Feb. 26, 2014:  At a special meeting and work session held on Wednesday, February 19, the Bronxville Board of Trustees addressed the Kensington Road Development and discussed the formulation of the village's five-year capital expenditure plan.

Under new business, the trustees approved the contract with Fareri Associates for development of the Kensington Road parcel according to the plan approved by the Bronxville Planning Board in 2008. At that time, the developer WCI Communities, Inc. was expected to develop the property but ceased operations due to the 2008 financial crisis. Fareri will build 54 condominium units aimed for the empty nester market and a 300-space underground parking facility with 200 spaces dedicated for village use.

During the work session, trustees and village department heads analyzed the expenditures to date of the 2013-2014 budget based on the current year's activity and discussed comprehensive plans for their departments based on the needs, the prior deferment of items, and budget considerations in light of the New York State-mandated 2% tax cap and the desire to maintain village infrastructure.

Plans presented by the department heads represent an overall capital improvement plan of approximately $5.6 million for 2014-2015, a $2.08 million increase over this year's anticipated budget.

DPW Facility:  The department of public works (DPW) plan for 2014-2015 includes the $4 million cost of a new facility to provide housing for expensive equipment, which currently must sit outside year round, as well as equipment repair facilities. The trustees have engaged Calgi Construction Management of White Plains to evaluate departmental needs and develop site designs for a new DPW complex.

Street and Sidewalk Reconstruction:  DPW superintendent Rocco Circosta expects street, curb, and sidewalk reconstruction to hold steady at $450,000 for the next five years and anticipates that sanitary and storm sewer repairs will cost $200,000 in 2014-2015 and decrease to $150,000 each year after that through 2018.

Street Lighting:  The DPW also plans to invest $125,000 in improved village street lighting in each of the next two fiscal years. Installation of a new traffic light at the Midland Avenue/Pondfield Road intersection is slated for 2014-2015 at a cost of $200,000.

Flood Mitigation:  The building department's capital plan includes $231,000 in each of the next two fiscal years as part of its obligation to fund 25% of a joint flood mitigation project between the village and the school district. The Federal Emergency Management Agency has awarded the entities a $4.4 million grant, which is calculated to fund 75% of the project.

Village Administrator Harold Porr stated that the project, which calls for large water retention tanks to be installed under Hayes Field at The Bronxville School, a pumping station at the field, and two 30-inch force mains to carry excess water to the Bronx River, is in the design phase.

The capital plan for 2014-2015 also includes $85,000 for repairs to the front walk at village hall, $38,000 for security system upgrades at the Bronxville Public Library, and $30,000 for the purchase of a license plate reader and laptop for the Bronxville Police Department.

The Bronxville Board of Trustees will hold a public hearing on the capital improvement plan at its regular meeting on Monday, March 10, at 8:00 pm in the trustees room at village hall.

Pictured here:  Part of the Bronxville DPW facility behind Bronxville Village Hall on Palumbo Place.

Photo by A. Warner