April 28: NYC
Water Board Hearings Set for Rate Increase
On Tuesday, May 6, Staten
Island Residents will have an opportunity to voice their
opinion/opposition to the proposed rate increase for water and sewer
charges of 14.5% for the upcoming fiscal year beginning July 1, 2008.
The hearing will be held at the College of Staten Island, 2800 Victory
Blvd. Center for the Arts, Recital Hall, Staten Island, NY 10314. Each
year has seen double digit increases on water and sewer rates with no
end in sight. The Society will be testifying on May 6 for the
community in opposition to the increase. All residents are urged to
join in opposition as well. Please call Kevin Kunkle at (718) 595-3601
or email kkunkle@dep.nyc.gov
to register to speak. Speakers are limited to 5 minutes.
April 19: NYC Council
Approves Westerleigh Rezoning Unanimously
By unanimous vote the NYC Council gave final
approval to the rezoning of much of Westerleigh to the R2 category
(single family homes only in new construction). Over 1400 lots were
covered by the application submitted by the Westerleigh Improvement
Society. It stands as the largest single area rezoned to R2 in Staten
Island history.
April 4: Full City
Council Vote Set on Westerleigh Rezoning
Having been approved by votes of the Zoning and
Franchises Subcommittee and the Land Use Committee, the Westerleigh
Rezoning Application is set for final City Council action on
Wednesday, April 16. On that date the new zoning (R2) becomes
effective and all new construction in the application area must
conform to the new requirements.
March 12: Rally at
City Hall to Oppose Cuts in Education
There will be a rally at City Hall on Wednesday,
March 19 at 4 PM to protest any proposed cuts in the Education Budget
of the city during the upcoming school year. The city has committed
itself to funding much needed programs in future years. Please contact
your councilmen Michael McMahon (718) 556-7370 or James Oddo (718)
980-1017 to tell them you oppose the cuts.
February 27: City
Planning Commission Approves Westerleigh Rezoning
With a unanimous vote, the City Planning
Commission today approved the Westerleigh Rezoning application. The
approval now moves to the City Council for consideration and
final enactment.
February 23: DOT
announces milling and resurfacing of Westerleigh streets
Beginning mid-march the
NYC Department of Transportation will commence milling and resurfacing
of the following streets in Westerleigh:
Jewett Avenue (from New St. Port
Richmond to Victory Blvd.)
Elias Place
and Coale, Chandler and Kemball Avenues from S. Greenleaf Avenue to
Jewett Avenue.
In addition, DOT will be repainting street traffic lines on Jewett
Avenue, Watchogue Rd and College Avenue as the weather permits. If you
have any other locations that need attention, please let the Society
know.
February 6:
Deputy Inspector John Denesopolis, 120 Pct. Commanding Officer
addresses Society
The February 5 Board of
Directors Meeting was held at the Immanuel Union Church and featured
guest speaker Dep. Insp. John Denesopolis. He addressed a large
turnout of over 60 residents concerning youth and quality of life
issues. Also attending the meeting was Meagen Devereaux, Chief of
Staff to Borough President James Molinaro and Ken Mitchell, Chief of
Staff to Council Member Michael McMahon. Residents were urged to use
311 and 911 to report incidents to the police. In addition, Dep. Insp.
Denesopolis asked residents to contact him directly at (718) 876-8494
or contact the Community Affairs office at (718) 876-8497.
January 10: Community
Board #1 Approves Westerleigh Rezoning Application
By a unanimous vote Community Board #1 approved
the Westerleigh Rezoning Application as its regular monthly meeting on
January 8 at the Blessed Sacrament School Gym. The application awaits
the review of Borough President James Molinaro and will then be
forwarded to the Department of City Planning for a public hearing.
Chief of Staff for Councilman McMahon, Kenneth Mitchell, spoke in
favor of the proposal and urged the board to approve its passage.
December 18:
Department of City Planning Certifies Westerleigh Rezoning
At a review hearing yesterday, the Department of
City Planning certified the Westerleigh Rezoning Application. The
application will be sent to Community Board #1 and the Borough
President for review. We are hopeful that the application will return
to City Planning with approvals in January.
December 5: Society to
Testify at Water Board Hearing
President Michael Morrell will testify at the
upcoming Water Board Hearing at the College of Staten Island on
December 14. The Board has proposed an 18% water rate increase for
January 1, 2008. On top of an 11% increase in July, homeowners are
being asked to shoulder an enormous burden. The Society will ask for a
different mechanism to pay for delinquent accounts.
November 4: AARP
Driver Safety Course
The 2008 dates for the AARP Driver Safety Course
given at Immanuel Union Church are: Jan.12, Feb. 23, Mar.29, Apr. 26,
June 28, July 12, August 23 and November 22. All are Saturdays and
courses start at 9 AM sharp. Please contact Laney Dahl at (718)
442-1753 for more information.
October 26: City
Approval of Westerleigh Rezoning
Councilman Michael McMahon announced that an
agreement has been reached with the Department of City Planning on
boundaries for a rezoning of Westerleigh to R2 allowing only new
single family homes. Almost 1,400 lots are included in the proposal.
This is the largest neighborhood rezoning in Staten Island history.
Further information will be posted on this website as the application
progresses. |
Staten
Island, New York
