October 28, 2016

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Eastchester REVIEW THE

October 28, 2016 | Vol. 4, Number 44 | www.eastchesterreview.com

Planning Board approves hotel; activists plan lawsuit

FLYING HIGH T

that sign; that is what has been going on.” She explained that her vote was bolstered by the Following a 3-2 vote by the thorough testing which has been Tuckahoe Planning Board to ap- done on the site and reviewed by prove the site plan for a conten- the New York State Department tious hotel development, a group of Environmental Conservation, of area residents is planning DEC. The Marbledale Road Envito file a lawsuit appealing the ronmental Coalition—a group board’s decision. Protestors piled into the of residents from the village of October 28, 2016 | Vol. Community 4, NumberCenter 32 | www.cityreviewnr.com Tuckahoe and the surrounding Tuckahoe on Oct. 19, wearing dust masks communities of Eastchester, and hoisting signs to protest the Bronxville and Scarsdale proPlanning Board’s consideration testing the project—is fundraisof the development without a ing to file a lawsuit against the full study of the potential im- Planning Board, and may also pacts the project could have on sue the village or the DEC. As the environment. But the board per state law, the group has until voted in favor of the site plan Nov. 18 to file the suit. David Gordon, an attorney for the five-story, 163-unit Marriott Springhill Suites hotel and for the coalition, said he has not restaurant proposed by Bilwin drafted the suit as of press time, Development Affiliates. Board but said the text would focus on members Melba Caliano and the Planning Board’s navigaDavid Barra voted against the tion of the State Environmental Quality Review process, SEQR. site plan. Caliano said she voted against “The board’s SEQR actions are approving the site plan because very questionable,” Gordon told thought the called for the Review, “almost certainly ilOctober 28, 2016 | Vol. 4, she Number 44project | www.mamaroneckreview.com an environmental impact study, legal.” But Linda Shaw, Bilwin’s atexplaining that information is still being gathered. “As we torney, said the level of oversight senior at the college. “But, I’ve speak, there are ongoing DEC on the project by the DEC and had friends who have had to tests and the Planning Board consultants hired by the village walk back to campus at night, doesn’t know what the results of surpass what would be required which is extremely unsafe. By those tests are, or whether those in an environmental impact not having those hours, you’re tests will compel further investi- statement. The site plan includes waiting for an accident to hap- gation,” she said. a condition requiring the develpen; and it may have already The plan includes a state-su- oper to put money in an Escrow happened with the recent loss pervised remediation of the toxic account to fund the village of the school took.” property, once a marble quarry Tuckahoe’s environmental conPrior to the service changes, and later a dumping ground on sultant firm, HDR. the Valiant Express ran until Marbledale Road. “We’ve got more people 3:30 a.m. on Fridays and SaturAmid yelling from the crowd, watching this project than nordays. Since the changes, the final Ann Marie Ciaramella, the Plan- mally watch a project like this bus on Fridays and Saturdays, ning Board chairwoman, pointed because of the village’s condiwhich transports students from to a protest sign which read “De- tions,” Shaw said. downtown White Plains back to mand testing before digging,” campus, comes at28, 1:302016 a.m. | Vol. October Number 44listened | www.ryecityreview.com HOTEL continued on page 9 and4,said, “We have to According to J.J. Pryor, the college’s managing director of Follow us on Twitter @eastchesterview the office of communications, the college enacted the bus service

By COREY STOCKTON Staff Writer

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CityREVIEW NewRochelle HE

Julie Murtagh makes a move on a Rye defender during a Class A playoff game on Oct. 22. The Eagles topped the Garnets in penalty kicks. For story, see page 15. Photo/Mike Smith

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Mamaroneck REVIEW THE

Shuttle service questioned after Manhattanville death By FRANCO FINO Staff Writer

With a considerable amount of attention centered on the recent death of Robby Schartner, a Manhattanville student who was killed by a drunk driver on Oct. 9, the college’s student body has reignited a debate about the school’s shuttle bus service. Schartner, a 21-year-old junior, was struck and killed by Emma Fox, of Rye, while walking along Westchester Avenue in White Plains in the early morning hours. It is believed that Schartner was walking back to campus after a night out on Mamaroneck Avenue in White Plains. According to police, Fox, 24, had been traveling eastbound on

Westchester Avenue at about 5 a.m. when she fatally hit Schartner with her car, a 2012 Nissan Sentra. White Plains police reported that Fox had been intoxicated at the time of the incident and was measured with a blood alcohol of 0.21; the legal limit in New York state is 0.08. In the aftermath of the tragic event, Manhattanville students are pointing to last year’s controversial change by the school administration to alter the bus service schedule. “What’s it going to take for the school to realize that having transportation provided is for our own safety?” asked Jess Cowle, a junior at the college, which is located in Purchase. On Aug. 21, 2015, Sharlise

Smith-Rodriguez, the college’s dean of students, sent a welcome letter to the student body alerting them of upcoming events and changes in policy for the 201516 academic year. According to the memo, which was delivered as a blast email, the school changed the schedule for the Valiant Express. The bus service changes included the addition of four early morning runs to transport students from the college to and from White Plains from 7:30 a.m. to 9:30 a.m. Monday through Friday. Additionally, the last two weekend runs would be eliminated. “I get why they changed the hours because they didn’t want to be seen as encouraging drinking,” said Gianni Mogrovejo, a

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RyeCity REVIEW THE

MANHATTANVILLE continued on page 8

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