November 23, 2022

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Village News

Holiday Schedule


Tarrytown Village Hall offices will be closed on Thursday, November 24, 2022 and Friday, November 25, 2022 in observance of the Thanksgiving Holiday.


Sanitation collection changes are as follows:

  • No sanitation services on Thursday, Nov. 24 and Friday, Nov. 25.
  • Normal weekly schedule to resume on Monday November 28.

 

Garbage collection:

  • No commercial district (Main St and Broadway) trash collection on Friday November 25. Will resume Tuesday, November 29th.
  • No multi-housing units (co-op) trash collection on Thursday November 24. Will resume Monday, November 28.
  • No bulk trash collection on Friday November 25. Will resume on Friday, December 2.

 

Recycling collection:

  • Normal collection Wednesday, November 23
  • No metal bulk collection on Wednesday November 23, will resume Wednesday, November 30. 

 

 

Yard waste collection:

  • No yard waste collection on Thursday November 24, will resume on Thursday, December 1.


Leaf Collection is current. You can check your household's dates on the schedule here.

Don't let those leftovers go to waste!


Don't forget that the Village has a food scrap recycling program. Whether it is what you leave behind when prepping for dinner or the over-indulgent leftovers you can't finish, food need not go to waste - recycle food scraps into garden gold, by dropping them off at the recycling bins on Green Street. Your Thanksgiving Day leftovers will become compost to grow next year's pumpkin pie! For more information: https://tarrytownenvironmental.org/local-initiatives/food-scrap-collection-program-composting/

Reminder: Village Taxes Due December 1


This is a friendly reminder that the 2nd installment of Village Taxes is due December 1, 2022 and payable without penalty through January 3, 2023. Tax payments received after January 3, 2023 will be subject to a 5% penalty. If you have questions or concerns, please feel free to contact us at (914) 631-7873.


Please Send Payments To:


Dept. 116254/Tarrytown Taxes                                                

PO Box 5211                                                                      

Binghamton, NY 13902-5211                         


or                                      


Village of Tarrytown

One Depot Plaza

Tarrytown, New York 10591


IF YOUR TAXES ARE PAID BY YOUR MORTGAGE COMPANY, PLEASE DISREGARD THIS NOTICE.

Accessory Dwelling Units: What Are They and Other Frequently Asked Questions


The Board is currently considering a local law that will allow homes in Single Family Residential Zoning Districts the ability to add an additional dwelling unit on the property of an existing home. Accessory Dwelling Units have also been called a mother-in-law apartment, granny flat or an in-law suite. The legislation is designed to be a low impact approach to increasing the number of affordable housing units in the Village while also providing a way for seniors in our community to age in place. As has been said by the Westchester County Planning Department, and housing experts with the Village’s Housing Affordability Task Force, this is just one tool in the toolbox to address the affordable housing problem in our region.

 

What is an Accessory Dwelling Unit? (ADU)

An ADU is a 2nd dwelling unit on the property of an existing

home in a Single Family Residential Zone. It can be attached (basement, attic,

addition) or detached (garage, cottage). In the proposed legislation, ADUs must

include a kitchen and a bathroom, and must adhere to all building code

regulations in terms of safety. No more than one ADU is permitted per lot.

 

Are owners required to live on the property?

Yes. The proposed legislation requires the owner to live on the

property in either unit.

 

Where are ADUs permitted?

In Single Family Residential Zones. Newly constructed detached

ADUs are only permitted in zones where the minimum lot size is 15,000 square

feet or greater (R-15 through R-80).

 

How big can an ADU be?

In the proposed legislation ADUs must be a minimum of 300 sq ft

and can be a maximum of 1,000 sq ft, but must not be greater than 50% of the

size of the existing property. ADUs can have no more than 2 bedrooms.

 

Is additional parking required?

No. Additional parking spaces are not required as long as the

required minimum 2 spaces are not removed in the construction of an ADU - i.e.

if a garage is turned into an ADU, the property is still required to have two

spaces on site for the primary residence, and therefore the site plan must be

reviewed by the Planning Board.

 

Is Land Use Board Review required?

If an ADU is constructed within the existing footprint of a

residence, no site plan review is required unless the property is in the historic

district or is a historic landmark. However, adherence to building code

standards for safety, fire codes, egress, etc, will still be required. If the

ADU expands the existing footprint or square footage of the residence, then

land use board review is required.

 

Is my neighborhood going to be transformed by this legislation?

Based on the experiences of other communities, no. The purpose

of the legislation is to offer a low-density solution to the challenge of

affordable housing in our area. The following is data from other Westchester

Villages with Accessory Dwelling Unit provisions and the number of units in

each community (source: Westchester County Planning Department):

 

Briarcliff Manor: 26

Buchanan: 25

Croton on Hudson: 10

Hastings on Hudson: 23

Irvington: 2

Pleasantville: 5

 

Anecdotally, Hastings on Hudson has had Accessory Dwelling

legislation in place since the 1980s. Building Inspector Charles Minozzi, Jr.

reports that in the 12 years he has been inspecting units and handling

application renewals, he has experienced a single complaint from a neighbor

regarding a unit and does not perceive a change to neighborhoods as a result of

the units in place.

 

For more information about the Accessory Dwelling Unit Legislation being proposed, you can access the draft legislation, the presentation from the Housing Affordability Task Force, and other information on the Village HATF webpage. The Public Hearing on the proposal will continue at the January 3, 2023 Board of Trustees Meeting.

Halloween Parade Committee Recognized


Tarrytown would not be what it is without the many dedicated residents who volunteer their time. This year the Halloween Parade Committee helped pull off the biggest parade the Village has yet seen. The Mayor and Board extended appreciation for their work on the grand event to Joanne Murray and Joe Arduino, Co-Chairs of the Committee, as well as Mary Kohrherr, Veronica Black, Suzanne Stephans, Kelly Murphy, Chris Brazil, and Julia McCue. Thank you also to Dan Walczewski, the Village's new Superintendent of Recreation, and Kyle Raum, Recreation Leader, for all of the hard work to bring the Village a ton of fun in this busy celebratory season in Tarrytown.


Planning for E-Bikes


Mayor Karen Brown and Trustees Thomas Mitchell, Effie Philipps-Staley and David Kim joined their counterparts in Ossining for the announcement of a $7Million grant award from the State for Project Mover, a plan to design e-bike systems for Ossining and four other communities including Tarrytown. The project was spearheaded by Ossining where it will roll out first. With assistance from planning firm Nelson Nygaard, the Village will install e-bike rental stations in key areas of the Village with a goal of providing additional low-cost, convenient transportation options to free up parking, traffic and reduce carbon emissions. Tarrytown will have the opportunity to learn from Ossining's experience, and if it's a good fit, will receive support for planning and equipment.

Give Blood This Season, and Save Lives

Tarrytown is hosting another Blood Drive at the Senior Center on Thursday, December 8, in partnership with the American Red Cross. Did you know that your blood donation can save three lives? Need more incentive than that? After your donation you will receive a $10 gift card to Amazon in your inbox. Nervous about it? Giving Blood is easy and takes about an hour of your day. Sign up today! https://www.redcross.org/give-blood.html

New Textile Recycling Bin



Cleaning out your closets in anticipation of the holiday onslaught? No need to throw old garments away. If you can't consign them, or donate them to a re-sale shop like the Salvation Army or Goodwill, recycle them! Tarrytown now has four textile recycling bins around the Village. The newest is located next to the food scrap recycling bins on Green Street past Losee Park. There is also one at the entrance to Trilogy Consignment Shop on Main Street, and two others hosted by the Police Benevolent Association in the Bridge Plaza parking Lot at the intersection of 119 and Broadway, and one at the Clothes Doctor on the other side of the H-Bridge.

Zoning for Cannabis Dispensaries


The Board of Trustees is currently considering amendments to Chapter 305 of the Tarrytown Code, entitled “Zoning” to add new provisions regarding Cannabis Retail Dispensaries. Local Law 10-2022 would make cannabis retail dispensaries subject to site plan review and off-street parking requirements. The law would also limit signage on dispensaries to letters and numbers. As it currently stands cannabis dispensaries would only be permitted in the Restricted Retail (RR), General Business (GB) and Neighborhood Shopping (NS) districts. Under New York State law, cannabis dispensaries are not permitted within 500 feet of a school and within 200 feet of a place of worship. The map below indicates in green the districts in which dispensaries are permitted, and the red hashing indicates where dispensaries are not allowed within those zones due to the restricted areas around schools and places of worship.


This is the draft local law currently under review by the Board. The public hearing has been continued to the January 3 Board of Trustees Meeting. If you have comments to submit in writing, please direct them to the Village Clerk by 12pm the day of the 1/3 public hearing: kgilligan@tarrytownny.gov.

Climate Adaptive Design Studio Open House (Registration Required)


You are cordially invited to join the us at the Climate-adaptive Design Studio Open House to view designs for a future Tarrytown waterfront, as envisioned by Cornell University Department of Landscape Architecture students. The student designs reflect research they conducted about the Tarrytown waterfront, as well as input and feedback from local residents, business owners, non-profit organizational staff and municipal officials. Special thanks to everyone who interacted with the studio by attending an in-person meeting or responding to our survey.


The Open House will be held on Monday, December 12th from 1:30 to 4:30 pm at the Tarrytown Senior Center, 240 West Main Street. The event will feature a brief informational presentation, followed by a salon-style gathering, so that attendees can view designs and talk with students in small groups. You’re invited to drop in for a visit or stay for the entire event, but advance registration is required. Please register at: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/cad-tarrytown-open-house-tickets-467617806447.


Feel free to share this invitation with anyone who you think may be interested in attending! For more information about the CaD studio, visit tinyurl.com/CornellCaD. For questions about the Open House, contact Lyndsey Cooper, NYS DEC Hudson River Estuary Program Climate Outreach Specialist at Lyndsey.Cooper@dec.ny.gov.

Board of Trustees in Brief

Report From Board of Trustees Meeting 11.21.22

ICYMI, you can watch Village Board meetings online.

  • Public Hearings Continued until January 3: Public Hearings for Zoning Code Amendments to enact provisions regulating cannabis dispensaries and accessory dwelling units have been continued until January 3. Please see above. More information can be found about the cannabis legislation here and the Accessory Dwelling Unit legislation here.
  • Holiday Parking Meter relief: The Board f Trustees approved the holiday parking meter program to apply to all downtown business district street meters, the South Washington Street Municipal Lot, the lots at McKeel Avenue, Neperan Road and South Broadway. Enjoy! But don't dawdle - 2 hour limits will still be enforced.
  • Low Income Household Water Assistance Program: The Village will engage with the Office of Temporary and Disability assistance to make it easier for residents who need help with water bills to get it.
  • McKean Fireboat application addressed: The Board of Trustees agreed to hear more information about the John D. McKean Fireboat application for State Historic Preservation Status and the desire to house the boat on the Tarrytown waterfront at the Tarrytown Marina. The non-profit foundation that owns the boat will present to the Board at the November 30 Work Session.


Upcoming Meetings


Learn more by visiting the Boards and Committees pages on our website.

Volunteer Opportunities
The Village of Tarrytown benefits from engaged, caring, and talented residents who volunteer their time and expertise to help create the community they want to inhabit. There are many opportunities to serve, whether contributing to the vision and development of public spaces, environmental issues, housing affordability, transportation challenges or recreation programs. Find out more about the Village’s many Boards and Committees and fill out a volunteer application by visiting: tarrytownny.gov/volunteer-to-serve 

Current Board and Committee Openings:


The Planning Board has an opening for a 2nd alternate member. Experience in the fields of architecture, planning, construction or engineering preferred. For more information about Planning Board responsibilities: https://www.tarrytownny.gov/planning-board. If interested please submit your application through the website.

Visit Tarrytownny.gov for more info
Community Events
Do you have a Community Event to include in the Tarrytown Link?
 
The Tarrytown Link is released the Friday after the Regular Board of Trustees meeting, twice per month. All info must be submitted by noon on the Wednesday prior to the Tarrytown Link's release. Submissions included in this listing are intended solely to inform of events and info of general interest to subscribers in Tarrytown and Sleepy Hollow. No events that are religious or political in nature will be posted. The Village of Tarrytown does not necessarily endorse, support or take any position with regard to organizations or entities whose events and/or activities are listed. The Village makes no representation as to the accuracy thereof, nor does it assume any liability in connection with same. The Village reserves the right to reject submissions if the proposals received are not timely or do not adhere to these guidelines in part or in full. If submitting a flyer, please consider submitting a translation in Spanish as well.
 
Please submit flyers or information to the following: newsletter@tarrytownny.gov
 
You may submit a flyer (jpg or png) or text in the format below:
Title:
What: [Limit description to 100 words or less]
When:
Where:
Contact: [Name of organization/ individual, phone, email]
 
To review the Village newsletter guidelines, please click here. 
Government News in the Region

Need Help with Heating Bills?


New York State has gathered information about a range of programs available for those who need assistance this winter.


  • Energy Affordability and Electric and Natural Gas Bill Relief Programs: Eligible residential low-income customers can enroll in the Electric and Gas relief program before December 31, 2022, for a one-time credit to eliminate arrears accrued through May 1, 2022. This information if available for download by clicking the Electric & Gas Relief Program Fact Sheet.
  • Home Energy Assistance Program (HEAP): a federally funded program that provides heating grants to help income-eligible consumers pay for their energy costs. Additional information regarding the HEAP program can be found at the mybenefits website, or you may go to the HEAP website. The Consumer Assistance factsheet provides income eligibility information, as well as a more detailed description of each program benefit.
  • HEAP Benefits and Important Dates:
  • Regular Benefit component opens November 1, 2022 and is scheduled to operate through March 15, 2023
  • Emergency Benefit component opens January 3, 2023 and will operate through March 15, 2023.
  • Heating Equipment Repair or Replacement component opened October 3, 2022 and is scheduled to operate through March 15, 2023.
  • Clean and Tune benefit opened October 3, 2022 and will operate through September 29, 2023.
  • Cooling Assistance component opens May 1, 2023 and is scheduled to operate through August 31, 2023.


There are also utility sponsored programs and other assistance available. Please check out https://www.dps.ny.gov/winter for more information.

County Tax for Home Heating Suspended for Three Months


From the Examiner: "Westchester County officials announced last week that the county portion of the sales tax on home heating sources will be suspended for three months in hopes of giving beleaguered homeowners a break on energy prices amidst skyrocketing costs.


County Executive George Latimer said the 4 percent exemption will be in effect for three months, from Dec. 1 to Feb. 28, through the heart of the upcoming winter season. If a homeowner needs to fill a 250-gallon tank with heating oil at about $6 a gallon, for example, there would be a savings of about $60 with each delivery, he said."


Westchester County Budget Under Review by the Board of Legislators


The schedule for the Board of Legislators’ review is as follows:


  • Public Hearing

November 30, 2022 at 7PM

Chappaqua Performing Arts Center

480 N Bedford Rd, Chappaqua, NY 10514

  • Public Hearing

December 7, 2022 at 7PM

Board of Legislators Chambers

148 Martine Avenue, 8th Floor

White Plains, NY 10601


New York State Small Business Seed Funding Grant Program


The successful recovery and growth of small businesses is key to New York State's future. The $200 million Small Business Seed Funding Grant Program provides grant funding to early stage small and micro businesses and for-profit independent arts and cultural organizations impacted by the pandemic.


The grants will be flexible and can be used for a number of different business operating expenses, including payroll, rent or mortgage payments, taxes, utilities, PPE or other business expenses incurred between September 1, 2018 and January 1, 2022.


The application portal opens on September 14.


County Landlord Tenant Assistance Program


The Landlord Tenant Assistance Program (LTAP) will allow small landlords who own eight units or less, who maintain rent levels that are affordable to residents, to apply for up to $25,000 per unit for repairs to their rental properties. To be eligible, landlords/owners must charge rents that are affordable to households earning between no more than 60% and 100% of the Area Median Income (AMI), and home improvements may include, but are not limited to, roof replacement, or upgrades to electrical, windows, accessibility ramps, plumbing and heating systems. With $10M available in funds, 400 units can be rehabilitated.


Rent levels, with utilities included, must adhere to the following 2022 HUD Guidelines:

Bedroom Size

60% AMI Rent Levels

80% AMI Rent Levels

100% AMI Rent Levels

Studio

$1,457

$1,942

$2,427

1 Bedroom

$1,665

$2,219

$2,773

2 Bedroom

$1,873

$2,497

$3,119

3 Bedroom

$2,080

$2,773

$3,465

A Westchester County Rehabilitation Specialist will inspect the property after an application has been submitted to the Department of Planning. If the property qualifies, a three-party contract will be signed between the County, the landlord/owner and the contractor, for work to be completed by contractors that are licensed and insured to work in Westchester County. Funds will be disbursed directly to the contractor from the County after a progress inspection has been completed.  


Interested landlords/owners should call at (914) 995-2429 or email Gaitre Rambharose in the Westchester County Department of Planning.


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