Lifetime Fitness One Step Closer to Calling Harrison Home

The town board held their monthly meeting on Thursday evening and while many things were on the agenda, one of the first orders of business for the evening was to give Attorney Frank McCullough the green light for his client Lifetime Fitness to move one step closer in their attempt to build a 209,000 square foot facility on the former site of Gannett Co. offices.

is proposing to demolish the current building to make way for their massive two story fitness facility and in order to do so; certain amendments must be made to the town code under “special conditions and safeguards for specific uses”.

Mayor Joan Walsh joked afterwards saying, “I don’t really exercise myself but it looks like it is going to be a very nice facility,” as a site plan was shown to the board which that had Gannett Drive reaming as the main access into the facility and that guest would all enter through one door in the front of the complex to the gym.

Mayor Walsh began the meeting by commending the West Harrison Fire department as well as Harrison EMD and Police Departments in handling the two recent large fires that Harrison had experienced in July. 

The Fire Department then presented the board with a commemorative quilt that was made marking the 100th anniversary of the West Harrison Fire Department which will be celebrated on September 25 with a parade and other events to be announced.

Here is a look at some other news from the Harrison Town Board meeting:

Citizen of the year

Nominations need to be submitted for the 2011 Citizen of the Year Award to be presented at the “Great to Live in Harrison Celebration” scheduled for October 10. The nominations must be received by September 1 and you can submit them to:

Citizen of the Year Committee c/o Ron Belmont, Advisor to the Recreation Department.

1 Heineman Place

Harrison, NY 10528

Appointment of new Assistant Fire Marshal/Inspector

A request was granted appointing Andrew Mentrasti to part time Assistant Fire Marshal/Inspector on a part time basis.  This position will be paid for out of the department’s Fire Prevention budget. Mentrasti was previously appointed to the position in November 2008 and he is currently certified as a New York State Code Enforcement Technician.

Harrison food pantry receives award money

Director of Community Services Nina Marraccini alerted the board that the food pantry had received $2,219.95 from the HPNAP’s decision for operation support funding for the year 2011-2012 for a single door Saturn commercial freezer and requested that the board approved that they may accept this award.

With the approval, the board also approved a check to Harris Restaurant Supply Inc, for $80 for freight and delivery charges, $3,000 for Bulk Buying line of credit and $200 as a donated line of credit from HPNAP.

Manhattanville College needs 270-day extension

A request was made for the approval of another 270-day extension for an amended special exception use application since the college, due to budgetary constraints, will not be able to apply for a building permit by the September 7 deadline. The request was approved and the new deadline is set for June 7 2012.

Request made for Town to regulate placement of election signage.

A request was made by Ron Belmont to investigate the passing of a law that would regulate when and where election signs can be placed around town.

“This seems to be getting worse and worse every year and signs are up already for this years elections and it’s only July,” remarked Belmont to which the board agreed something more needs to be done.

The town of Harrison had a law in place a number of years ago that was found unconstitutional and an infringement of freedom of speech so the board will look into how this request can be put into action without violating constitutional laws.

Two properties get re-zoning approval

A request was made by attorney Paul Noto on behalf of his clients Andrew Maucieri, Anthony Valentino and Vincent Gironda to have 67 Grant Avenue and 33 Oakland Avenue rezoned from a residential zone to a general commercial zone.

The change would enable a potential tenant of 67 Grant Ave to add a personal fitness facility on the property that would be a small space for personal training.

The next step will be to present their requests for re-zoning to the planning board for approval.

No knock registry

A request from Town Clerk Joseph Acocella and Chief of Police Anthony Marraccini was made to implement a “no knock registry” to prevent unwanted door-to-door solicitations in town.

Numerous complaints have come in from residents regarding out of town organizations sending young youths door-to-door soliciting many times after dark.  The registry would only list the addresses of the homes that do not want to be disturbed and would be maintained and updated by the Town Clerk’s office with an updated copy on file with the Police Department.

Mayor Walsh stated that, “by law, we cannot say no to non-profit organizations, however sometimes they are not in compliance to the laws that are already in place right now.“

The Town Board plans on referring this request to the law department so that new legislation can be properly drafted.

The next Town Board Meeting will take place on September 8 at 7:30pm.