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Re: Open House held by the French American School at the former Ridgeway Country Club
From: Gedney Farms Association
mailto:gedneyfarms(a)optonline.net
Sent: Wednesday, February 2, 2011 01:13 PM
To: 'Gedney Farms'
Subject: GNA: FASNY Open House
Dear Neighbor -
Several of the Gedney Association's board members attended the Open House held by the French American School at the former Ridgeway Country Club property on Saturday. For those who could not attend or chose not to, let me give you my impressions:
The open house was professionally planned and well run. As I have maintained since the outset, the School's administration and representatives seem to be nice and courteous people. Those representing the School at the open house only reinforced my opinion. The presentations were professionally prepared and demonstrated…and the food was good.
The School's plans have changed: all of the School's buildings are now planned to be constructed at the southern (Ridgeway) end of the property. The initial conceptual plans had called for the elementary and early childhood building to be located off of Bryant Avenue. This building is now planned for behind the homes on Ridgeway on the other side of Hathaway Lane with the athletic facilities are to be located along the Murchison Place, Hotel Drive and part of the Macy Avenue properties. This change concentrates the entire school's multiple building complex along Ridgeway.
Although the presentations were professional, they were not necessarily accurate or complete. Further, a letter issued by the School and sent to many in White Plains maintains that some of the Gedney Association's views are incorrect. It is unfortunate that the School's public relations effort has grown to include misleading assertions. Below are accurate statements about the School's plans and the property:
The School's construction of a multiple building complex would significantly increase the density of the use of the property and would violate the City's Comprehensive Plan. ·
We believe the preferred use of the property is as a golf course. The Comprehensive Plan calls for this low density use to continue. There are many well managed golf courses throughout the country. We believe that this property could be a financial success as a golf course under proper management. ·
It is a matter of opinion how the surrounding communities' property values will be affected if the School's educational complex replaces the golf course. However, to assert that the property values will not be adversely affected is inaccurate.
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The introduction of cars and buses carrying 1,200 students and an estimated 200 faculty and staff onto the neighborhood's streets twice a day, every school day, will certainly cause traffic congestion. ·
The school buildings complex will be large enough to accommodate 1,200 students. Comparisons to other existing private schools are valid: the German School and Solomon Schechter School each have less than 400 students: one third the size of the proposed French American School. Archbishop Stepinac High School has less than 600 students, half the size of FASNY's 1,200. ·
Only taxpayer supported schools enjoy special consideration under NYS law. FASNY is a private, regional school and does not qualify for any special consideration. Further, the School must request a special permit to operate in a residential zone. A special permit application can be denied. ·
The School will not pay property taxes; the tax burden for the property will now be spread to the other taxpayers of White Plains. ·
Much of the property that the School does not plan to develop is not developable. A significant portion is already a designated wetland. Further, representatives of the School have stated that the School will not maintain the undeveloped open space. They expect the City, the Gedney Association or some other entity to pay to maintain the property.
Please contact the mayor and Common Council members and tell them how you feel about the School's plans for the Ridgeway property. Also, please discuss the plans with your neighbors, especially those who may not use email regularly and may not be as informed of the facts. Thank you in advance for your help.
Terence
Terence Guerriere President, Gedney Association
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Sale of Ridgeway C. C,
FASNY plans for RCC
The two site plans
Objections to school
FASNY rebuttal
Area photo album
W.P. Government
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