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Politics & Government

Cedarhurst Grants Subdivision to New Store Owner

Board also negotiates with Cablevision and considers village code amendment for physical therapist.

The future owner of in Cedarhurst, who is purchasing it from the company that owns other stores in the parcel, requested a subdivision from village trustees at their monthly meeting last Monday to avoid digging up Central Avenue.

Although the stores have separate electric services, they don’t have separate sewer or water lines. To address this, an easement was written into the store’s purchase agreement, allowing the two stores to share each others lines.

“In the past, when we have seen these types of relationships with easements, the abutting property owners end up fighting with each other and then the fight comes back to village hall,” said Deputy Mayor Benjamin Weinstock. “So we find that granting these kinds of subdivisions are a problem.” 

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Architect Norman Wax testified that the cost of putting in separate sewer and water lines “would be extraordinary.”

“There’s going to be a hole dug right in the middle of Central Avenue to go down into the sewer to find out where that connection is before any line can be brought into that store,” Wax said. “I think the solution to solving the problem is worse than the problem itself, if and when it ever does arise.”

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The board agreed, and the application was granted.

Cablevision Agreement

Jeffrey Clark, director of government affairs for Cablevision, addressed the board regarding the renewal of its franchise agreement with the village, which gives Cablevision permission to string wires and provide cable services to residents throughout the village.

As part of the agreement, Cablevision has provided the village with free family cable service to nearly all municipal buildings. However, trustees would rather get monetary payment, rather than the free service. Clark said the company prefers providing the free service.

“Cablevision does provide us with our internet service and one cable connection to each municipal building,” Weinstock said. “Mr. Clark and I did some math, and I figured out that the value of what we’re getting is about $35,000 over the next 15 years.

"We want to get a check for $34,000, and we will buy our cable service and our internet service from anyone we choose to buy it from," he continued. "Cablevison has been a great partner to the village. We’re very close [to reaching and agreement].”

Home Medical Office

Linda Ingber, owner of , asked the board to amend a village code to allow her to treat patients in her Cedarhurst home, something that is typically only allowed for specific professions such as medical doctors, lawyers and architects.

Her lawyer, Lenore Davis, gave testimony at the village’s monthly meeting explaining that Ingber’s Cedarhurst office cannot accommodate her cancer and gynecological patients.

"These are very private problems," Davis said. "Her office is merely curtained off, which is fine for a shoulder or a leg, but these kinds of patients need privacy.”

Trustee Ari Brown said he would rather see Ingber apply for a variance.

“Should we decide to change this use, tomorrow someone else who is a physical therapist could open up in their house,” he said. “If you want to go before the board of zoning appeals, maybe that’s the way to go, so we wouldn’t have to change our code.” 

The board will take the matter under advisement.

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