Progress, No Solution, For WestMed Parking Structure

WestMed Medical Group's plan for a 96-spot addition to a parking structure on its Westchester Avenue property has taken a step forward, as the Harrison Town Board closed a public hearing that has raged on for months as neighbors voiced opposition to the new structure.

The board will now consider several conditions and modifications that could be imposed on the proposed multi-million dollar project before bringing the proposal to a vote. 

The project has from neighbors along Anderson Hill Road who say the added light and noise the addition would bring would make the area a less desirable place to live, lowering their property values. Several board members have said they will not approve the project as is, and have been working with neighbors and WestMed representatives for months to find a compromise between the two sides.

This spring WestMed has agreed to add more trees — bringing the total to 284 —and slightly reduce the overall height of the garage. They have also negotiated a 12-foot berm and a $25,000 bond that will cover the condition of the northern edge of the property.

The bond lasts 17 years — the length of WestMed's lease on the property — and can be used by the town if repairs are required in the future.

The board will now consider a restriction on hours of operation, a possible limit to noise levels that can come from an on-site generator and further restrictions to a Walgreens inside the WestMed building. 

Tony Gioffre, an attorney representing WestMed, resisted proposed hours of operation during his proposal this week. Gioffre has fielded a slew of questions from the board throughout the process while trying to bring the matter to a vote.

"I'm trying to work with everyone, and I want to make that clear," said Councilman Fred Sciliano. "But my interest is to protect the residents along Anderson Hill Road."

Possible safety issues in the event of a fire have also been addressed, according to WestMed's proposal. Harrison Councilwoman Marlane Amelio has questioned if there is enough water pressure in fire hydrants on the property to fight a fire in the case of an emergency. Gioffre said WestMed has consulted local fire chiefs and devised a "very involved plan" to take care of the issue, but whether or not the plan meets the board's standards is yet to be determined.

Homeowners along Anderson Hill Road continue to question the need for the addition, as well as possible trends that a town board approval would set. Despite the proposed changes to the plan, several homeowners voiced their continued opposition this week.

"You're impacting a lot of people," said John Tripodi, who lives near the WestMed site. "This is an issue that we'll have forever."

The board voted to close public discussion and will now discuss the list of potential conditions before voting to approve or deny the project, possibly as soon as the next public meeting May 19.