The Hamlet of Montrose has 4,000 residents covering 2.5 square miles. This meeting will be a review of the short-term items that were completed following the February 2010 meeting. The objective is to identify the assets and the challenges in Montrose. Sub-committees will be formed to address the specific concerns of the residents.

 

The PowerPoint presentation was reviewed:

 

A few points of discussion, from the PowerPoint:

·        Chris Kehoe, Deputy Director of Planning, spoke about the Brookfield Plant. He stated that the Planning Board meets the first Tuesday of every month. There has not been a Public Hearing, as of yet. The Planning Board has done a site inspection, to get a first hand look at the clean up. This case is an “As of Right”, meaning they have the right to submit an application but the Planning Board does carefully review the plans to minimize the impact. It is zoned industrial and the junkyard was a permitted use. Linda Puglisi wants the public to be aware of the meetings and to be involved in the process and to make comments. Contact Chris Kehoe to get on an e-mail list. (ChrisK@townofcortlandt.com).

·        The contractors yard and commercial composting moratorium have been extended to June 30,2010 by the Town Board for further review. 

·        There was a suggestion that at the exit of the Cortlandt Volunteer Ambulance Corps. yellow lines be painted so that cars do not block the exit for the emergency vehicles. This will be addressed by the Town.

·        No new information was available on the abandoned Gas Stations. Both parcels are in arrears and will be addressed by the legal department. The house next to the ambulance corp. is in foreclosure and has many judgments against it. It will take time to resolve these issues by the banks and the legal process.

·        Unfortunately, Metro North will not offer special rates to Montrose residents for parking.  A resident asked that some parking spots be designated for Montrose residents using the new section of parking. It would be more convenient for Montrose residents to park there. 

·        Montrose Station Road Bridge has been red-flagged by the NYS DOT in October 2009. The Town does not own the bridge but is responsible for some repair of the bridge, along with the State DOT and Metro North. It is owned primarily by Metro North. It now has some weight restrictions. Metro-North has hired a special engineer to evaluate the bridge and it is mostly their responsibility to pay for the repairs. Metro-North will give the town a report, shortly. The cost could be two million dollars. The decking needs to be replaced along with the structural framework.

·        Restore New York handouts were made available. It mandates the removal of the buildings and the cooperative efforts. It is complicated but a good funding source if funded by the State. The Town will pursue. 

·        Earth Day kick-off ceremony took place at the Montrose Gazebo on April 17^th. All residents were invited to attend to clean up their neighborhood. The community center was an e-mail waste drop off site and there were several other destinations to pick up clean-up materials by the Town. 

 

The next MEP meeting will be held on June 8^th at 7 P.M. at the Hendrick Hudson

Free Library.

 

           

With:

Montrose Residents

 

 

Secondly, the residents could donate plantings (seasonal flowers) at the entrance to Roundtree Lane. They need assistance and suggestions on watering these plants from the Town. It was suggested they use plants that do not need that much water, if possible.

 

It was also mentioned that along 9A, across from Roundtree Lane there are wires, which needs to be removed.

 

 

Also, needed is to clean up the sidewalks from the Montrose V.A. to Hendrick Hudson High School. The litter needs to be picked-up, the sidewalks need to be swept of gravel, and the trees and bushes need to be trimmed so that the sidewalk is accessible. 

 

Is there a way to make the businesses look better, perhaps with the use of the banners or flags? 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

With:

Montrose residents

 

1. Route 9A & Kalkstein's building - dance school - Real concerns about safety of   children going from adjacent parking lot to entrance to building - consider barriers to Route 9A, along sidewalk.   Need to cut back plantings (these might be Kalkstein's buildings’ plantings?) and allow more visual access to site.

 

2. Harper Avenue - Request consideration for speed humps.  Idea of one way was also briefly discussed but with the Hunt Avenue/KFR intersection already restricted - some were not sure this would work.  Real concern of speeding as people cut through from KFR to FGL School. Discussed speed hump criteria and other areas of Town.

 

3. Kings Ferry Rd & Route 9A intersection - Especially during AM Peak - needs a right turn lane. Also needs cutting back on sidewalk, landscaped island and possibly losing a few of the public parking spaces near Ambulance Corps but many felt it might be worth it to alleviate the major backups on KFR.   Short-term fix for Ambulance corp. is below.

 

4. KFR & Ambulance Corp Entrance - Short term Fix - Have the Town adequately paint out a box on the pavement and add signage - do not block the box RE; Ambulance Corp.

 

5. Public Parking Lot near Ambulance Corp:  High School kids parking in the public lot at Ambulance Corps and leave cars all day even though it says 2 hour parking.   Rosemary to follow up with Code Enforcement and ask that Parking enforcement visit the site. If we can alleviate the "all day parkers" we can have more access for area businesses.

 

6.Using Montrose FD Parking Lot in cooperation with HHHS for kids to park in as an alternative.  Some felt this would be troublesome and others felt the school should be pressed upon to completely prevent students from bringing cars to school. Insurance concerns, etc.

 

7. VA Hospital - Move Security Check in further into property:  This was discussed at length. Currently when AM peak and employees are entering site - the line for check in backs up onto Route 9A causing further backups along the road. Seek help from VA to move check in further in to alleviate back up on Route 9A.

 

8. NYSDOT Diamond Interchange or Clover Leaf Interchange: Maybe we should try again to push the NYSDOT on this.  Concerns about Level of Service decreasing on Route 9A with VA, New additional Train Station, Brookfield and Dakota, etc.

 

9. BrookfieldGeneral discussion and concerns about noise and traffic. We reviewed the plans.  Chris participated in this discussion.  Discuss future opportunities at the June 2010 meeting and make sure that the public participates (which is before the Planning Board) in review of the proposed Brookfield site plan.

 

10. Dutch Street Redesign & Monument movement to VA property. Discussion included both concerns about moving the monument – apparently there is some connection to a family who lives on Dutch Street. Also, Ed tried to bring awareness to the fact that moving the monument would only modestly increase the sight distance safety issue of Dutch/Route9A. Suggestion to evaluate this area was discussed. 

 

 

 

With:

Montrose residents

 

 

 

With:

Sgt. Tim Joyce and Sgt. Sean Faccilonga - Westchester County Police

Montrose residents:

 

 

 

 

 

Minutes submitted by Judi Peterson and by the Group Town Advisors

May 6, 2010