Update On Zoning Board/Faith Bible Lawsuit

So, as it were, I'm in the highest court in the land (of New York State).  Thankfully it's located in Brooklyn Heights, about 15 minutes from my office.  It's official title is:

The courthouse is such a stately building on a movie-set block of brownstones.  So I'm hanging out in the attorney's lounge, pictured below.  That's really about it.  I don't have much more to this story.

How cool are all those pictures of judges?  The clock being off center bothers me.  Or does it? Actually, I'm pretty cool with all the asymmetry in this photo.

Why am I telling you this?  Because it's after midnight and I just got through another day of busting my ass to prove to the Court that what's right is right, and that I'm right.  Will share my reply brief with you after it's complete.  Here's my brief, in the meantime. 

Oh, and for all you pro se petitioner's out there.  If you ever make it this far, and your adversaries reply to your brief by mail at the last minute--the normal 10 day period for you to serve a reply brief is extended to 15 days.  Thank the lord, because I really needed the additional time.  Since it lands on a Saturday I actually get 2 extra days and can serve and file on the 21st.  And that, Mohegan Lake, is today's lesson.

Senator Murphy Throws Mother and Brother Under A Bus; Both Presumed Dead.

Just kidding, but he did throw both of them under the bus. Man, that's character.  Surely you've heard the news. 

Murphy immediately changes his facebook page to show you that he doesn't "own or operate" "Murphy's" restaurant and make it say he's merely an "investor." He scrubs it from his senate page, omitting any relation to Murphy's.  He denies any knowledge and absolves all of his family, including himself, except his brother and mother?   Read this quote from a local Yorktown paper in the picture below.  If you read it carefully, you'll see the moment he throws--nay, rather--pushes his mom and bro under the bus. So Machiavellian.

Brother Pat and Mom, I have your back here at SaveMoheganLake.com.  We support small business and want to help you climb out of you serious, and mounting, tax debt. We hope you disavow Terrence with his duplicitous ways and support my candidacy for Senator of the 40th! 

That's not cool.  It's not cool to be associated with a 117K in back-taxes (about to go up by about 50K).  Let's report him to the NYS Assembly's Ethic's Board!  Oh right, he sits on it.  Hmmmm...

The word on the street is that to relieve the stress of so much bad press, Senator Murphy has been making late night trips to Assemblyman Steve Katz's house to "chill." His press secretary, Matt Slater, clarified that "they've only been watching Netflix, not chilling."

This just in: I, SaveMoheganLake.com, am announcing my candidacy for the 40th NYS Senate District!  I'm 110 acres of spring-fed watery goodness, especially with the copper sulfate treatments I've been receiving, not much algae.  I get along with Republicans and Democrats and can forge a common path forward while paying my taxes--the whole time.

SaveMoheganLake.com: Make Yorktown Fun Again

Yorktown Town Board Approves Water Rate Increase Of 25%

Wow. That's substantial.  As a resident of Yorktown, make sure you pay attention to the budget.  It's really boring and hard to follow, but you very well may spend around a thousand dollars a month in property taxes, if not more.  You want to know where that is going. I've been paying attention for about 5 years, was duly elected to serve in a department of Yorktown as Vice President of a Park District, and I still have questions.

That said, your water bill just went up 25%.  There was a long Town Board meeting last night and there were a lot of good comments.  I dare you to watch the whole 2 hour and 52 minute meeting held on 3/1/2016 ; I know you won't, but at least the 15 minutes below:

Take it away, Ed Ciffone and Susan Siegel; both long time residents and studious citizens monitoring the complicated ~55 million dollar budget, and continually growing (about 5 million in the last 4 years?)  budget. Please note that Ed's questions will not be answered at the end as promised by the supervisor in this clip--if you whatch the whole thing--which we've established you won't. The gist of the rate increase is that the supervisor lowered the water department budget and drew off its fund balance so he could campaign as having delivered a tax decrease.  Those chickens are now coming home to roost and we're likely to see a lot more of this.  Yorktown expenditures exceed revenue and the budget keeps growing under Grace. 



Oh, and before I sign off, WE STILL DON'T HAVE FLUORIDE IN OUR WATER.  I grew up in a small Colorado town with no fluoride 'cause--whatever--and my teeth are shit.  Please, I have four daughters.  If you watch the whole meeting, you can see Supervisor Grace declare the fluoride system to be in the "engineering phase."   My God, it's been about two years without.  Fire the engineer and get this done.  Question: has the fluoride system been deducted out of the general water district fund? It's about a 1 million dollar line item, right?

Mohegan Lake Update: 2/22/16

First, it must be noted that the appeal we have pending in the 2nd Appellate Division (highest court in NYS) has a return date of March 4, 2016; Yorktown and The Church owe a reply to my brief about a week before.  That's exciting and incredibly scary.  I requested 15 minutes of oral arguments (you can request up to 30 mins.).  I pray, in the legal sense--and spiritual, that the court grants me my 15 minutes.  It's pretty straight-forward. And it's right; and what's right is right, am I right?

Second, you should go to tonight's Town Board meeting tonight where they will discuss our treatment plan for the lake this summer.  They were very supportive last time around.  Here's a note from Ken:

The Yorktown Town Board has to vote to authorize the contract for copper sulfate treatments to Mohegan Lake in 2016.  They have placed the matter on their work session agenda for Tuesday February 26th.  We will know the time once they post the agenda tomorrow morning on the Town website.  I plan on attending, but would appreciate any moral support.  Not to mention that it would be good for the new Town Board members to see that there is support for the lake in the community.  The agenda item should take no more than five minutes, once they get to us.  Ken

Third, what a strange winter.  While we initially speculated it would be an abbreviated skating season, it's proved to be about 6 weeks strong with potential for more; all without nearly as much child labor, relative to last year!

Fourth, the Yorktown Town Board is considering a radical rezoning proposal and there is a public, working session being held on March 8.  This is an issue we all need to pay attention to.  Live in a residential zone? Next to someone with an acre parcel?  If so, you could easily be living next to 12 apartments, if the Board keeps moving in their current direction.  Very scary to the residential integrity of Yorktown, so pay attention. 

Lastly, Think Cold.   Looks like this week holds yet another natural Zamboni for us.  The question is, will the cold be cold enough to allow us any more skating on this sweet, sweet Mohegan Lake ice?

 

 

Surprise: We've Still Got 6" Of Clean, Clear Ice!

Um, guys, I was surprised this morning when I went out in my suit and fancy shoes to auger a hole only to find we still have a solid six inches. 

Yes, those are Allen Edmonds

And, ooooh boy, did that rain ever Zamboni the crap out of the surface.  Again, know where you are going and what you are doing.  That said, won't you join me for a quickie this evening?  Or perhaps tomorrow morning?  You want to go in late to work on Friday anyway, right?

First Annual Mohegan Lake President's Day Rockin' Cornhole Tournament

Brought to you by 8" of clean clear ice at the top of the lake.

Please do join us at 2pm for a tournament to close out the 5th annual Mohegan Lake Ice Skating (and Fishing--and now cornhole) Extravaganza.

Cornhole is fun.  So is playing on the ice.  The probability of you being unable to feel your face is high, and I'm not talking about windchill factors or anything.  It's more metaphorical than that.  Marinate on that and see you around 2pm.

Hemlock Hill Farm Is The Best

They really are.  You can't beat a nearly 100 year old family owned farm 10 minutes from your house--if you live in Mohegan Lake.  I don't post a lot about the farm, because I don't want to ruin it. Their meat is so fresh and so good, and you know where it came from. Know where your protein is coming from.  Hemlock Hill is a real treasure and locals should enjoy it, to the fullest.  That said, here's their Valentine weekend special.  Tell me a pot roast wouldn't be perfect for this cold, cold weekend. 

Laura and Farmer John and Trish and the whole crew is amazeballs--and I only use that semi-vulgar term because they supply produce to the Peekskill Brewery (who's owner lives in Mohegan Lake) which has a very nice, hoppy brew called "Amazeballs."

Public Hearing Tuesday 2/16/2016 For Lexington Ave. Major Up-Zoning

Update 2/16/2016:  The Town Board has not released and agenda for tonight's meeting, but the word on the street is that there will be a work session on March 8th, 2016 regarding the Lexington Avenue re-zoning proposal.  Please adjust your calendars accordingly and--remember--work sessions are NOT televised.  

So this is what we know:

The Town Board is considering a major re-zoning of a single acre lot.  It goes from R1-20 (Yortown's smallest relative to lot area, single family zone) to R-3 (the densest, most multi family you could imagine). 

The Town Board appears to have been lulled by the developer of unknown origins (certainly not from Yorktown) looking to FIT TWELVE (12) APARTMENTS ON A SINGLE ACRE (1) ON A SINGLE BLOCK OF SEVEN (7) SINGLE FAMILY HOMES (SOON TO BE 6).  Excuse me.  I think my caps lock got stuck there.  You can watch the February 2 video here.  

The red square is an island of 12 apartments amongst a sea of single family homes.  Please remember, our Town Board are elected officials and remember how they vote on this application.

My inclination is to layout my entire argument against such a radical re-zoning here, in this space, because it's such a crazy, crazy proposal, but that's not the proper way to convey such sentiment to the Town of Yorktown Town Board.  You can do that yourself by showing up on Tuesday night and educating the Town Board on  the finer points of how this rezoning is basically a handout to a developer to create a dozen section 8 apartments next to George Washington Elementary School (I have 4 girls in the district, so I'm a bit biased).  Or you could just email the Town Board your comments; this link has their email addresses. 

It's bad for the homeowners on the block.  It's bad for GWES. It's bad for Yorktown as a whole.  There are a lot of R1-20 zones around town.  You may live in one.  Imagine if some random lot on your block, say it's an acre--give or take, and then all the sudden you HAVE TWELVE APARTMENTS LOOKING INTO YOUR BACK, SIDE, OR FRONT YARD.  Sorry, caps lock is malfunctioning tonight.  Imagine if the proposed 9+ acre subdivision on Hunterbrook, instead of going from a single family home to 9 single family homes, was going to a nine acre lot with 108 apartments.  Never gonna happen.  Shouldn't happen here--if our elected officials do their jobs.

In summary, pay attention to the Town of Yorktown Town Board.  Especially up here in Mohegan Lake. It's frustrating that we even have fight something like this.  You would expect the Town Board to have our back, not some faceless developer looking to allow blight to bleed into Yorktown. 

Game On!

Still waiting for the edge to firm up, but the lake looks good.  This cold snap ought to get it just right for Saturday.  The National Weather Service has the graphic correct: it will be cold, so bundle up and come play hockey with us.

Icewatch: 2/4/2016

After getting off to a slow start, we finally secured a fine rink and trails on the lake.  This week nature has graciously Zamboni'ed the whole thing for us.  And now it appears we'll have a solid 10 days of cold, with a downward trend.  Que bueno!  The only question is will we get to skate this weekend.  Stay tuned, Mohegan Lake. 

Lexington Avenue Rezoning Will Crush The Very Soul of The Mohegan Lake Community

Have you heard about the proposed Lexington Avenue Rezoning from single family (R1-20)?  Probably not because it was only recently brought up at the Town of Yorktown Town Board.  Neighbors on the entire block are united in opposition (please see petition below; I can email you a pdf if you have trouble reading it).  Basically, it allows the lot the single family is on today to fit 12 apartment units.  That's nuts.  Imagine that literally in your back yard where a single family home once stood.  Of the seven single family homes on the block, a single lot would suddenly have 12 families; almost twice as many that have existed in the area since about the 1930's.  Yikes!

It's right next to  George Washington Elementary.  There's nothing but R1-20 around.  The closest R-3 are the condos on Mohegan Lake and they are a disaster, from a density perspective.   It's obvious that there's a buck to be made and what better place in Yorktown to "spot zone" than the northwest corner.  I wish the neighbors luck, but the forces on the Town Board are likely not in their favor, but let's hold off judgement just yet; hopefully they do the right thing and shoot this proposal down right out of the gate.  

It's interesting to note that in considering the "rezoning" the Town Board referred it to many Boards, but not the "Zoning Board of Appeals."  I think that's because the don't want to have to consider the myriad variances that would be required to make 12 units on that acre lot; such information would certainly not support a rezoning. 

Before we look at the petition, let's consult our trusty zoning map, below.  As you can see, the lot is in a sea of yellow R1-20 single family homes.  Nary a R-3 multi-family zone allowing dense apartment buildings around.   

This issue was touched on in courtesy of the floor at the last Town Board, remember? There's likely a Town Board meeting on it tomorrow night, 2/2 at 730pm.  Won't know until they release agenda.

The red arrow shows the lot in question. 

 

It's shocking that these 6 single family homes and the proposed rezone parcel, which comprises the whole block, could suddenly have a dozen units plunked down.  Certainly not in keeping with the character of our lovely lake community.

Hilltop Service Station

You guys know it.  It's the old-school gas and auto service station at East Main where Sagamore Dead Ends into it.  The new owner started selling used cars there and I really can't tell the difference from the old one; certainly doesn't look much different than from how the old owner kept it.

Anyhow, we've previously noted how the Yorktown Supervisor seems hellbent on twisting one property owner's nuts while turning a blind eye to another doing nearly the exact same thing (from a zoning perspective) a couple blocks down Route 6 at the intersection of Mohegan Ave/Lakeland St. where Mohegan Lake Motors set up shop at a legal eating and drinking establishment (formerly Anthony's Pizzeria).

Susan Seigel has studious notes from the last Town Board working session.  I'd bring you video of the discussion, but apparently such work sessions do not merit public scrutiny, unless you can make it to the meeting and lean in on their table.  If you don't already follow Ms. Seigel's Citizens for and Informed Yorktown email list--it's informative; did you know there will be a public hearing about our water bills going up 25% very soon (it doesn't matter what you say, it's happening)?  Here are her notes from the 1/26/16 Town Board work session on Hilltop Service Station:

Chris Sciarra showed the board photos of what he said was the “look” the owner wanted to achieve as part of his efforts to “beautify” the site.   He said the owner planned to apply for a rezoning to allow the sales of used cars but before he did, he wanted a sense of the board as to exactly what it wanted.  (Based on a passing comment, the applicant may be applying for a new transitional zone for the two parcels that currently comprise the site; one parcel is used residential, the other already is a transitional zone.)

Supervisor Grace repeated his issues:  he is concerned with the aesthetics along the Route 6 greenbelt; he sees  no difference between cars parked for sale and cars packed to be repaired, a point challenged by a resident in the audience who was allowed to speak.  The supervisor suggested he would not be happy seeing a “ditch” along Route 6 and he also wanted to “soften” the site’s  look from Route 6.  Councilman Bernard asked the owner to touch base with the state to see what plantings might be possible along Route 6; otherwise, he said, the invasives will just grow back.

The major aesthetic issue was differences of opinion on whether a canopy should be permitted, and if so, what size and shape. Councilman Diana said he was opposed to one and wanted to keep the “old style” look of the station. He added, however, that he would be open minded if the owner came back with something smaller.

Mr. Sciarra said that the station was one of only two in Yorktown did not have self service and that it was important to help a local business. The owner explained that if the pumps are not protected by a canopy, they will deteriorate.

John Tegeder suggested that one solution to retaining the 1940s look might be to see if the roof line of the building could be extended over the pumps.

There was also a discussion of signs and it was unclear whether the owner was planning on keeping the existing signs or planning new ones.

The applicant will have to prepare a formal site plan (not, as the supervisor said, a drawing on a napkin) when he submits the rezoning application.

I leave you with this clip from "Chinatown," because water is important and this is one of the most important movies in the American movie lexicon that addresses it; if you have never seen it, put it in your queue (plus, it has Jack Nicholson):