YONKERS PLANNING BOARD DEALS A DEATH BLOW TO THE COMMUNITY.
Gives Carte Blanche to UPS expansion, turns deaf ear to community concerns.
The nearly 1,000 residents of the Grassy Sprain neighborhood will soon learn that the Yonkers Planning board just approve that 24,000 gallons above ground fuel tanks be erected yards from residential homes. The Planning Board whose missions should have been to weigh what’s in the best interest of the Yonkers Community gave residents the middle finger. They totally disregarded the community’s ’ safety and environmental concerns thereby jeopardizing the lives of over 500 families.
Councilman Anthony Merante stated, “To say I’m livid is an understatement. I’ve never seen such a total disregard for what should have been a fair and thoughtful process. They gave UPS 100% of what they wanted. In addition to the tanks, the 130-space parking lot and approval of trucks and trailers operating 24/7 in a residential neighborhood and no requirements for an environmental study. This is outrageous”. Merante noted, “I find it extremely curious that construction had started well in advance of planning board consideration. It almost seems like UPS knew the fix was in and it was a done deal before the vote was taken. This merits further investigation by appropriate legal authorities. This fight is far from over. The community effort is led by the StopUPS.org retained attorney Joel H. Sachs of the firm Keane & Beane, P.C. I plan to take up, at the City Council that Alfred Weissman Real Estate has violated their agreement and begin the process of revoking that Special Use Permit which will ultimately require the demolition and removal of the Hampton Inn.”
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