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Community Corner

FASNY: ENVIRONMENTAL CATASTROPHE

NATURES WAY LANDSCAPING 31 Greenridge Ave, 1DWHITE PLAINS,NEW YORK 10605FAX/ PHONE- (914) 469-3095

Dear Mayor Roach and Council Members Hunt-Robinson, Kirkpatrick, Krolian, Lecuona, Martin, and Smayda,

     I am writing regarding FASNY's application to build on the grounds of the former Ridgeway Country Club.  I worked on this property many times during the course of my 30 years as owner of Nature's Way Landscaping in White Plains.  I addressed numerous projects on the property, from General Landscape Construction, Consulting, Tree Service, Planting Design, Turf Management, and Golf Course Drainage.  I can tell you for a fact that if you begin digging and tearing up the old fairways, particularly in the area of the proposed North St. entrance roadway, you will without a doubt set off a drainage catastrophe.
     Over the course of 75 years, Ridgeway Country Club struggled to deal with surface water from the many streams both above and below ground.  To this day, even experts don't fully understand the maze of underground drainage patterns, how various streams flow north into the East Branch of the Mamaroneck River and south into the Middle Branch and eventually down into Mamaroneck. I am quite sure that you do not fully understand the negative environmental impact of FASNYS proposed road, parking lots, athletic fields and all its buildings, as you have let this impending environmental catastrophe proceed.
     Little by little over decades, Ridgeway built miles and miles of complex underground drainage systems in their ongoing battle to cope with standing water.  This system was continually amended and very delicately balanced during the time the golf course existed.  The management was adamant that every contractor and employee who worked on the golf course be extremely careful and knowledgeable so as to not to disturb the complicated web of drainage pipes and grade flows. No one was allowed to drive or dig anywhere without close supervision and extreme care, because if a drain happened to be damaged or crushed by the weight of a truck or a backhoe, the affected area would turn into a small lake every time it rained or snowed, taking weeks and many times much longer to dissipate.
     The particular area where the North St. entrance road is proposed is especially delicate and complex, a very unusual microsystem.  The small pond and lake both drain southward, with the small pond flowing and feeding into the lake. However approximately 100 feet away to the north of the small pond, there is a drain culvert (covered with a large wooden trap door) which houses 3 large drainage pipes (minimum diameters of 16”), which drains and flows northward toward the East Branch of the Mamaroneck River.  The soil in this area is a heavy clay-based soil which has little or no perk (drainage capacity).  Any digging or construction here is likely to lead to disastrous, possibly uncontrollable problems with standing water and flooding, particularly into the "Dales" neighborhood houses. This is exactly where the road is proposed to be built from North Street, without any environmental impact study of this massive new road.
     Furthermore a curb break (which will happen when the road connects to North Street) will essentially be a broken dam when hit with rain or snow.  We all know that North Street sits much higher than the proposed road.  When it rains, this curb break will allow torrents of water from all points of North Street to cascade down to the precious conservancy. Standard storm drains can only catch part of the water when heavy rains hit. This is a fact and it is very serious. I don't believe anyone on this council truly understands the huge negative environmental impact this project will have on the ecosystem, the adjoining homes and the quality of life in Gedney Farms.  
     An incredible amount of complex engineering would be necessary to manage the water should FASNY build its huge project on this property, likely far beyond what any organization would sensibly undertake.
     In 1981 I negotiated a deal to acquire Ridgeway Nurseries  at 454 Ridgeway, adjacent to the golf course. After meeting with White Plains city officials regarding Nursery restrictions, I pulled out of the deal due to stringent city regulations that would not have allowed me to touch the back 1 1/2 acres of the property, due to the sensitive wetlands north of it. I was told that because of the complex ecosystem, the land would not be allowed to be used in any way. Yet now the city is considering permitting building of a massive complex of buildings, athletic fields and roads in this same area. This fact defies logic and makes no sense.
     In addition to these drainage issues, building a road from North St. across the very middle of the conservancy will destroy the ecosystem of the entire property.  Salt and automotive runoff will flow into the ponds no matter what steps are taken to try to prevent it.  The ponds are the equivalent of the beating heart of the whole property, on which all its animals depend.  Destroying the ponds will destroy fish and amphibian populations in the ponds and animal populations dependent on those fish and waters.  There is a nesting pair of Pileated Woodpeckers recently established after decades of absence - the sighting of these huge, gorgeous birds is an astounding experience for all residents, and it would be a crime to lose them again. The very rare and elusive Eastern Bluebird (which has finally returned in limited numbers to the conservancy, NY Hospital and Burke Foundation Grounds through the painstaking efforts of dedicated local birders); the Great Horned Owl, red foxes, and whitetail deer, just to name a few, have all returned to this area, but they will certainly not survive a road built through their habitat. 
     In FASNY's own words, "The introduction of a driveway in the middle of this area would negate opportunities to attract breeding birds to the Conservancy." This is 100% true and I absolutely agree with all of FASNYS original DEIS report regarding the initial findings of the grave negative environmental impact of constructing a road would have on the site. I ask you a very simple question: what has changed?
     Last but not least, I would like to address the decibel (noise) and diesel engine pollution problem that will arise with this project. As laid out, the proposed road will run west from North Street and then turn south parallel to Hathaway for approximately ½ mile. This road will be heavily trafficked, especially during the hours of 7am- 9am and 2pm-5pm at least 5 days per week. This road will sit low in the natural valley between Hathaway and North street. When buses, cars, construction vehicles, etc, blast down this road it will create an echo effect in this valley, magnifying the decibel pollution that will greatly disturb the peace of anyone residing along Hathaway, Oxford, the Dales and North Street. The diesel scent will hang heavy in the air for long periods during damp and hot, humid weather. These are real facts and I doubt they have been addressed.
      It is my professional opinion as a landscape contractor, local businessman, homeowner, avid naturalist / birder, and lifelong concerned citizen of White Plains that this project is a complete environmental disaster and will forever destroy the tranquility and peace that Gedney Farms has afforded its homeowners for over 100 years.
     Please feel free to call (above) or email me at roomarket@aol.com any time for any facts or information I can extend.  I am very knowledgeable regarding these grounds, having worked, played golf and walked this property untold times; I also lived at 22 Hotel Drive for 11 years. I am available anytime day or night regarding this project.
     Although I sold my home in 2005 I will never sell out my heart, this incredible jewel of a neighborhood you are sworn to protect.

Sincerely Yours,
Charles B Hill

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