Mar 27, 2008
Stressing hamlet revitalization
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Officials interview four consultants
In-depth experience with hamlet revitalization and an efficient approach to a steady stream of applications and reviews appear to top the list of the Town Board requirements for a planning consultant, in a search that may end a nearly two-decade long relationship with one planning company.
Officials met with representatives of four firms at a Monday night work session to discuss their qualifications to fill the role. Saccardi & Schiff Inc., Matthew D. Rudikoff Associates Inc., BFJ Planning, and Ferrandino & Associates Inc. all responded to a request for proposals (RFP) sent out earlier this month.
The RFPs were sent out as part of the Town Board’s goal of consolidating, streamlining and cutting costs in its approach to using consultants for planning, engineering, legal, and outside accounting services.
Matthew D. Rudikoff Associates is the current holder of the planning consultant contract and has served in that capacity for 18 years, with its director of planning, Will Agresta, essentially acting as Lewisboro’s town planner during that time. The Town Board’s request for proposals could signal an end to Mr. Agresta’s long relationship with the town.
Town officials interviewed each firm in turn over the course of the session and told them they would next be invited to meet with representatives of the town planning and zoning boards before a decision is made.
Richard Ellrodt and Maureen Maguire of the Planning Board, and Geoff Eggington, chairman of the Zoning Board of Appeals, were present Monday night but did not participate in the discussion.
Four firms interviewed
Bonnie Von Ohlsen, vice president of Saccardi & Schiff Inc., was joined by her associate Eric Zamft, a native of Lewisboro. Ms. Von Ohlsen said her firm served its clients with a “professional and concise approach.”
“We focus on the primary issues,” she said. “Some are simple and some complex. We are thoroughly professional and have a staff of 20 to provide needed backup.”
Ms. Ohlsen said her firm was familiar with Lewisboro and had prior experience working on Michelle Estates and Falcon Ridge. “We like to step back and listen to what people have to say,” she said. “The SEQRA [State Environmental Quality Review Act] process should be used properly and efficiently to present a better project.”
Town Board member Peter DeLucia said he agreed with her on moving through SEQRA in a timely fashion.
“We would like to eliminate unnecessary and repetitious work from the review process,” he said. “We want things kept in focus in order to be efficient.”
Town Supervisor Edward Brancati agreed.
“Long delays are a major source of frustration. We want to address everything fully and then move on,” he said.
Asked about their experience with hamlet revitalization and updating master plans, Ms. Ohlsen said her firm had significant experience.
“We have done several plans as well as updates,” she said. “We have also had experience with hamlet revitalization. We would hold community meetings to get input into both. I would summarize our approach to planning as organized and succinct.”
Matthew Rudikoff & Associates was represented by founder Matthew Rudikoff and Mr. Agresta. The firm has filled the role of Lewisboro town planning consultant for 18 years, with Mr. Agresta serving as principal planner for 16 years.
“We are a small firm of eight people by choice,” Mr. Rudikoff said. “We maintain a high level of responsiveness to our clients while keeping ourselves fresh to do and learn new things. Our focus is on quality.”
Mr. Agresta said the firm’s staff had “an excellent level of expertise across different areas as well as a strong network of relationships within Lewisboro.”
Mr. Rudikoff said his firm had plenty of experience in consulting for the public sector.
“We are familiar with all of the processes, including grant applications,” he said. “We are excellent at maintaining documentation and files. We adjust our level of service to each individual client and, in Lewisboro, have continued on through different administrations. We listen to our clients.”
Mr. Agresta said the firm was also forthright with its clients. “Sometimes there is an inherent conflict in the planning process,” he said. “Sometimes you have to tell your clients things they don’t want to hear, but it is our responsibility to do that.”
BFJ Planning, represented by principal Frank Fish and senior associate John West, stressed its broad range of experience working for municipalities of all sizes and types. “We are used to many different types of reviews,” Mr. Fish said. “We are used to plans both small, large and in-between covering a broad range of uses. We have done many projects throughout Westchester.”
Mr. West said he would be project manager for Lewisboro if his firm were selected. He brought several samples of his previous planning work and presented them to officials.
When asked by Town Board member Al Perruzza if he had done any work on hamlet revitalization, Mr. West said he was currently working to revitalize parts of Somers using a New England green approach modeled on Guilford, Conn. “It’s a mixed-use approach, incorporating housing for seniors, affordable housing and small retail shopping.”
Mr. Fish added that the firm had done other hamlet revitalization projects in other areas as well as “lots of zoning work and a master plan for the village of Pawling. We also drafted the original master plans for Lewisboro and Somers.”
Mr. Brancati said officials were looking for a firm with broad-based experience in hamlet revitalization.
“All of our hamlets have different challenges,” he said. “What we’d like to see is more attention paid to them. Some of them grew with philosophies of earlier development that have since changed and now provide a real challenge.”
Mr. Fish said he believed his firm was equal to the task. “We stand fully behind our project managers and have a large and experienced staff to back them up.”
Ferrandino & Associates representatives, principal Vince Ferrandino and senior associate Mark Stellato, said they were enthusiastic about the prospect of working for Lewisboro.
“We have done lots of work in the lower Hudson Valley and the east end of Long Island,” Mr. Ferrandino said. “We have represented almost every town in Westchester over the past decades, and our experience runs the gamut from cities to rural areas. We like to mix it up. Working in different types of communities keeps us fresh.”
Mr. Stellato, who would be the firm’s key contact on a day-to-day basis, said he had broad experience. “My background is totally municipal,” he said.
Mr. Ferrandino said the firm had just been hired by the town of North Salem to update its master plan and has done master plans for Goshen and Wallkill, among others. “We are adept at the technical side of planning and pride ourselves on our comprehensive work,” he said. “Master plans are an area of special expertise.”
Regarding hamlet revitalization, Mr. Ferrandino said his firm was highly experienced.
“We have worked on hamlet revitalization for Carmel and Mahopac, with good results,” he said. “We have also worked on mixed use projects involving zoning changes in several towns and villages.”
Mr. Ferrandino said hamlet revitalization should be approached “from the bottom up.”
“Each hamlet is unique and different,” he said. “I am a firm believer in finding out what residents think, and know that one size doesn’t fit all. You need to learn the community and what it wants before you get started.”
When asked about his firm’s approach to streamlining the application process, Mr. Stellato said the firm was adept. “We review everything in advance and shepherd applications through the various agencies on an individual basis. We come up with an evaluation and then make a recommendation on the most effective way to proceed.”
Mr. Ferrandino agreed. “We try to streamline everything and make sure the applicant knows exactly what is coming.”
Next step
Town officials thanked all the firms for appearing for interviews.
“You will next be receiving a call from the Planning Board office to schedule a joint interview with their representatives and zoning board representatives,” Mr. Brancati said. “This board will then meet with them, and discuss our findings. We are looking to make a selection sooner rather than later, within the next few weeks at most.”
© Copyright 2008 by Hersam Acorn Newspapers
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