White Plains Urban Renewal Agency

THE CITY OF WHITE PLAINS Official Proceedings of the Common Council Vol. 103 City of White Plains, N.Y., January 18, 2017 No. 2 THE CITY OF WHITE PLAINS OFFICERS Mayor . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . THOMAS M. ROACH Council President . . . . . . . . . JOHN KIRKPATRICK City Clerk . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ANNE MCPHERSON COUNCIL MEMBERS: Nadine Hunt-Robinson Milagros Lecuona John Kirkpatrick John M. Martin Dennis E. Krolian Beth N. Smayda A Special Meeting of the Common Council held Wednesday, January 18, 2017 called for seven thirty o'clock in the evening in the Common Council Chamber. Council President Kirkpatrick presiding and the following members present: Mrs. Hunt Robinson, Mr. Krolian, Mrs. Lecuona, Mr. Martin and Mrs. Smayda. Absent: Mayor Roach. This Special Meeting to hold a public hearing in relation to the proposed establishment of a community residence facility at 22 New York Avenue South by the Institute of Applied Human Dynamics, Inc., pursuant to New York State Mental Hygiene Law Section 41.34, and to consider a communication from the Historic Preservation Commission transmitting a superceding resolution of the Commission recommending The Jack Harrington Greenway, Application No. H-2016-4, as a Local Landmark by excluding portions of The Greenway north of Gedney Way and a portion adjacent to and south of Gedney Way. 214 COMMON COUNCIL MINUTES January 18, 2017 Council President announced a public hearing in relation to the proposed establishment of a community residence facility at 22 New York Avenue South by the Institute of Applied Human Dynamics, Inc., pursuant to New York State Mental Hygiene Law Section 41.34. Mrs. Hunt-Robinson moved that the hearing be opened. Mr. Krolian seconded the motion. Carried. Council President declared the hearing opened and asked if anyone wished to be heard. Mrs. Hunt-Robinson moved that the hearing be adjourned to February 15, 2017. Mr. Krolian seconded the motion. Carried 6 - 0. Absent: Mayor Roach. Mrs. Lecuona made a motion to remove from the table Items 58 and 59 which appeared on the January 3, 2017 Calendar in relation to the Jack Harrington Greenway to be deemed a Local Landmark. Mr. Martin seconded the motion. Carried 6 - 0. Absent: Mayor Roach Mrs. Lecuona moved to re-table the Items. Mr. Martin seconded the motion. Carried 6 - 0. Absent: Mayor Roach. Communication received from Chairman, Historic Preservation Commission. Mrs. Lecuona moved that it/they be filed and spread in full upon the minutes. Mr. Martin seconded the motion. Carried. TO THE HONORABLE MAYOR AND MEMBERS OF THE COMMON COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF WHITE PLAINS On December 5, 2016 the Historic Preservation Commission transmitted a Resolution dated November 7, 2016, to the Common Council recommending the designation of the Jack Harrington Greenway as a local landmark. After further review, the Commission passed a superceding Resolution, dated January 17, January 18, 2017 COMMON COUNCIL MINUTES 215 2017. This Resolution recommends designating only a portion of the Greenway and excluding the portion north of Gedney Way and a portion south that is adjacent to Gedney Way. The Historic Preservation Commission recommends that portions of the Jack Harrington Greenway as shown on the attached map labeled Exhibit "A" be designated as an local landmark pursuant to the White Plains Municipal Code Section 9-6-3(b)(1) subsections a, b, c, and h. Transmitted herewith is the Historic Preservation Commission's Resolution with application for designation, which shall serve as the Commission's report, recommending that the Jack Harrington Greenway be designated a landmark. The entire record is available at the Clerk's office for examination. Please be aware that the Commission's recommendation shall be deemed approved unless, by resolution, the Council disapproves the proposed action within 45 days after it first appears on the Council's January 18, 2017 agenda. Respectfully submitted, _______________________________________ Robert Hoch Chairperson DATED: January 17, 2017 (For the January 18, 2017 Common Council Meeting) enc. RESOLUTION OF THE HISTORIC PRESERVATION COMMISSION OF THE CITY OF WHITE PLAINS SUPERCEDING A RESOLUTION RECOMMEND- ING THE DESIGNATION OF PROPERTY KNOWN AS THE JACK HAR- RINGTON GREENWAY, APPLICATION NO. H-2016-4, AS A LOCAL LANDMARK BY EXCLUDING PORTIONS OF THE GREENWAY NORTH OF GEDNEY WAY AND A PORTION ADJACENT TO AND SOUTH OF GEDNEY WAY WHEREAS, at its regular meeting on September 14, 2016, the Commission initially discussed an application recommending property known as the Jack Harrington Greenway, White Plains, NY (the "Greenway") be considered for possible designation as a local landmark; and WHEREAS, a public hearing was held October 12, 2016 to discuss the proposed designation of the Greenway, and, WHEREAS, the Greenway is dedicated parkland since 1996; and WHEREAS, the Greenway is comprised of three separate lots designated on the Official Tax Assessment Map of the City of White Plains as: Section 131.13, Block 10, Lot 6.2; Section 131.09, Block 4, Lot 18.2; and Section 138.05, Block 20, Lot 10.2; and WHEREAS, the Greenway is a linear parcel approximately 1.8 miles in length; and, 216 COMMON COUNCIL MINUTES January 18, 2017 WHEREAS, at the October 12, 2016 meeting, members of the public were afforded the opportunity to speak in favor of, or against, the proposed designa- tion of the Jack Harrington Greenway as a local landmark; and WHEREAS, at the October 12, 2016 meeting, the Commission considered and reviewed all the information submitted regarding the Jack Harrington Greenway; and, WHEREAS, the Historic Preservation Commission previously made the following findings of fact: 1. The Jack Harrington Greenway possesses special historic interest and value as part of the economic history of the City as the former railroad, which operated from New York City to White Plains from 1912 to 1937, was an important factor in the population and economic growth and development to the City. The railroad brought fast, economical, and mass transportation to and from the City of White Plains , thereby adding to its desirability as a place to live and work. 2. The Jack Harrington Greenway possesses special historic value as part of the political history of the City in that on November 16, 2012, the Greenway was dedicated in honor of Jack Harrington, a long-time historical preservationist and environmental advocate who resides in White Plains. 3. The Jack Harrington Greenway is of primary historical significance as it is a remnant of the "Golden Age" of railroading which was comprised of railroad tracks, four passenger stations and supporting infrastructure formerly used by the New York, Westchester and Boston Railway Company. 4. The Jack Harrington Greenway identifies with persons significant in local and national history as it is documented that J. P. Morgan and William Rockefeller, the brother of John D. Rockefeller, Sr. and co-founder of Standard Oil, were prominent financiers of this railroad. In 1906 a committee headed by J.P. Morgan and William Rockefeller bought the controlling interest in the New York, Westchester and Boston Railway Company, which company planned and constructed the railroad that formerly operated along the Greenway. 5. The property has yielded or may likely yield information important to the study of the prehistory or history of the region, state, or nation because there are visible remnants of the property of it past use as a railway and possibly others that have yet to be discovered; and WHEREAS, by Resolution dated November 7, 2016, the Historic Preserva- tion Commission recommended that Jack Harrington Greenway be designated a local landmark pursuant to Municipal Code Section 9-6-3(b)(1): subsection (a) as the property possesses special character, historic, aesthetic interest or value as part of the cultural, political, economic or social history of the City, region, state or nation; and subsection (b) Derives its primary significance from historical importance; and subsection (c) as the property identifies with persons or events significant in local, state, or national history; and subsection (h) as the property has yielded or may be likely to yield information important to the study of the prehistory of the region, state, or nation: and January 18, 2017 COMMON COUNCIL MINUTES 217 WHEREAS, by a Communication from the Commissioner of Building dated November 30, 2016, forwarded the Historic Preservation Commission's recom- mendation to designate the Greenway as a Historic landmark, hereinafter referred to as the "Commission's Resolution"; and WHEREAS, the recommended designation appeared on the Common Council December 5, 2016 agenda :and WHEREAS, pursuant to Section 9-6-3( c) (3) of the Municipal Code, the Common Council has forty- five (45) days to reject the recommendation of the Commission; and WHEREAS, on January 3, 2017 the Common Council received a Communica- tion from Council President John Kirkpatrick to objecting the Commission's Resolution to designate the parcel identified as section 131.09, Block 4, Lot 182;and WHEREAS, at the January 3, 2017 meeting, Councilman Kirkpatrick's Resolution was adjourned to discussion at the January 18, 2017 meeting of the Common Council: and WHEREAS, on January 11, 2017, the Historic Preservation Commission held its monthly meeting; and WHEREAS, at the January 11, 2017 meeting a map was presented to the Committee by Building Commissioner Amadio, which identifies a portion of the Greenway, attached hereto as Exhibit "A"; and WHEREAS, on January 11, 2017, Councilman Kirkpatrick's Resolution was reviewed by the Historic Preservation Commission; and WHEREAS, at the January 11, 2017 meeting the Historic Preservation Commission clarified that it was the Commissions intention to limit the designation to the parcels identified in Exhibit "A," which exhibit excludes the portions of the Greenway north of Gedney Way and adjacent to the south side of Gedney Way; and WHEREAS, The Commission agreed that the portions of the map or Exhibit "A" highlighted in green would be the area of the Greenway recommended as a historic landmark. The map does not highlight in green Section 131.09, Block 4, Lot 18.2, or the portion of the Greenway that is located north of Gedney Way, nor does it highlight in green the section of the Greenway that lies adjacent to and immediately south of Gedney Way which encompasses part of the City's parking lot; and it is hereby: RESOLVED, that the Commissions's Resolution dated November 7, 2016, recommending the designation of the Jack Harrington Greenway is hereby superceded by this Resolution; and BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that the Historic Preservation Commission confirms the following findings of fact: 1 The Jack Harrington Greenway possesses special historic interest and value as part of the economic history of the City as the former railroad, which operated from New York City to White Plains from 1912 to 1937, was an 218 COMMON COUNCIL MINUTES January 18, 2017 important factor in the population and economic growth and development to the City. The railroad brought fast, economical, and mass transportation to and from the City of White Plains , thereby adding to its desirability as a place to live and work. 2. The Jack Harrington Greenway possesses special historic value as part of the political history of the City in that on November 16, 2012, the Greenway was dedicated in honor of Jack Harrington, a long-time historical preservationist and environmental advocate who resides in White Plains. 3. The Jack Harrington Greenway is of primary historical significance as it is a remnant of the "Golden Age" of railroading which was comprised of railroad tracks, four passenger stations and supporting infrastructure formerly used by the New York, Westchester and Boston Railway Company. 4. The Jack Harrington Greenway identifies with persons significant in local and national history as it is documented that J. P. Morgan and William Rockefeller, the brother of John D. Rockefeller, Sr. and co-founder of Standard Oil, were prominent financiers of this railroad. In 1906 a committee headed by J.P. Morgan and William Rockefeller bought the controlling interest in the New York, Westchester and Boston Railway Company, which company planned and constructed the railroad that formerly operated along the Greenway. 5. The property has yielded or may likely yield information important to the study of the prehistory or history of the region, state, or nation because there are visible remnants of the property of it past use as a railway and possibly others that have yet to be discovered. 6. The Commission recommends designation of the parcels identified and depicted in Exhibit "A", attached hereto. BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that the Historic Preservation Commission recommends that a portion of the Jack Harrington Greenway as depicted in Exhibit "A" be designated a local landmark pursuant to Municipal Code Section 9-6-3(b)(1): subsection (a) as the property possesses special character, historic, aesthetic interest or value as part of the cultural, political, economic or social history of the City, region, state or nation; and subsection (b) Derives its primary significance from historical importance; and subsection (c) as the property identifies with persons or events significant in local, state, or national history; and subsection (h) as the property has yielded or may be likely to yield information important to the study of the prehistory of the region, state, or nation. Dated: January 17, 2017 HISTORIC PRESERVATION COMMISSION OF THE CITY OF WHITE PLAINS _______________________________________ ROBERT HOCH, Chairperson Building Department 70 Church Street White Plains, NY 10601 January 18, 2017 COMMON COUNCIL MINUTES 219 I HEREBY CERTIFY the above to be a full, true and correct copy of a resolution duly adopted by the Historic Preservation Commission of the City of White Plains on the date above mentioned, four (4) members of the Board being present and concurring; said resolution being filed in the office of the City Clerk. _______________________________________ Anne McPherson Secretary Dated: January 17, 2017 White Plains, New York 220 COMMON COUNCIL MINUTES January 18, 2017 January 18, 2017 COMMON COUNCIL MINUTES 221 On motion of Councilman Martin , seconded and duly carried, the Common Council adjourned the meeting. Anne M. McPherson, CMC City Clerk