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Residents Mixed On Fasny, Proposed Discontinuance Of Hathaway Lane

WHITE PLAINS, N.Y. – The French-American School of New York (FASNY) has moved the main entrance for its proposed White Plains campus to North Street at the request of the city, which it says would require the city to discontinue Hathaway Lane from Ridgeway to Gedney Esplanade.

Claudia Jaffe talks at a public hearing on the French-American School of New York's proposed 130-acre White Plains campus.

Claudia Jaffe talks at a public hearing on the French-American School of New York's proposed 130-acre White Plains campus.

Photo Credit: Brian Donnelly
Hundreds turned out for the first of three public hearings on the French-American School of New York's proposed campus.

Hundreds turned out for the first of three public hearings on the French-American School of New York's proposed campus.

Photo Credit: Brian Donnelly

With a North Street entrance, many cars would have to cross Hathaway Lane to get to the Upper School, which would “impact its operation,” according to FASNY’s petition to discontinue the road through a map amendment. 

A public hearing on the petition was held this week, drawing hundreds of residents. 

“The additional land area made available with the discontinuance of Hathaway Lane will allow the FASNY site plan to provide additional setbacks between athletic fields and the western property line…” the petition reads.

In addition to the now 75-foot buffer, closing Hathaway Lane would allow FASNY to further reduce parking spots from 428 to 348 and reduce the size of two parking lots.

“If that portion is closed then FASNY will get more confined in their own area and it will allow the huge portion of the park to be open to the public without being moved here and there,” Hughes O’Csay, who lives on Alden Road, said at a public hearing on the proposed road discontinuance this week.

Frank Amodio lives on Hathaway Lane north of the section that would be discontinued if the petition is approved. He said at the same meeting that the drive from his home to the Ridgeway Firehouse would increase from 1:40 to 3:20.

“Sometimes a few seconds will mean the difference between life and death,” he said.

Others like Claudia Jaffe objected to the closing of a city road for public use.

“I don’t care what’s integral to your plan if your plan is private,” she said.

Bob Meyerson, of Patridge Road, said if FASNY wants to close the road they should have to pay for it.

“It doesn’t benefit us to close it. It only benefits them,” he said.

Phil McGovern, who lives near the German School, said those who cut through Hathaway Lane now, like himself, will take another way if it is discontinued, which he said would be a positive for residents of that roadway.

Like many speakers in favor of the plan at the meeting, he said the city cannot pass up the 78 acres FASNY has proposed to set aside as a public conservancy.

Check back with Daily Voice to read what residents had to say about FASNY's proposed conservancy. 

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