Hearing Held on 99-Home Proposal on Former Country Club Site
A special meeting was held last week by the White Plains Planning Board for residents to comment on a proposal for 99 high-quality, single-family homes to be built on the former Ridgeway Country Club site.
Plans for Farrell Estates at Ridgeway were first presented to the board last October. The 130-acre property, located in the R1-30 Zoning District, is broken into four parcels located between Ridgeway and Bryant Ave. The site is considered environmentally sensitive due to the presence of wetlands, watercourse and waterbodies.
Representatives for the applicant have stated 40 percent of the site would be preserved as open space and trees along the roadways would mostly be preserved.
The May 23 session was designed for the board to listen to input residents had concerning the draft scoping document being considered for the project’s Draft Environmental Impact Statement (DEIS).
“We’re not talking about whether it’s a good project or a bad project or if it should be built,” Planning Board Chairman John Ioris said. “We have a bit of a three-ring circus here and we want to hear comments. The applicant and the board are well aware of the drainage issues on the property and that has to be addressed.”
Several speakers suggested the board should consider asking the applicant to submit a layout with clustering of the units to deal with drainage.
June Hochberger, a 29-year resident of Northdale Rd., said increased traffic could also be an issue.
“My concern is whether or not the character of the neighborhood will be affected,” she said. “We live in a unique neighborhood where people walk and ride their bikes.”
Ben Brown said the board should consider the effects of “gentrification” in the city and the influx of “McMansions” that are out of the price range of many residents.
“I have a lot of faith in the city staff and government,” said Planning Board member Sarina Russell. “They will not let a project go forward that is not going to work.”
The applicant’s representatives have contended the current market demand for housing was high.
Ioris assured everyone in attendance the board would be taking every suggestion made to heart.
“We hear your concerns,” he said. “We will do the best we can to make this project the best it can be.”
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