When trying to determine what is best for Harrison, there often appears to be a disconnect with reality. Nothing shows this more than the WESTMed parking garage issue. A decision that should be a no brainer has become the poster child for the failure of the Republican-controlled Harrison Town Board. What we have is a small group of residents from Purchase who chose to live in a neighborhood adjacent to a commercial zone who now want to prevent a commercial business from providing service to their customers. To take it a step further, they are even complaining about the route of Interstate 287 "running through our neighborhood."

What is the issue? WESTMed, a doctors' group with a facility at 210 Westchester Avenue in Purchase, wants to construct a parking garage to provide additional parking for their expanding patient population. The residents on Anderson Hill Road feel it infringes on their quality of life and lowers their property values. They complain about brightness of existing lighting, pedestrian and vehicle traffic, and even complaining about public transportation stopping at the facility to pick up patients without their own car. For its part, WESTMed has modified its original conceptual plans for the single level garage by changing the slope of the parking levels, the lighting of the garage and parking lot, and all the landscaping. They have even promised to provide any needed sound deadening around their emergency generator that only starts when there is a power failure. WESTMed has taken every complaint and addressed it. The landscaping alone will bring a great improvement to Anderson Hill Road. But, that is not enough. What the residents want is to have the Town Board deny WESTMed the right to provide additional parking, something that is in full compliance with the commercial zoning. Now, they are submitting a list of demands. I always love it when people who do not have experience in not getting their way issue a list of demands.

The Republicans on the Town Board have helped the Anderson Hill residents move the goal post every time WESTMed responds to exactly what the neighbors request. It is reminiscent of the action by the Republican Town Board back in the Malfitano administration when they did the same thing to a developer in the Franklin Park neighborhood. In that case, a small group of neighbors complained about the developer building two family homes in a multi-family zone. They cited additional traffic and falling home values. The Board voted against the developer, denying his right to build. The developer sued and won. An appeal by the town is pending.

It is clear that the Republicans are in full election campaign mode and will do what they need to do to secure their election success. They know that in November they will need every vote they can find. Purchase along Anderson Hill is fertile ground as long as the Republicans can give those voters what they want. Rather than look at it as what is best for all residents of Harrison, Republicans would rather mine some votes from Democratic territory. Rather than offset diminished tax revenue from businesses caused by the recession and create a fertile business environment in Harrison, Republicans play to a vocal minority at the expense of everyone else. Increased business tax revenue reduces the demand for more residential taxes. Seems pretty obvious. It is apparent they do not see through their rose tinted political glasses all the empty office space along Westchester Avenue. If they did they would approve WESTMed's request. But, I would not hold my breath waiting for these Republicans to do the right thing.

 

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