Riverbay Board challenges City Planning’s C8-2 zoning proposal for 500 Baychester Avenue Vol. 54 No. 46
Saturday, November 16, 2019
The office of Bronx Borough President Ruben Diaz, Jr. called a public hearing regarding the Uniform Land Use Review Procedure (ULURP) application involving 500 Baychester Ave. on Thursday, Nov. 14. Participants of the small and somewhat controversial meeting were greeted with unexpected opposition to the Department of City Planning’s (DCP) proposal for the small lot that has been a point of contention for the Co-op City community. In front of representatives of both the borough president’s office and City Planning, Riverbay Board’s Second Vice President Rod Saunders, representing his peers on the Riverbay Board and the shareholders of Co-op City, expressed strong opposition to the City Planning proposal that will rezone the property from a C7 to C8-2 classification. During the meeting, Mr. Saunders argued that there was no consultation between City Planning and the Co-op City community or the Riverbay Board to discuss what commercial district would be appropriate for the portion of land – which has become an issue for residents due to the disBY TORIEA McCAUSELAND
$1.25
turbing tall, illuminated signage. According to Mr. Saunders, C8-2 encompasses uses that would not be favorable to the community. He said: “Some uses allowed under a C8 needs to be a discussion. We don’t think it’s fair; this is a major potential problem for the residents of Co-op City.” In a letter signed by both Mr. Saunders and Riverbay Board President Linda Berk, the Co-op City representatives stated: “It is our opinion that the C-7 zone should be changed, but not to a C8-2 zone. …The proposed C8-2 zone would permit as of right development of heavy commercial uses which are inconsistent with a predominantly residential neighborhood.” Before Mr. Saunders announced his concerns to the group, Christine Camilleri, Flood Resiliency Planner of NYC Planning, once again explained the proposal to amend the rezoning map. Like her presentation during the Bronx Community Board 10 public hearing that took place in the Bartow Center on Oct. 17, she defended City Planning’s reasoning for (Continued on page 2)
MTA: Last few Co-op City bus requests likely to be granted Back before area rugs and front-hall runners, people were pretty excited about something called wall-towall carpeting. Perhaps some people still are. The thing you wanted to avoid with wall-to-wall carpeting — both upon installation and later — was bubbles. Got to make sure those bubbles are tamped down or things are unsightly and you might just trip. Consider this the bubble phase. Jackie Carter, Metropolitan Transportation Authority assistant director for government and community relations, told the Co-op City Ad Hoc Committee on MTA Bus Cuts this week the remaining issues the committee has with the MTA’s final proposed bus redesign plan are likely to be resolved favorably. “The timing of the Bx23, Q50 and Bx38 will be BY JASON CHIREVAS
looked at and discussed with us at some point in the near future,” ad hoc committee member Rod Saunders told the Co-op City Times. The remaining issue the committee has with the Bx23 and Q50 is determining when and from where the buses will begin their runs each day. The MTA’s final plan gives a time for the beginning of these routes, but not a specific place. With respect to the Bx38, the ad hoc committee would like to see that route extended to intersect with the Bx32, which would allow easier access between Co-op City and the VA Hospital. Perhaps most jarring in the MTA’s final redesign plan for Co-op City’s buses was the reduction to the BxM7’s schedule. Under the authority’s proposed final plan, the BxM7 — an express bus from Co-op
City to midtown Manhattan — would see the ends of its schedule clipped. This proposed change would be felt most on weekdays, with the BxM7 making its final trip for the day into Manhattan at 3 p.m. This, ad hoc committee members have argued, would leave shareholders depending on the bus to get to work for third and overnight shifts without a reasonable way to access midtown by bus. Adding to what committee members considered the odd nature of the BxM7 schedule change, similar changes were proposed for all of the Bronx’s express bus schedules and, at least in the BxM7’s case, the changes were not part of the original MTAdraft redesign plan released in June, nor were they acknowledged as
Emergency Preparedness seminar held in Co-op City
Being prepared for any emergency means having a plan How prepared are you for an unexpected power outage in place to keep you and your loved ones safe. With winter or extreme weather? approaching, extreme cold can strike at any time and cause major power outages so being prepared to be without electricity can be crucial. In an effort to help ensure Co-op City residents are prepared, NYC office of Emergency Management, Baychester branch of the New York Public Library and Bronx Community Board #10 held a presentation on emergency preparedness on Wednesday, Nov. 13, at the public library on Asch Loop. The event was well attended and included a significant number of seniors who took advantage of the Community Board #10 District Manager, Matt Cruz, (center, back row) and seminar being held right here in participants in the emergency preparedness presentation display the Go-Bags their community, and to avail themthat were handed out. Included in each bag was: a flashlight, pocket radio, selves of the free Go-Bags that batteries, a first aid kit, rain poncho, a pocket magnifying glass, a dust mask BY BRANDON ORTIZ
(also known as a N95), toiletry items, and a blanket.
Photo by Brandon Ortiz
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November carrying charge payments
The Riverbay Finance Department’s Bookkeeping window in the Administrative Building in the Bartow Center will stay open late – until 7:00 p.m. – on Monday, Nov. 25, and Tuesday, Nov. 26, to accept carrying charge payments. In addition, because of the Thanksgiving holiday, the last business day for the month of November will be Wednesday, Nov. 27. Payment of November carrying charges must be received by Nov. 27, 2019 to avoid legal action for non-payment. —Riverbay Finance Dept.