Plandome Undertakes Major Road Work

By Ann Healy

The Plandome Board at its Nov. 10 meeting unanimously agreed to go forward with the improvement to Plandome Road, despite the difficulties involved with such a project.

While not requiring any property acquisitions, the property will require replacement of concrete sidewalks for grade and alignment, the relocation of hydrants and utility poles and the installation of drainage facilities. The preliminary study done by Sidney Bowne & Sons, engineers for the project, show the road on a more westerly line.

The estimated cost of the construction is $656,000. Additional costs for engineering and legal services will bring the project to $800,000. The funding for the project has yet to be determined. Besides county and state grants, the board is considering a bond issue to finance the improvement.

Henry Sikorski, the highway engineer, sees the completion of the project in 1999. The board authorized a full set of engineering plans to be drawn up by Sidney Bowne based on their initial study. Bernie Klersfeld, a resident, asked the board to consider creating a schedule to track the progress of such an extensive project. The schedule would be informative to the residents who are inconvenienced by the construction.

The improvement to Plandome Road is not a new idea. Bob Carpenter, a longtime resident urged the board to consider the recommendations of an earlier study done in 1992 by Sidney Bowne. Of particular merit would be the findings of how water runoff impacts Plandome Road. Mr. Carpenter urged the board "not to ignore the county's responsibility to the issue of water runoff." Henry Sikorski gave his assurance that all factors and findings of previous studies would be reviewed in the improvement to Plandome Road.

An exhibit of the proposed improvements on file is at the village hall.

The board informed residents with homes on private roads that the village will no longer plow their roads. The practice of snow removal of private roads is a violation of village law. A written notice was sent to all residents of Shore Drive, Bayside Drive, Shoreview Lane, Walter Lane, Heights Road cul-de-sac and Woodedge Road cul-de-sac.

Anthony Coron of Bayside Drive asked if village employees could be utilized in their free time for the snow removal. Mayor Vincent, while sympathetic to the residents' plight, said that the village is legally restricted from doing so. "A municipality cannot use its equipment...to plow private roads or driveways." Expenditure of funds or allowance of equipment or employees in the improvement of private lands is prohibited.

Homeowners on private roads will now have to make their own arrangements for snow removal. The residents, however, were reassured that in an actual emergency, the village would cooperate in any way possible.

Mayor Vincent deferred discussion on local law concerning the maintenance of private roads until the December meeting. At that time the revision to the official village map will be taken up as well.

Finally, the board responded to a request from a resident on Heights Road for two curb cuts to allow for a circular driveway. After a lengthy discussion the board denied the request concluding that "no compelling reason" existed for the change to code which allows for one cut.

The next board meeting will be Dec. 9 at the village hall.