CB 8 should raise the bar

It is evident from recent experience that the Community Board (CB) 8’s Land Use Committee must raise the bar in terms of its upholding the standards and intent of the Special Natural Area District (SNAD) regulations. The committee is permitting itself to be snowed by “dog and pony” shows of design presentations of proposed projects that often obfuscate true design intent and ultimate desecration of natural features that SNAD regulations were supposed to protect.

The Riverdale Nature Conservancy (RNC) sheds light on but one recent project that CB 8 Land Use has dropped the ball on (“Let’s not repeat history with trees,” op-ed, Jan. 22). The Cardinal O’Connor Residence presentation before CB 8 provided a visually edited “snapshot” that failed to truly underscore the impact on the natural features of the proposed site work and building. Cutting down literally scores of mature 100-year-old trees of various species within a matter of days has transformed these once park-like grounds to a barren oasis. As the RNC has appropriately pointed out, these trees were not only a wonderful visual necessity to a growingly hardscaped Riverdale, but they served many other environmental functions, including absorption of carbons in the air, prevention or mitigation of water runoff through their deep root systems, cooling shade and bird-animal habitats. Yet CB 8 permitted these mature trees to be replaced by an inconsequential yet apparently impressive new tree count of 2”, 3” and 4” caliper new growth trees that will take 50 plus years to achieve a comparable environmental impact.