Letter To The Editor: Inconsistency About The Park On The Corner Of Central Ave

This is a letter written by a Rye resident.

Letter to the Editor:

Wednesday night’s council meeting was an interesting experience.  It was lovely to see our two new Councilmen sworn in and then hear Mayor Sack’s state of the City address.  I am hopeful about a better, more transparent and cooperative government going forward. 

I was genuinely troubled, however, by City Manager Scott Pickup’s ongoing lies.  On the topic of the park on the corner of Central Ave and Boston Post Road, he reached deep into his bag of lies last night and pulled out…the TPS committee (Traffic & Pedestrian Safety).  The very first time I and my neighbors were able to get through to the Planning Department, we were all told the same consistent story:  the lot is being used for construction vehicles for 2 Central Ave and will be reseeded once that’s complete.  My second conversation with the Planning Department resulted in the revelation that graveling over the lot was, in fact, opportunistic.  It was also evident that the decision was a unilateral one made by Scott Pickup.  On neither occasion, nor at the last council meeting, was the TPS ever mentioned.  It's beginning to look like there wasn't an intention to reseed.

The current state of play is Mr. Pickup made a unilateral decision to gravel over green space and now we will have the discussion about whether it should stay a parking lot.  Once again, we’ve sent the message to Mr. Pickup that he can do whatever he wants, tell various lies about it, and potentially get what he wants.  This is Rye’s version of moral hazard.  The previous administration enabled and essentially endorsed Mr. Pickup’s actions.  That there weren’t any consequences to Mr. Pickup from either the RCTV mess or the RGC fleecing clearly empowered him.  No consequences for Mr. Pickup but plenty for the rest of us. 

Wednesday night, Councilman McCartney asked how many parking spaces will be at 2 Central Ave.  There will be 4 spaces on that property, as there were when it was the Black Bass.  Unfortunately, the property was granted variances such that there can now be 2 apartments upstairs and retail downstairs.  I and my neighbors vigorously opposed this based on the lack of parking.  The apartments will take up at least 2 spots, leaving 2 spots for retail.  I will never forget the Board of Appeals and Planning Commission meetings.  After the last meeting, Carolyn Cunningham turned to me and said, “Well, you had to expect some development there".  I found this shocking considering we were only at these meetings because of over-development (variances to City zoning laws).  It is consistent over-development that has led to the shortage of parking in the area.   

Recall the Black Bass parking lot was adjacent to the beverage mart lot with access from Boston Post Road.  2 Central Ave’s parking lot will now be on the Central Ave side of the building with access from Central Ave, all approved by Rye commissions.  To me, this increased the danger to vehicular and pedestrian traffic.  At the same commission meetings, I was told that lot entrances should always be on the less busy street.  Always?  Even when an entrance already exists on the busier street and will remain in use by the beverage mart?  The graded entrance on Central Ave never should have been allowed.  This is why the graded entrance for the Pickup Parking Lot is on Boston Post Road.  Both Councilwoman Killian and Councilman McCartney suggested using this lot might be safer during construction at 2 Central.  How is it safer for construction vehicles to make a left out of the lot and then another left into 2 Central?  That actually seems more dangerous to pedestrians than just parking along the bridge.  It’s worth discussing.  Lastly, any additional area parking will result in 2 Central Ave requesting additional variances (whether the Pickup Parking Lot holds 6 cars or 10).

 I seek the following in the near term: 

1. Commit to reseeding the lot in the spring.  Anything less encourages Scott Pickup to continue making unilateral decisions. 
2. Clean up the lot immediately – remove the flimsy green plastic “fencing” and remove the old barriers that are frequently thrown into the woods by the brook.
3. Remove the chain-linked fence on the Loewenstein Bridge.  Or, please make public the engineering report labeling it “unsafe for pedestrians”.  More Pickup lies.

Regards,

Anne McCarthy