North Broadway Mixed-Use District
I am happy to report that, at tonight’s Board of Trustees meeting, we will be presenting the revised local law amending the Zoning Code to create the North Broadway Mixed-Use District. After months of Board discussion, input from neighbors, residents, property owners and our professional staff, I believe we are close to finishing this important rezoning. In reality, this rezoning is years in the making as its genesis is from the 2018 Comprehensive Plan update. I would like to thank everyone that made contributions to get us to where we are now. We are obviously much more interested in getting this new law as “right” as possible than we are with just getting it done. So, if you have thoughts, issues or concerns about the revised law, I look forward to hearing from you in person or via email.
86 Main Street
I am pleased to report that the Village is taking steps to acquire 86 Main Street. That is the commercial/residential property immediately to the west of the Irvington Fire Department Headquarters. While there are no specific plans at this time, my colleagues and I felt that acquiring the property would give the Village significant flexibility in addressing future municipal facility needs, including and especially, the future needs of our Fire Department. I should also note that the property was offered for sale in late 2019 and is being purchased on the open market. It is not being acquired through eminent domain.
The type of planning needed to address the Village’s facility needs will likely be a multi-year effort and will surely involve considerable public discussion as to exactly how the property is used. Many factors will come into play including cost and the future needs of the Village. In the meantime, we expect that the property will continue to be operated as a commercial and residential rental property.
Memorial Day
While Memorial Day might be the last thing on your mind in the dead of winter, I am happy to report that we have a talented and spirited group of your neighbors working hard to enhance our ceremony on that most solemn of days. As you probably know, due to a lack of participants, we canceled the parade portion of the ceremonies last year. One of the Memorial Day Committee’s main goals is not only to restore the parade but also to expand and enhance it. As many of our veterans have gotten older, it has been difficult for them to march in the parade. So, I would like to reach out to anyone with a “parade” worthy car, specifically a convertible or a Jeep-type vehicle, that would be willing to lend us a hand to allow our veterans to ride the parade route. If you are interested in lending your vehicle, please contact me at the email address below. Additionally, if there are any veterans reading this that would like to participate in the parade or ceremonies, I would like to extend you my warmest welcome on behalf of the Committee.
Memorial Day is, of course, a day of remembrance of fallen service members. Irvington has had 24 service members pay the ultimate sacrifice from WWI through the Vietnam Conflict. The Memorial Day Committee is very focused on making the stories of these men known. You will be hearing a lot more about the “Irvington 24” in coming months.
Sincerely,
Brian C. Smith, Mayor
bsmith@irvingtonny.gov