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 VOWCA village update

August 17, 2021

Dear Neighbor,

After weeks of dedicated advocacy, Village Hall has agreed to take no further action on any zoning overlay or amendment that would permit high density, multifamily housing within the Village of Old Westbury. Thank you to everyone who attended last night’s meeting—there were over 30 Members of VOWCA at Village Hall.

On Friday, August 13, 2021, Mayor Novick and the Board of Trustees published a letter entitled “On Land Use and Zoning Study.” The letter stated, “Having given very careful consideration to the VHB Study, and all public comments, and having taken a hard look at the various analyses and information available, the Board has reached the conclusion that further action is not warranted.”

The members of VOWCA felt— and our legal counsel agreed—that the language in the letter was equivocal and left open the possibility that Board might pick up its efforts in the near future. We were also concerned with the Board’s promise to “utilize the information and data contained in the VHB report in the future… when dealing with the overall needs of the Village.” To summarize, the VHB study and subsequent economic study endorse high-density development in our Village. The VHB study, however, is inconclusive in that it fails to consider the impact of such development on our quality of life, environment, land values and the character of our Village.

On Monday, August 16, 2021, the Board of Trustees led by Deputy Mayor Chimerine convened for its monthly meeting. Mayor Novick was unable to attend the meeting due to the passing of his father, Philip Novick— we send our sincerest condolences to the Mayor and the Novick family at this time. 

At the meeting, the Board of Trustees read the letter that it published on Friday, August 13, 2021, into the record. Also, Trustees Brown, Weinberg and Baker stated on the record that they oppose any high density, multifamily housing in the Village of Old Westbury and would reject any measure that would permit such development in the Village. Trustee Chimerine did not state opposition to such development and added that she would seriously consider such a proposal. As polled, a majority of the Board does not support high density, multifamily housing in the Village.

At the time of writing this letter, our counsel and Village Counsel are in talks to memorialize Village Hall’s commitment by a majority of the Board of Trustees to neither support nor encourage any development of high density, multifamily housing in the Village of Old Westbury.

We will keep you updated as we receive further information. That said, we must continue organizing and activating on behalf of our Village. Please share our petition with your neighbors, family and friends and encourage them to sign. And of course, thank you for your tremendous support because IT TAKES A VILLAGE!

Sincerely,

Your Neighbors at VOWCA

August 12, 2021 UPDATE

VOWCA VILLAGE UPDATE

August 12, 2021

Thank you for raising your voice against the proposed changes to our Zoning Code that threaten to pave the way for opportunistic developers, high-density, multi-family development and endless litigation in our Village.

We are at a critical point in defeating this misguided rezoning initiative. The Board of Trustees has indicated that it plans to abandon any zoning amendment that would permit high-density, multi-family development in the Village. We hope to have the Board’s formal commitment placed on the record at the forthcoming Board of Trustees Meeting on Monday, August 16, 2021 at 7:00 PM and subsequently memorialized in writing.

We must continue to make our voices heard until we are successful. We cannot grow complacent. Here is how you can help:

  1. Continue to share the petition with your family members, friends and neighbors via EMAIL or TEXT. Have all residents in your household of voting age sign the petition. Here is the link: www.vowca.org/signthepetition

  2. Attend the Board of Trustees Meeting on Monday, August 16, 2021 at 7:00 PM at Village Hall 1 Store Hill Rd. Old Westbury, NY 11568. We hope to have as many of our members there as possible.

We must continue organizing and activating on behalf of the residents of Old Westbury. Thank you for your tremendous support! IT TAKES A VILLAGE.

Our MissioN

We are the stewards of this storied Village and its magnificent legacy. As residents, we have a duty to participate with deliberation, prudence and foresight. Let’s join together and make the right choices for this special place we call home.

We hope you join because— IT TAKES A VILLAGE.

A letter to our neighbors

August 2021

Dear Neighbor,

We are writing on behalf of the Village of Old Westbury Civic Association (“VOWCA”). VOWCA was recently formed by us—a few of your neighbors. After years of not participating in our Village and its administration, we were compelled to organize and activate on behalf of our community. The impetus? Our bucolic Village is facing radical changes to its Zoning Code thereby paving the way for opportunistic developers, high-density, multifamily development and endless litigation.

 Here are some things that you SHOULD know:

  •  Did you know that since 2018 the Village Board of Trustees has been meeting with developers behind closed doors regarding the high-density zoning of several properties in the Village?

  • Did you know that at a Board of Trustees meeting in 2019, every member of the Board admitted to viewing detailed high-density development plans for a 98-acre property in the Village? The property in question is currently under option to purchase by a developer pending a high-density up-zoning.

  • Did you know the Village Board of Trustees engaged experts and spent over $400,000 of our tax dollars to further this developer’s vision for high-density, multifamily apartment buildings in Old Westbury?

  • Did you know that there is a proposed rezoning ready to be adopted that would permit high-density, multifamily housing in our Village?

At a Village Meeting on Wednesday, July 28, 2021, Mayor Novick led an insincere and performative public information session where he lectured residents on the benefits of high-density development. The residents in attendance were overwhelmingly opposed to high-density, multifamily housing in Old Westbury and any zoning amendment that would permit such development. Mayor Novick— who won his election with 98 votes in our Village of over 4,000 people—was visibly vexed when residents expressed opposition to his rezoning plan. When asked if he would put the proposed rezoning to a referendum, Mayor Novick said, “Absolutely not! We don’t operate that way.”

If you oppose high-density, multifamily housing in Old Westbury, join us and e-sign the petition at VOWCA.org. We must all activate and engage to make our voices heard because IT TAKES A VILLAGE.

Sincerely,

Village of Old Westbury Civic Association (“VOWCA”)