included moving earth and scrubby and prickly bushes, with minimal tree removal." The best improvement to the site is the change to the entrance and exit.
In 2004 the state issued the town a permit for a new driveway leading from the yard to Route 128. New York State Department of Transportation has approved the Route 128 curb opening as safe. The permit was renewed this summer.
Westwood is in the process of excavating soil as part of a project to divert all traffic entering and exiting the yard away from Bedford Road's historic area, and direct it instead onto Route 128. Rich Fon doesn't anticipate much increase in traffic. The new traffic pattern will be diverted away from Bedford Road where the Middle School kids often walk into town. Traffic will also be diverted away from the nearby nursery school drop-off.
The cost of Westwood's excavation work hasn't been projected precisely. But Scoli says, if he were hired, the cost would be more than $300-400,000 over 10 years. A precise figure for future years is difficult to project due to the cost for professional equipment, fuel, manpower, insurance and other operating costs.
The yard is anticipated to open and function in March 2010.
Environmental issues are always a concern. There is a stream that runs from the gas station on Route 128 to Mariani's Garden next door to the highway yard. The runoff of the organic materials into the stream is not regulated by New York's Department of Environmental Conservation, but the DEC does run random checks on the material. Scoli says he physically checks all incoming material by sight and smell. He says, "We are selective about material we receive since we produce a premium soil that is sold to wholesalers and nurseries. We therefore have to be careful with the product." Scoli added that "the town is held harmless of all possible problems with the organic products."
Addressing environmental concerns, Westwood should be accountable for professional tests of the incoming and outgoing organic products for metals and bacteria. North Castle resident and conservationist Zenaida Bongaarts suggests that testing for a potential runoff of organic material be done at two points along the stream that runs past the ends of the yard from the corner gas station to Mariani's Garden. She suggests that samples be taken regularly up and down the stream to test for metals, and in the warmer weather, bacteria.
Disclosure: Westwood Organic Recycling is an advertiser with AllAboutArmonk.com
Armonk's Gas Price Comparison
Armonk Gas Prices 10/01/09
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Armonk Gas Prices on 11/24/09
11/24/09
Proposed site
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Parking Update at North White Plains Railroad Station
Years of combined efforts from a study done by the MTA Metro-North Railroad and Westchester County of the North White Plains Railroad parking have lead to refined goals.
The project addresses concerns about impact of the local roads and community surrounding the railroad station. The intention is to reduce vehicular congestion throughout Westchester by improving access to the rail service. The projected goal is to use property owned by Metro-North to provide up to an additional 600 space garage on the east side of the North White Plains station as indicated in above.
Further analysis are required to develop the plan and it is anticipated to be completed in late 2009.
For further study information and updates: MTA & Westchestergov.com Image: MTA & Westchestergov.com
Armonk Westchester Airport.
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Barrett Field Westchester Airport, Armonk, NY
41,12 North 73.71 North of NY
Located
southwest of Routes 684 and 22, in 1929, the Barrett Field Airport was
located in Armonk. It had a runway of 2500' x 1900' as indicated on the
Rand-McNally, Standard Map of NY. Famous visitors that flew into Barrett Field were Charles Lindbergh in August, 1928 and Amelia Earhart. In
1930 Bartlett Field Airport was renamed Westchester Airport. In 1935,
it was depicted as a municipal, commercial airport on the Regional
Aeronautical Chart. Westchester Airport was just north and connected with Westchester County, Auxillary Airport in 1945. Bill Reidy recollected, “ I had my first flight there (1950?) and it started me on a 40+ year aviation career.” Pappy’s Flying Service operated the airport in 1962. The airport closed sometime between 1965-66 when the owner sold the property to Ramada Inn, La Quinta today. Photos courtesy of North Castle Historical Society. Source.www.airfields-freeman.com
Click for aerial view of Westchester Airport
Scoping Westchester Airport Parking
By Staff Updated February 25, 2010
At the February 22, 2010 North Castle Planning Board meeting, 11 New King Street, LLC continued their application of an off-site parking structure accommodating up to 1,450 cars that would cater primarily to Westchester County Airport (HPN). This would alleviate an existing shortage of parking for airport customers. The proposed multistory parking structure would have a footprint of approximately 52,000 square feet on a 2.47 acre lot with a 1.2 acre drainage easement, creating two storm water detention basins on an adjacent 4.2 acre lot.
According to Adam Kaufman, North Castle’s Director of Planning, a Draft Scoping Document has been completed and a Full Environmental Assessment Form will follow. The assessment may disclose the project’s potentially adverse impacts; such as changes to wildlife habitat; an additionally created demand for police, fire and highway maintenance services – possibly increasing property taxes; sources of potential air pollutants and greenhouse gases; additional water use and flood water flow; change in traffic flow patterns; and potential runoff causing erosion. The runoff may contain fertilizers and pesticides and thus may affect the water quality in the public drinking water supply of the surrounding Kensico Reservoir. As well, town-regulated wetland buffers and trees may be negatively affected.
The suggested ways to reduce environmental impacts of such mitigation include preservation of waterways, wetlands, and natural habitats as much as possible; cutting down the least number of trees; providing alternative land for wildlife; eliminating the application of fertilizer, herbicide, fungicide and pesticide or the alternative use of organic chemicals as opposed to standard chemicals; reduce the amount of impervious surfaces on site to reduce runoff; and the use of green technologies could be implemented in order to reduce negative effects on air quality.
The Town of North Castle Planning Board is requiring 11 New King Street, LLC to submit alternative proposals that include, but are not limited to (1) reducing the height of the proposed structure, (2) reducing the size of the parking facility, (3) reducing the impact on wetlands, and (4) no impact on wetlands at all. The Planning Board wants to assess the potential for the project to bring new customers and flights to the Westchester County Airport.
The main concern with the parking structure is its environmental impact. Paula DeCaro, a resident of New Rochelle, said, “I’m not distraught, but I am concerned about polluting the drinking water.”
Susan Leifer, a board member of the Citizen’s Airport Advisory Group of Westchester and the Conservation Chair of the Lower Hudson Sierra Club, said, over the last year, there has been a greater frequency of flights in and out of the Westchester County Airport. Potentially, a new parking lot could lead to an increase in the number of flights, which could lead to an airport expansion to accommodate the flight increase. More air traffic would lead to negative effects of air pollution. And in addition, the chemical and fuel runoff will encroach wetlands and affect biodiversity. When asked about possible alternative proposals, she said she would have to wait and see the reports.
A public scoping session was held for the 11 New King Street, LLC, to change zoning in order to build a 1,450 vehicle parking garage near the Westchester Airport. North Castle Planning Board Chairman Peg Michelman opened the meeting by clarifying that it was a data gathering session only.
Outgoing planning board member Gene Matusow said, it's a fact finding process and the Board is to make a judgment based on the facts, not the assertions. "Comments are to be measured and weighed, and the zoning decision will be explored with the Town Board as they review the information in the process."
The purpose of the meeting was to narrow the issues as precisely as possibly and to prepare a public document. The objective of the meeting was for the public to identify and express their concerns about the change in zoning to accommodate an additional parking garage near the airport.
William Null of Cuddy & Feder, ATTORNEYS AT LAW represented the applicant of 11 New King St. He said, the existing property houses an 9,500 sf single story office building on 2.4 acres with 50 parking spaces. Access to the lot is from a 20 ft wide driveway over a stream.The stream that flows under the driveway originates off cite and flows into the Kensico Reservoir near Route 120. The plan calls for no disturbance of the driveway and it will serve the proposed parking garage in the same way.
An adjacent lot of 1.2 acres is under the same ownership and the total combined property lot is 3.6 acres. The conceptual plan for the parking garage is a 52,000 sf building, 55" in height. Currently 32% of the property is impervious surface including the asphalt driveway and roof. The impervious surface will increase to over 50% of the property.
The conceptual building plan calls for three zones: 1. Staging area for car drop off and pick up 2. Automobile storage 3. Office and waiting area.
The displayed aerial view of the foot print of the new parking appeared comparable to the adjacent structures in the New King Street area.
Architect Bob Feder answered the question of why is the applicant proposing to building this project?
1. Currently there is inadequate parking at the airport and the applicant is asking to amend the permit use to build up to a 1,450 parking facility to meet what they believe is the demand of the Westchester Airport.
2. The project itself doesn't generate parking demand. Null added, "Few, if any developments by themselves don't generate traffic. The project is not working to generate traffic."
3. The owners believe the parking garage will reduce the amount of traffic to the airport by cutting down drop off and pick up of passengers from private vehicles.
About three dozen local and neighboring residents attended the meeting and several spoke of concerns including the impact upon the community. Many speakers represented larger conservation and environmental groups.
Carolyn Cunningham, member of the Federated Board of Conservation in Rye, NY, represented 5,000 people. She said, "The NYCDEP ought to be horsewhipped if they don't stand up against this."
Furthermore, she expressed great concern and hope that the Planning Board does not change the zoning. "The plan should not be entertained at all considering the underground interconnect and basins" that run into the Kensico watershed. She urged the Planning Board to carefully consider challenging the operator to increase the airport parking by 30% rather then the proposed 100%.
Speakers expressed environmental concerns about the water quality, air quality, green house gas effect, flooding, adding to the burden of the reservoir drinking water supply to nine million down county and NYC residents. Further residents' environmental concerns ranged from the lack of regulations of pollution in catch basins, to the already poor air quality and the cautionary sense to consider our health from the likes of automobile pollution.
Byram Hills school district resident Ed Glassman brought up a different point of view from his extensive business travel. He welcomed the improvements to the airport since the days of the unheated, quasi-hut, but has yet to see another airport and its immediate surrounding area as nice as Westchester Airport. He questioned if increasing the parking capacity would increase airport traffic and possibly have a negative effect on the surrounding community.
Long time Armonk resident Frank Shechtman asked, "Does more parking mean a bigger airport?" He expressed extreme caution of expanding the airport.
Robert Portal, a concerned citizen from Harrison, simply asked, "Does a parking lot belong in a water shed boundary?"
The problem is, as is much of North Castle, 11 New King Street structure already exists in the wetland boundary. This was acceptable due to lack of prior years of planning with no restrictions nor environmental regulations within the wetland areas. Armonk resident Leonard Levin has been piloting out of Westchester Airport for 33 years. He has been on the Airport Advisory Board and addressed the concerns of the airport expansion. He pointed out that a parking garage wouldn't determine the use of the airport, as the FAA does that. Furthermore he provided details about the physical capabilities limiting the size of the shorter runway. Although the other runway, 1643, is the same length as runways of Laguardia Airport.
Planning Board member John Delano asked, does an inter-municipality agreement exist for adjacent towns to develop a comprehensive plan to protect the aquifer? Delano referred to the North Castle's Town Comprehensive Plan regarding opening businesses to the general public and commercial flights at the Westchester Airport. The documents states, any expansion and services leading to an expansion at the airport is not recommended.
Furthermore, Delano said the State Environmental Quality Review Act (SEQRA) is not intended to independently regulate the environment, but to consider the environmental, social and economic impact, all together.
A change in the New King Street property zoning would require new legislation by the Town Board.The final decision of the Planning Board may set a precedent for future development in neighboring towns near the border of the Westchester Airport: Harrison, Rye Brook, Greenwich, and Purchase.
Director of Planning, Adam Kaufman will collect all the questions and concerns from the meeting and document them. Further public written comments will be accepted through January 14, 2010. Send letters to Adam Kaufman, North Castle Planning Dept. 17 Bedford Rd. Armonk, NY 10504
A public hearing will be scheduled for the community to express the pros and cons of the application to expand parking near HPN.
Filling up at the station was a hand-made, three window, 1932 Ford. Eight years to build, it has two seats and a sunroof. Top speed is 120mph, although it's mostly used in shows.
Our highway department at work.
One hour parking applies to Main Street parking.
Parking enforcement is in effect for one hour parking on Main Street.
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PARKING REGULATIONS
Parking Law enforcement officer on Main St., Armonk has informed us
that parking regulations include one hour parking limit along downtown
Main Street.
What people generally understand as "parking" is legally divided into three categories: parking, standing and stopping. A NO PARKING sign means you may stop only temporarily to load or unload merchandise or passengers. A NO STANDING sign means you may stop only temporarily to load or unload passengers. A NO STOPPING sign means you may stop only in order to obey a traffic sign, signal or officer, or to avoid conflicts with other vehicles. Besides posted parking, standing and stopping rules, there are statewide rules not always indicated by signs: Parking, standing or stopping is not allowed: Within 15 feet (5 m) of a fire hydrant, unless a licensed driver remains in the vehicle to move it in an emergency. On the road side of a parked vehicle ("double parking"). On a sidewalk or in a crosswalk. In an intersection, unless permitted by signs or parking meters. On railroad tracks. Alongside or opposite road excavations, construction or other obstructions if your vehicle would block traffic. Within 30 feet (10 m) of a pedestrian safety zone, unless another distance is marked. On a bridge or in a tunnel. Parking or standing is not allowed: In front of a driveway. Within 20 feet (6 m) of a crosswalk at an intersection. Within 30 feet (10 m) of a traffic light, STOP sign or YIELD sign. Within 20 feet (6 m) of a fire station driveway, or within 75 feet (23 m) on the opposite side of the road. Along a curb that has been cut down, lowered or constructed for access to the sidewalk. In addition, you may not park your vehicle within 50 feet (15 m) of a railroad crossing. Source: NYDMV
RESERVED PARKING FOR THE DISABLED
Parking reserved for people with disabilities is not merely a convenience, it is a legal requirement. These special parking spaces for motorists with disabilities ensure safe and equal access to goods and services, access which is taken for granted by most of us. You can help by parking in reserved spaces only if you have a permit or plates for people with disabilities, and only when the person who received the permit or plates is in the vehicle. Source:NYDMV
The Story Behind "Gasoline"
By Peter R. Limburg October 4, 2009
Everybody
worries about the price of
gasoline. It is one of the prime indicators of how our economy is
faring at any given moment. But how did this smelly, highly flammable, and all-but-indispensable
liquid that powers our cars, our lawn mowers and leaf blowers, and a
host of other devices get its name?
For
our purposes, the story goes back to 1855, when a brilliant chemist at Yale
University, Benjamin Silliman, Jr., discovered that by distilling the black,
viscous, malodorous “rock oil” that oozed from the ground in western
Pennsylvania at different temperatures, he could obtain a number of useful
constituents. The most important at the time was kerosene, or lamp oil,
which quickly took the place of whale oil in the nation’s lamps. There was also
lubricating oil. There was paraffin, solid at room temperature, which made
excellent candles. But there was also a lighter-weight constituent that was
used for cleaning fluid, to remove grease spots from soiled clothing, and to
kill lice and their eggs. Then someone found that it could be used to make
illuminating gas for street lamps. The name “gasoline” was born.
Silliman's
clients, a pair of New York lawyers named George Bissell and Jonathan G.
Eveleth, inspired by salt wells they had seen in upstate New York, hired a retired railroad conductor named Edwin Laurentine Drake to
try drilling for oil. Professional drillers jeered. But Drake hit upon the idea
of using a casing of iron pipe to line the well shaft so that it would not
collapse. In 1859, to everyone's astonishment, Drake struck oil at a depth of 69 feet at Titusville,
in the backwoods of western Pennsylvania. (Actually, Drake did not do the
drilling himself; a drunken well-driller named “Uncle Billy Smith” did the actual
work while Drake handled the business end of the project). An oil boom quickly
ensued, and the age of petroleum was upon us.
American Automobile Association, Inc. researchers have studied junior teen driving and list the following as the most ten common mistakes that lead to fatalities.
A combination of inexperience and overconfidence is an accident waiting to happen. AAA recommends at least 50 hours of supervised driving. Log the hours driven. Allow diversity, driving both local roads and highway in a variety of weather conditions.
Buckle up. Be clear on the rules of the road and insist there is no choice in doing otherwise. Plus it saves lives.
Speeding is a common problem for young drivers. As an adult driver and role model, set an example by obeying all speed limits. Consider installing an event data recorders (EDRs) to monitor the car’s speed and to encourage appropriate driving behavior.
A junior license restricts the allowed number of unrelated passengers that are under 21 to two. Initially prohibiting all teen passengers seems an extreme measure, but allows an inexperienced driver some solo time to concentrate on learning to drive.
Text messaging, cell phones and earphones while teens are driving are out of the question. Be strict with this one, the reasons are obvious.
An obvious distraction that teens fall prey to is selecting music while driving. Emphasize and do not permit fiddling for music while driving.
No night cruising, evening driving presents challenges and should be allowed only when necessary.
There is zero tolerance for drinking while driving.
Talk about using common sense and advise your teen not to get in the car if there is a difficult situation, such as drinking or rowdy behavior from the driver. Make sure they understand that they can always call you to discuss an alternative.
Stay involved; keep your ears and eyes open. We live in a small town, make an agreement with your friends: if you see one another’s teen driving irresponsible, let the parent know.
Currently, NY Governor Paterson’s legislation for graduated teen driving licensing laws is moving through the Assembly and from there will continue to the Senate. The legislation covers stricter teen driving safety measures. Restrictions for teen drivers include only one non-family passenger under 21 permitted in the car. Electronic devices, hand-held or otherwise are to be banned. Road tests cannot be scheduled for at least six months after drivers’ permit has been obtained. And finally practice time would be increased to 50 hours with at least 15 hours of night driving.
According to the Town Master Plan there are four bus routes operating in North Castle. Two routes are on a full time schedule, while a third route is local service and one is express only.
