Highlights from the Kisco Trustees Meeting

Here is a run down of some of most notable events of Monday's Mount Kisco Village Board of Trustees meeting:

Main Street Rezoning

The board voted unanimously to rezone a property located on Main Street from Low-Density Office status to Central Business District 2 status. The site was formerly the location of Paul's Power Products, which has since moved to Bedford Hills.

Mayor Michael Cindrich said that the property had been used as an impromptu parking area for the Mount Kisco Coach Diner Restaurant during the off hours of Paul's Power Products, and that under a new plan the diner would add an expansion to its south while demolishing the vacant building and converting the site into parking.

"It's going to give a viable business the opportunity to complete a small expansion," Cindrich said during an interview.

The process was not without controversy. Cindrich said that an earlier recommended proposal from the town planner had called for rezoning all the way to Gregory Avenue, which he said would have created an existing nonconforming use.

The site plan for expansion now has to go to the Planning Board for approval.

Washburn Avenue Sign Controversy

During the Trustees' meeting, Mayor Cindrich blasted the state Department of Transportation for its placement of a Saw Mill River Parkway exit sign in a new location that is visible from the top of Washburn Avenue.

"It's an incompetent – and I'll say it publicly – an incompetent act by the New York state engineers within the Department of Transportation," he said during the meeting.

Cindrich explained that the exit sign used to be obscured in its old location by an elevation change. Previously it was installed a half mile south of the Kisco Avenue exit.

Cindrich said this could lead to confusion that Washburn might be mistaken for an entrance to the parkway. During the meeting, he described an anecdote where he saw a driver speeding on the street. The mayor stopped him and asked where he was going. Cindrich said the driver responded by telling him that he saw the sign and thought the street was an entrance.

During the meeting, trustees also discussed planting trees as a way to shield the visibility of the sign from the road.

Route 172/McLain Street Housing Development

With a Bedford Town Board meeting set on Jan. 19 to discuss a controversial proposed housing development near the intersection of Route 172 and McLain Street, Mayor Cindrich offered his opinion on the matter.

He said that he was worried about a proposal to build a septic system on the property instead of tying into the village's existing sewer system, citing possible pollution of the wetlands and wells in the area.

"We're concerned with the wells in the whole region and also the New York City watershed," Cindrich said after the meeting.

Cindrich also raised concerns about the ingress egress of the development, or entering and exiting.

Advertising Free Parking Times on Pay Stations

During a discussion about the new LUKE parking stations in Shopper's Park at the board meeting, Trustee and Deputy Mayor Peter DiChiara proposed that the village put parking collection hours on the machines. Parking is free on Sundays and evenings after 6 p.m. He argued that there is a benefit for businesses when parking is free, and proposed putting the hours for paid parking on the machines. Right now, DiChiara said, it is not widely known that the village does not charge for parking. He also brought up anecdotes where he saw people paying for parking on Sundays. He also said that it would "engender some good will" from people.

Drug Council Partnership

The Mount Kisco Drug and Alcohol Abuse Prevention Council is now working in conjunction with a New Rochelle-based group called Project FOCUS to fight substance abuse, said Dr. Nan Miller, a member of the group.

The coalition of the groups will work off of $75,000 in grant money awarded by the White House Office of National Drug Control Policy and the Substance and Mental Health Services Administration, according to information provided by Miller.

Miller said that the contract for going along with the other group needs to be check by the village attorney before the mayor can sign it. 

Rehabilitation of Lexington Avenue

Mayor Cindrich said during the meeting that is expects the county to work on resurfacing and other maintenance of Lexington Avenue this year. He also noted that funding for it came from money that he worked with then-Congresswoman Sue Kelly to obtain in 2004.