The New Castle Town Board has declared the Draft Environmental Impact Statement (DEIS) complete for the proposed redevelopment of the Reader's Digest property (Chappaqua Crossing). This means the Town Board, as Lead Agency, has determined that developers Summit/Greenfield have responded to the questions outlined in the scope document adopted for the project. Declaring the DEIS complete is not a determination on the merits of the proposal itself.This is now an opportunity for you to comment on the DEIS and on Summit/Greenfield's proposal to redevelop the property as a mixed campus for business and residential use.The DEIS is available on a special website established by the town:
chappaquacrossingreview.mynewcastle.org.The documents can be read online, downloaded to your computer, and printed out in whole or part.A public hearing will take place on
Tuesday, June 23, 7:00 pm
New Castle Town Hall
200 South Greeley Avenue, ChappaquaWritten comments can be emailed to chappaquacrossingreview@mynewcastle.org.As part of its ongoing involvement with the proposed redevelopment of the Reader's Digest property, the League of Women Voters of New Castle is reviewing the DEIS and will be submitting formal comments to the Town Board. For more information, contact Sheila, Chair of the Local Planning Committee at asparks4@yahoo.com or 238-8994.

June 11, 2009

Changes Discussed for Intersection
at Routes 120/133

The NYS Department of Transportation (DOT) held a second community workshop on November 6, 2008, to discuss possible changes to the intersection at Routes 120 and 133 in Chappaqua. The current “Y” intersection has poor sight lines with multiple stop signs, and can back up with long delays at Quaker Road/Route 120.

DOT staff reviewed existing conditions at the intersection and outlined objectives for the redesign of the intersection – to improve safety, reduce traffic speed, reduce waiting time, and minimize impacts on surrounding properties.

Taking into account community input from a prior workshop held a month earlier, the DOT developed four possible alternatives for the intersection. These included two featuring a T-intersection – one with a stop sign and one with traffic signals – as well as a roundabout and a “no build” option.

According to the DOT, the T-intersection with a stop sign and or traffic signals would both offer improved geometry for the intersection, but the stop sign alternative would still present significant traffic delays while not addressing traffic speed on Route 133. A signalized T-intersection would slow down traffic and improve delays, but might not reduce the number of accidents. A roundabout would reduce traffic delays, slow traffic on all approaches, and reduce the number of accidents; but it would be the most expensive option to build and would present greater right-of-way impacts, as well as issues with the grade of the road. The “no build” alternative would improve signage and sight distances with some clearing, but most of the existing problems of the intersection would remain.

The DOT anticipates its next presentation on the intersection will be at a Town Board meeting in early 2009. It's not too late to contact the DOT with your feedback. E-mail your comments to Ken Forness, Project Engineer, at kforness@dot.state.ny.us; or to Theresa Dewey, Project Public Involvement Coordinator at tdewey@dot.state.ny.us. Write to them at NYS Department of Transportation, Region 8, 4 Burnett Boulevard , Poughkeepsie , NY 12603 .

The four options are pictured below:

Option 1 No Build:

No build

Option 2A T with Stop

T with

Option 2B T with Signal

T with Signal

Option 3 Roundabout:

Roundabout

League Comments on Millwood Firehouse DEIS November 5, 2008

The Draft Environmental Impact Statement (DEIS) for a new firehouse #1 in the Millwood Fire District was the subject of a contentious public hearing on October 23, 2008. The DEIS had previously been adopted by the Millwood Board of Fire Commissioners in a 3-2 vote. Read more>>

CALENDAR

Tuesday, June 23 Reader's Digest Hearing at Town Hall at 7:00pm (details at left)

Roundtable Discussion Held with Barbara Gerrard, New Castle Town Supervisor

Supervisor Gerrard The League held a lively discussion of what's happening in New Castle -- including Reader's Digest, developments in the Chappaqua & Millwood hamlets, environmental initiatives, fiscal outlook for the town, on March 26.

County League Tappan Zee Bridge Study

TappanZeeBridgeTraffic

If you are interested in joining the Study Committee of the Westchester County LWV please contact Chairman Kristina McCarthy c/o the Westchester County League.

The League of Women Voters of New Castle is a nonpartisan political organization that encourages citizens to play an informed and active role in government. At the local, county, state and national levels, the League works to influence public policy through education and advocacy. We do not endorse candidates. Membership is open to women and men who wish to participate in these efforts.

The League is part of a county, state and national organization, the League of Women Voters of Westchester, the League of Women Voters of New York and the League of Women Voters of the United States. More info about this league below

LWV Meetings: Board meetings are held on the second Wednesday morning of each month to conduct the business and planning of the League. All members are welcome to attend. Other meetings, to receive a report from a study group, or to inform the public about an election, or local issue, are usually held in the evening in a public building. Study groups meet at times agreed to by the participants, usually in the home of a member.

NCCTV: Many of the programs we host are available for viewing on NCCTV. LWVNC shows can be seen on channel 75 (community access station) and on channel 78 (government station). See www.ncctv.org for current schedules.

For more information, or if you are interested in attending events, please e-mail us at lwvnewcastle@optonline.net

Read pdfs of our newsletter, The Voter

Westchester County Needs Septic Management!

The League of Women Voters of Westchester and LWV New Castle have been collaborating to advocate for a Septic Management Plan for the county. Based on findings and consensus from one county study and two New Castle studies, oversight of these systems is essential to ensure proper functioning and long-term efficacy. See complete article on our Septic Management page

"A Drinking Problem

Nine million people drink water from the New York City reservoirs, including the Croton Reservoir; approximately 800,000 of these are Westchester County residents. Twenty thousand homes in Northern Westchester get their water from wells.

While these water supplies have been considered safe, they are threatened by malfunctioning septic systems, which are placed on the property of individual houses, housing developments and businesses; these systems treat the wastewater on the premises instead of sending it to a central treatment plant. According to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, failing septic systems are the second largest cause of water pollution - and this includes drinking water. The agency estimates that 168,000 viral illnesses and 34,000 bacterial illnesses result every year from contaminated drinking water. See complete article on our Septic Management page

Updated June 11, 2009
by Valerie Castleman

Many thanks to Westchester Alliance for Telecommunications and Public Access (WATPA ) & the Westchester Library System (WLS) for hosting this site.