Pleasantville NY Town Scoop

Keep up to date with the current zoning, public town meeting agendas, etc. This blog is for keeping Pleasantville residents up to date on what is happening in our town. So, feel free to post about meeting, rumors, etc. The blog will be open for all (no moderation). What started my push for a blog was a 2nd Dunkin Donuts across from Jacob Burns. Voice your opinion and let's keep everyone aware of what is happening in our community. ** See the comments to see feedback from attended meetings. **

Frequently Asked Questions by Residents

Last Updated 2009.07.27

Upcoming/Recent Events
Farmer’s Market Opened - Sat, May 30th, 7:00am to 1:00pm, Memorial Plaza

Q: Do you know you can watch Board Meetings, School Meetings, and a number of other events live and recorded?
A: They are available via the PCTV76 website.

Q: What's going on with the run-down home at 55 Pleasant Avenue?
A: The County is considering donating the above dilapidated home for rehabilitation for middle class housing as managed by A-Home, a non-profit. The house would include an accessory apartment as well. This is allowed under Village Zoning ordinances (section 185-31). Currently, it's not on Village tax rolls and is an eye sore. So, this could be a win-win situation. There has been some local neighborhood negative feedback due to flood control and house size issues. This project is still in the planning phase.

Q: What is the status with Verizon FiOS TV service?
A: The board has been negotiating with Verizon almost on a daily basis as reported by the Mayor, and has requested the same deal offered to neighboring municipalities. Verizon has been extremely slow to respond. The Village TV station and other services are based on the tv fees, so it's important they are not cut. Once Verizon offers a "fair" amount, they will be welcomed into the community. Keep in mind, Verizon FiOS internet costs more than Cablevision's so I'm not sure it'll reduce everyone's cable costs.

Q: What is the status of the Church Street sidewalks?
A: At the Mon 5/18 board meeting, the board has hired a traffic engineering company (Adler) to look into the feasibility of sidewalks on Chruch Street. At the end of June 09, Adler should have their initial report ready. Board had been looking into what options exists from a traditional sidewalk to path.

Q: How can I ask a question?
A: Send an email to Ben Serebin. My email address is: ben "the @ symbol" serebin "dot" com.

Showing posts with label business moratorium. Show all posts

Thursday, April 24, 2008

Planning Commission Agenda 04/23/08

Planning Commission
Wednesday, April 23, 2008
Village Hall
80 Wheeler Avenue
Pleasantville, New York
8:00PM

AGENDA

General Discussion

Continued Discussion with Planning Commission concerning the recent moratorium enacted within the Central Business A-1 and A-2 zoning district within the Village of Pleasantville

Monday, April 7, 2008

Planning Commission Agenda 04/09/08

[This is an important meeting to attend since it relates to the business moratorium in the Pleasantville business district. -Ben]

Planning Commission
Wednesday, April 9, 2008
8:00 P.M.
Village Hall, 2^nd Floor
80 Wheeler Avenue
Pleasantville, New York

AGENDA

1. David Sims – 51 Guion Street, Pleasantville, New York – Proposed re-subdivision of property to establish a new single family dwelling – CONCEPTUAL DISCUSSION ONLY

2. General Discussion

Continued Discussion with Planning Commission concerning the recent moratorium enacted within the Central Business A-1 and A-2

zoning district within the Village of Pleasantville

Sunday, March 23, 2008

Planning Commission Agenda 03/26/08

Planning Commission
Wednesday, March 26, 2008
8:00 P.M.
Village Hall, 2^nd Floor
80 Wheeler Avenue
Pleasantville, New York

AGENDA

1. General Discussion

Discussion with Peter Scherer, Board of Trustee Liaison to the Planning Commission concerning the recent moratorium enacted within the Central Business A-1 and A-2 zoning district within the Village of Pleasantville

Wednesday, March 5, 2008

Planning Commission Agenda 03/12/08

Wednesday, March 12, 2008
8:00 P.M.
Village Hall, 2^nd Floor, 80 Wheeler Avenue
Pleasantville, New York.

AGENDA

1. General Discussion

Village Board Agenda 02/25/08

REGULAR MEETING OF THE
BOARD OF TRUSTEES
VILLAGE OF PLEASANTVILLE
VILLAGE HALL
80 WHEELER AVENUE - 2ND FLOOR
MONDAY, FEBRUARY 25, 2008
8:30PM

Announcements
JOINT MEETING WITH PARKS AND RECREATION ADVISORY BOARD, TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 26, 2008, 8:00PM, CLINTON STREET CENTER

Scheduled Meetings: All meetings are held at Village Hall, 80 Wheeler Avenue, 2nd Floor, Pleasantville, New York

Monday, March 3, 2008 Work Session at 7:00pm

Monday, March 10, 2008 Regular Meeting 8:30pm with a Work Session at 7:00pm

Public Hearings:
Continuation of a Public Hearing Regarding a Local Law Regulating For An Interim Period Certain Approvals in the Central Business A-1 and A-2 Zoning District of the Village of Pleasantville Pending Review and Completion of Amendments to the Village’s Zoning Law by the Board of Trustees

Resolutions:
Res. No. 2008-36-Local Law Regulating For An Interim Period Certain Approvals in the Central Business A-1 and A-2 Zoning District of the Village of Pleasantville Pending Review and Completion of Amendments to the Village’s Zoning Law by the Board of Trustees
Res. No. 2008-37-Approval of Pre-Check Register
Res. No. 2008-38-Approval of Minutes/February 11, 2008
Res. No. 2008-39-Approval of Budget Amendments
Res. No. 2008-40-Approval of Fire Department Parade
Res. No. 2008-41-Approval of Proposal for Preparation of Plans for Lake Street Swimming Pool

Monday, February 11, 2008

Board of Trustees Meeting - Mon Feb 11 at 8pm

REGULAR MEETING OF THE
BOARD OF TRUSTEES
VILLAGE OF PLEASANTVILLE
VILLAGE HALL
80 WHEELER AVENUE - 2ND FLOOR
MONDAY, FEBRUARY 11, 2008
8:30PM

Announcements

GRIEVANCE NIGHT, TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 19TH, 6:00PM TO 9:00PM AT THE CLINTON STREET SENIOR CENTER, 1A, CLINTON STREET, PLEASANTVILLE, NEW YORK

Scheduled Meetings: All meetings are held at Village Hall, 80 Wheeler Avenue, 2nd Floor, Pleasantville, New York

Monday, February 25, 2008 Regular Meeting 8:30pm with a Work Session at 7:00pm

Public Hearings
Continuation of a Public Hearing Regarding a Local Law Regulating For An Interim Period Certain Approvals in the Central Business A-1 and A-2 Zoning District of the Village of Pleasantville Pending Review and Completion of Amendments to the Village’s Zoning Law by the Board of Trustees

Resolutions:
Res. No. 2008-27-Approval of Pre-Check Register
Res. No. 2008-28-Approval of Minutes/January 28, 2008
Res. No. 2008-29-Approval of Pleasantville Day & Temporary Parking Restrictions
Res. No. 2008-30-Approval of Proposal for Repairs to Boiler Room Staircase
Res. No. 2008-31-Approval of Proposal for Engineering Services for Pedestrian Crossing at the Saw Mill River Parkway and Grant Street
Res. No. 2008-32-Approval of Proposal for Storm Water Management Requirements and Permit Compliance Activities
Res. No. 2008-33-Award of Tree Bid
Res. No. 2008-34-Authorizing Village Administrator to Accept RFP’s for
359 Bedford Road
Res. No. 2008-35-Approval of Budget Amendments
Res. No. 2008-36-Authorization to Undertake Work on State Highways

Friday, February 1, 2008

Village Work Session with Trustees - Open to the Public - Mon Feb 4, 2008

WORK SESSION - Open to the public. Village Hall, 80 Wheeler, 2nd FL.
AGENDA
MONDAY, FEBRUARY 4TH 2008
7:30pm

EXECUTIVE SESSION

7:30PM Real Estate Proposals

9:30 PM MICELLANEOUS ITEMS

Moratorium for A-1 & A-2 Districts - Waiver Requests (2)
Modification of Cell Tower Site: NY-09-004H

Recommendations from Hahn Engineering for Pedestrian Crossing – Northwest Quadrant of Saw Mill River Parkway & Grant Street

The Dunkin Donuts Corner (SPECIAL FEATURE) - Updated Last 2008.10.07

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Regular Announcements Below This - Scroll Down
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Tue 10/7 Update
Last week, Dunkin Donuts decided to hang up a traditional Dunkin Donuts sign violating the Signage Ordinance and the Architecture Review Board's agreement with the Donuts Donuts franchise owner, TBG. Numerous complaints were lodged with Village Hall and they demanded TBG immediately remove the illegal sign which they promptly did. TBG complained that the wood curved sign was taking too long, hence they broke the rules to advertise Dunkin Donuts.

Wed 9/10 Update
On Monday, 9/8 the Pleasantville Board of Trustees announced the following proposed amendments to the introductory local law 2008-181 which to summarize the major points improves upon the definition of what a restaurant is, prohibits drive-throughs for non-bank establishments, adds a new formula fast food establishment definition and restricts their establishment, and clarifies and restricts 1st floor permitted uses for professional services (e.g. legal services, architectural, brokerage firms, accounting, etc) in the central business districts. Public comment is open now. You can read the original document on the Village's website. Next public comment meeting is on the agenda for the Mon, October 27th meeting. Please provide feedback to the trustees and village administrator before then as well.

- Ben Serebin, Pleasantville Resident
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Hello Everyone,

The vast majority of the people I speak with are upset to hear about the planned Dunkin Donuts across from the Jacob Burns (2nd Dunkin Donuts in Pleasantville), so I realized it would be good if I had a special section dedicated to it. I'll update this area with Dunkin Donuts related issues which includes the business moratorium and ordinance changes.

This issue was caused by a ruling by the Pleasantville Building Inspector (Mike Testa) on 11/28/07 due to the lack of definition of the current zoning for a bakery (section 185:11, no definition of bakery), simplistic definition of a fast food restaurant (more than 8 seats with ready to consume food), "one hundred feet of the intersection" of any business street as per section 185-22 section 12 (a) [4], and "lack of applying the interpretation or conflict of the zoning and ordinances, the more restrictive language should apply" (section 185-59 section B). His consultation of a dictionary for defining what a bakery is should have been targeted to the board of trustees for clarification especially since most people would probably classify Dunkin Donuts as fast food (since the company labels it as such and so does the franchise owner). In essence, the application was a technique of a wolf in sheep's clothes. Challenges via a Zoning Board Appeal in section 185-55 or an article 78 to applications are required within 30 days, which was not available to me since I became aware of this after that period.

There is a solution that we can promote to prevent uncontrolled increases of fast food businesses and franchises in Pleasantville, and it's called Business Formula Ordinances (BFOs). To summarize the explanation of this, it means that each business would need to be to a certain degree unique and could not be cookie cutter like, e.g. same trademark, signage, tables, lighting, menus, uniforms, etc. The BFOs can be as restrictive (e.g. no businesses sharing trademarks, menus, signage, etc) or accommodating as desired (e.g. capping the # in an area or entire business district, such as up to 5 business allowed in the village sharing trademarks, menus, signage, etc). Traffic safety should also play a role in approving businesses in Pleasantville.

Read the following PDFs or websites just by clicking the links:
Original Building Permit Application filed by T.B.G. Food Acquisition Corp (aka Dunkin Donuts owner Manhattan based private equity firm The Beekman Group L.L.C.) on November 25, 2007. There are mistakes on the application and the identity of the signature of the owner is unknown even to Mike Testa (building inspector).

Background on The Beekman Group Private Equity Firm and TBG as per Westchester County Business Journal interview with John Troiano and Peter Marrinan. Peter has attended at least one Pleasantville meeting. Or read it on the Westchester County Business Journal website.

The Examiner Article of March 10, 2008 announcing the Pleasantville Downtown Business Moratorium and "know your Neighbor" highlight of Ben Serebin.

The New York Times Article on May 25, 2008 "Punching a Hole in Paradise" about the planned Dunkin Donuts and use of Formula Businesses. Interview with Mayor Bernard Gordon and Pleasantville Resident Ben Serebin. Or read it on the NY Times website.

Pleasantville Zoning Map of Business Districts (A1 & A2) Affected by Business Moratorium.

[Provided to Pleasantville Board of Trustees during May 19, 2008 meeting & Westchester County Legislator John Nonna who was present]
List of some Municipalities that have Implemented Formula Business Ordinances (e.g. Port Jefferson NY, Fairfield CT, Bristol RI, Chesapeake City MD, Nantucket MA, Portland ME, Ogunquit ME, Coronado CA, Pacific Grove CA, San Francisco CA, Sanibel FL, Sauslito CA, & York ME to name a few.

Formula Business Ordinance upheld by California Court of Appeals

[Provided to Pleasantville Board of Trustees during May 19, 2008 meeting & Westchester County Legislator John Nonna who was present]
Port Jefferson, NY (on Long Island) Business Formula Ordinance (BFO) Code (I've provided the exact sections that discuss the BFO.)

City of Portland, ME's BFO Code. This is a good example like the Port Jefferson, NY code.

Pleasantville, NY Local Law code for Signage as of Jan 2008

Dunkin Donuts Website Press Release announcing that Dunkin Donuts received the award of "Best Fast-Food Coffee" - maybe they are a fast food franchise company?

-Ben Serebin, Pleasantville Resident
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