November 25, 2016 | Vol. 4, Number 48 | www.mamaroneckreview.com
KEEP IT
CLEAN
A coalition of elected officials, conservationists and titans of industry is calling upon New York state to provide more funding to municipalities under the Clean Water grants program. Pictured is a view from the Hommocks Conservation area in the town of Mamaroneck, where the coalition held a news conference on Nov.16. For story, see page 5. Photo/Andrew Dapolite
Manhattanville plans change in bus service schedule By FRANCO FINO Staff Writer The Manhattanville College administration is leaning toward adjusting its shuttle bus service, following elevated outrage from the student body about the safety of its current schedule. On Nov. 10, Michael Geisler, the college’s president, confirmed that the administration has begun discussing retracting last year’s controversial decision to alter the bus service schedule, according to Touchstone, the school’s newspaper.
“I think we’re willing to bring back the bus starting in the spring term,” he said. The interest in altering the school’s bus service comes in the wake of last month’s death of Robby Schartner, a 21-yearold junior at the college who was killed by Emma Fox, of Rye, while returning to campus after a night out in White Plains. As of September 2015, the college decided to cut the last campus bus route on Fridays and Saturdays, which typically returned to campus by 3:30 a.m. As a result, the bus, the
Valiant Express, makes its final return to campus at 1:30 a.m. On Oct. 9, Schartner had been walking along Westchester Avenue in White Plains when he was struck by Fox, 24, who was under the influence at the time of the incident. At the time, police reported that Fox had a blood alcohol content of three times the legal limit in New York state; Fox was measured at 0.21, and the legal limit is 0.08. She is being charged with aggravated DUI and firstdegree vehicular manslaughter. “In regard to safety, this is the best decision the school can
make,” said Falon Kirby, a senior at the college. “Students won’t feel stranded or lost [in White Plains], and will know that, no matter what the hour, they will return to Manhattanville College safely.” As part of a new school policy implemented last year, the college altered the schedule for the Valiant Express bus, adding four early morning runs to transport students to and from White Plains Monday through Friday in place of the last two weekend runs. MANHATTANVILLE continued on page 11
$55M Hampshire lawsuit thrown out on appeal By JAMES PERO Staff Writer An appeal of a lawsuit by Hampshire Country Club seeking $55 million in damages from the village of Mamaroneck was shot down last week in federal court, reaffirming a previous ruling rendered in March. The decision is the latest development in a long and contentious saga between the country club and the village which was initially sued in 2014 after ruling against the club’s proposal to build more than 100 condominiums on its 116-acre Orienta Point property. In the suit, Hampshire alleged that the village’s decision to deny a zoning change to allow for the construction of several residential units on the property was unduly influenced by backlash from residents in the surrounding area. However, Mamaroneck Mayor Norman Rosenblum, a Republican, feels justified in the federal court’s decision to uphold the village’s denial of the zoning change. “The village is not required to rezone something or consider it just because someone disagrees,” he said. The $55 million figure named in the suit, the club said, represented revenue lost as a result of the club’s inability to construct those units. The court’s move to uphold
the decision comes after a number of amended proposals from Hampshire Country Club that sought to make the addition of dozens of residential units more zoning compliant. A separate lawsuit filed by the club against the village that alleges violations in New York state Open Meetings Law is still being reviewed by a state court. In 2015, the club was the victor of a separate lawsuit filed by Mamaroneck Coastal Environment Coalition, MCEC, a local nonprofit focused on village environmental issues. The suit centered on the club’s practice of holding events and fundraisers for “non-members,” which members of MCEC claimed violated local zoning laws. Thomas Nappi, a spokesman for Hampshire, said that the most recent decision comes as a major let down. “We’re disappointed by the court’s decision,” he said. “We believe that the village made an error in not allowing the zoning change.” While Nappi said another appeal is not likely forthcoming, he added that the club is still pursing a home development that would add 44 single-family homes and 66 townhouses. Currently, a Draft Environmental Impact Statement is being carried out by the country club. CONTACT: james@hometwn.com
INSIDE Is Walter’s headed to Rye Town Park? Story on page 7.