Bay Terrace Community Alliance, Inc.

May 2003 Newsletter

Jul 31, 2003

Bay Terrace Community Alliance, Inc.
P.O. Box 604076
Bay Terrace, New York 11360
www.neighborhoodlink.com/queens/btca

May 2003

GENERAL MEMBERS: Bay Club; Bay Country; Bayside Townhouse Condo; Bell Apartments; Kennedy Street Quad; Bayside Mews; Bay Terrace Sections: I, II, III, IV, VIII, IX, X, and XII; and Towers at Waters Edge: Americana, Seville, and Versailles

MISSION STATEMENT: The Bay Terrace Community Alliance's (BTCA) mission is to improve the quality of life of its residents and encourage the active involvement and support of the residents of Bay Terrace in community affairs.
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The BTCA Directors have been very busy over the past year. We have been in constant contact with our elected officials, representatives, and Cord Meyer regarding issues in our neighborhood. This issue of the newsletter will bring you up-to-date with our activities.

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BAY TERRACE TRANSPORTATION STUDY

The Department of City Planning's (DCP) Transportation Division, in association with their Queens Office, have commenced the Bay Terrace Transportation Study (the study). This is in response to community concerns raised by the BTCA concerning traffic congestion in Bay Terrace.

We are all aware that there are several intersections in our neighborhood that are dangerous to both pedestrians and automobile riders. As you may recall, the BTCA sponsored a petition drive this
past October for left turn arrows at two corners, 212th Street and Bell Boulevard and 26th Avenue and Corporal Kennedy Street. These petitions,
with over 3,000 signatures, were presented to Councilman Tony Avella and also the Department of Transportation.

The study area is bounded by the Clearview Expressway to the west; 32nd Avenue to the south; and the Cross Island Parkway, Little Bay, the East River Channel (between the East River and Long Island Sound) and Little Neck Bay to the north and east. Thus far, two documents have been released to the public: Technical Memorandum 1 (TM1) - Literature Review and the Work Program and Technical Memorandum 2 (TM2) - Existing Conditions. It is expected that Technical Memorandum 3 (TM3) - Evaluation of Future Conditions and Recommendations and the final report, will be released to the public sometime this summer.

The BTCA has worked with the Director of the Department of City Planning's Transportation Division, and the study's project manager, to incorporate community concerns prior to the finalization of TM2. The next technical memorandum and the final report will obviously necessitate more communication with the BTCA and the Department of Parks and Recreation in order to appropriately reflect the projected traffic changes expected after a portion of Fort Totten is converted to a city park. The implementation of any of the study's recommendations would have to adhere to New York City and New York State Departments of Transportation guidelines.

We eagerly anticipate the release of the entire report and the inclusion of BTCA in the execution of many of DCP's suggestions.
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COMMUNICATOR CONTRIBUTORS: AnnMarie Colletti, Lucille Kernahan, Norman Plotkin, Phil Konigsberg, Esther Reich, Rosalind Sackoff
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PRESIDENT'S REPORT
By Phil Konigsberg

This spring the BTCA has a very involved agenda with the recent resurrection of the Queens Borough President's Fort Totten Committee and the near conclusion of the Department of City Planning's Bay Terrace Transportation Study, both of which we have been active and vocal participants.

The BTCA met with Borough President Helen Marshall and representatives of the New York City Parks and Recreation and the New York City Fire Department on April 22, 2003 at Borough Hall to discuss the status of Fort Totten and its community issues.

The issue that struck the biggest nerve in our community was the announcement in January that a public hearing was being held in downtown Manhattan for the awarding of a concessionaire to open a restaurant and catering facility near the entrance to Fort Totten. The community was given very limited notice of the hearing and unable to obtain documents in ample time to review the specifics of the proposed concession.

Our concern is that the proposed concession would draw traffic that the present parking facilities and infrastructure within and around the surrounding area of Fort Totten could not support.

To our relief, the Department of Parks and Recreation's (DPR) Chief Planner announced that due to the community's concerns, the awarding of the license of the concessionaire has been put on hold pending the determination of the Department of City Planning's Bay Terrace Transportation Study. In addition, he also said that he would include in the lease agreement that valet parking would not occur on the streets of Bay Terrace.

The Bay Terrace Transportation Study is in its final stages and recommendations should be announced in the next few months.

FORT TOTTEN COMMUNITY MEETING

Borough President, Helen Marshall held a meeting regarding plans for Fort Totten at Borough Hall on April 22, 2003. Representatives of the New York Fire Department (NYFD) and the Department of Parks and Recreation (DPR) presented the current situation at the fort and explained future plans for the fort.

The Federal government has completed the conveyance of land to the NYFD who intends to use the fort as a training facility. The education will include courses in radio communications, Certified First Respondent Defibrilator, Emergency Medical Services (EMS) Academy, EMS chauffeur driving, hazardous materials, and fire safety. Currently, counseling services and quartermaster functions are located at the fort.

Conveyance of property designated for DPR is expected to occur by summer 2003. Due to New York City's financial hardship, DPR's budget for the fort has been slashed considerably. The revised budget is expected to primarily cover maintenance of the fort. A concession is planned for buildings 604 and 601, on the immediate left after entering the gates of the fort. Plans are for the concession will contain a snack bar, restaurant, and catering facility. There was only one respondent to a request for proposals (RFP) for the concession - the owner of Papazzios, a restaurant located on Bell Boulevard in Bayside. A lease for the concession cannot be signed until the land has been conveyed to DPR.

The DPR presenter stated that everyone is awaiting the recommendations of the Department of City Planning's Bay Terrace Transportation Study before granting approval of any lease, or the opening of the fort to the public

The Board of Directors of the BTCA adopted a resolution regarding DPR's proposal for a restaurant facility at the fort (see page 4). The BTCA is carefully following the progress of the changes at Fort Totten and will continue to be active in representing the concerns of Bay Terrace residents.
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May 1, 2003

Dear Neighbor,

The BTCA is our community civic organization. Please support it!

It is the aim of the BTCA to keep our neighborhood the most desirable area in Queens.

We ask the residents of zip code 11360 to join the BTCA. The cost is only $10.00 per year.

If you are already a member it's time to renew your membership. As an incentive if you join now, you will receive an additional three months on your membership (September, 2003-December, 2004). Please complete the attached membership application and, together with your $10 check payable to BTCA, mail to:

BTCA
P.O. Box 604076
Bay Terrace, NY 11360

Your cancelled check is your receipt.

Thank you.
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MEMBERSHIP APPLICATION

Bay Terrace Community Alliance, Inc.
P.O. Box 604076
Bay Terrace, New York 11360

Mr./Mrs./Ms. _______________________________________________________
Complex/Building Name/Business______________________________________
Address___________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________
Phone _________________ E-Mail Address______________________________

ANNUAL ASSOCIATE (HOUSEHOLD) DUES: $10.00
ANNUAL SUPPORTING (BUSINESS) DUES: $25.00
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RESOLUTION of the Bay Terrace Community Alliance (BTCA) regarding the Department of Parks and Recreation's (Park's Dept.) proposal for a restaurant facility in Fort Totten.

The BTCA notes that the portion of the Park's Dept. proposal that includes a restaurant only in Fort Totten may be a desirable component of a comprehensive Park plan for Fort Totten. However, the comprehensive park plan must provide for the following:

?˜ There must be enough parking spaces within the Park to accommodate all restaurant patrons and other Park users.

?˜ There must be road improvements to accommodate the additional traffic in and out of Fort Totten to prevent overflow onto highways and streets.

?˜ The Park's Dept. plan must detail the capital investment necessary to develop and maintain the infrastructure with a timetable for completion. There must be an operating plan for both personnel costs and other operating costs necessary to accommodate the estimated 450,000 annual visitors to the Park. Among the items it should include:

o Landscaping, pruning and plantings, sanitation, toilet facilities, shoreline clean up, and maintenance of all buildings, roads and recreational facilities;

o Security for the safety of all visitors and to prevent access from dusk to dawn; and

o An environmental survey and clean up of all contaminants found.

?˜ Prior to any decisions being made, the Department of City Planning's Bay Terrace Transportation Study must be published and its proposals assessed, considered and implemented regarding the projected increase in traffic congestion entering and leaving Fort Totten due to the estimated 450,000 park visitors.

?˜ Given budgetary limitations, all rents and other revenues from any concession in the Park should be used to improve and maintain the Park.

?˜ There must be consistent and comprehensive dialogue with, and input from, residents in the communities adjoining the park. A standing committee from these communities must be established and sustained to address all aspects of the Parks Dept. plan and operation at Fort Totten.

Adopted unanimously on January 23, 2003
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KNOW YOUR NEIGHBORS

Fort Totten is the Headquarters for the 77th Regional Support Command, composed of Army Reservists mostly from New York and New Jersey. There are 12,000 soldiers in twenty units with from 3 to 210 Reservists in each unit. Although the Reservists are primarily active on weekends, there is a full-time staff of military and civilians to administer to these units. Approximately 4,000 of these men and women have been mobilized as a result of the Iraq conflict. The following units have been deployed:

November 2002 - 773rd Transportation Company
November 2002 - 237th Maintenance Company
January 2003 - 623rd Transportation Company
February 2003 - 140th Quartermaster Company

About half of these units are serving in Kuwait and Iraq and the balance are still at state-side installations.

Our appreciation and support are extended to all of these soldiers serving our country and with our best wishes to hurry home safe and sound.
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TRAFFIC AND SAFETY

Solving the traffic issues in Bay Terrace continues to be an arduous task, although we are making some progress. Certain of our requests such as turn signals at Corporal Kennedy St. and 26th Avenue have been dismissed as not warranted. DOT has recently conducted three traffic studies over an 18 month period that did not justify action on these turn signals. Thus, BTCA has tabled these requests for the time being. DOT promised the BTCA that they will conduct another study after the expansion of the Bay Terrace Shopping Center is complete.

We are in touch with city officials regarding Cord Meyer's attempt to revamp the entrances and exits on 26th Avenue. Cord Meyer informs us that as long as New York City remains on "orange alert," the recent changes to the 26th Avenue driveways will remain in effect.

We learned that the Cross Island Parkway overpass at 212th St. and Bell Blvd. is scheduled to be replaced. No start date has been offered. We are contacting elected officials to make sure that the BTCA is involved in the planning of the replacement. Our goal is to have Totten Avenue widened as well as a re-alignment of 212th and Bell. These improvements are related to the Park at Fort Totten. Our concern is the increased traffic once the park is open. We want to make sure that there are enough parking facilities and that vehicle ingress and egress will not negatively affect our community.

We have asked for "daylighting" along 212th St. at the driveway exits. We want "no parking" signs to be posted alongside the driveways so that vehicles exiting the driveways would have clear sight.

We have been focusing our efforts on the Bay Terrace traffic issues but we'd like to hear from you on safety issues. What are your concerns? With the onset of warmer weather and children out of school, our streets - and the shopping center - will have lots of additional vehicular and foot traffic. The Easter break was a small indication of what is to come this summer. Cord Meyer informs us that the 109th precinct has been asked to provide a stronger presence. There has already been some indication of that and the Alliance maintains a relationship with Cord Meyer so that we are kept informed of their activities. What are your safety issues? Please let us hear from you.

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BTCA STUDENT AWARD

The "Bay Terrace Community Alliance" award has been established at PS 169Q for 2 students deserving recognition for exhibiting civic responsibility. The criteria for selection will be established by the teaching staff. Each student will receive a $100 US Savings Bond at graduation ceremonies in June.

In offering the awards to Principal Annette Kunin, the BTCA emphasized our place in the community and recognized P.S. 169Q as our community school contributing and serving all of the people of Bay Terrace. The BTCA is proud to make this tribute.
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UPDATE on Changes at the Bay Terrace Shopping Center

On January 9, 2002, the City Planning Commission approved an application for the expansion of the shopping center. Although many of the changes have occurred already, some remain to be implemented.

Completed
As per the approval, the new 221 space parking garage was completed and is open for use. Two new buildings have also been constructed. While the new building located at the corner of 26th Avenue and Bell Boulevard is entirely occupied by Men's Wearhouse and Duane Reade, the other new building, located on Bell Boulevard adjacent to Independence Savings Bank, will be completely occupied and all stores open for business very soon. The tenants are Kinkos (copy center), Childrens' Place (children's clothing), Camelot (furniture store), and Chicos (women's clothing).

The approval also permitted the creation of two additional curb cuts and the relocation of two existing curb cuts. As we go to press, Cord Meyer has instituted additional traffic changes that are not in accordance with the original approval. The BTCA is working with Cord Meyer, the Department of Transportation, Department of City Planning and elected officials to rectify the situation.

Some changes have also been made to the automobile circulation pattern of the main parking lot including an additional four-way intersection just northeast of the main entrance, as well as increased turning radii throughout the main parking lot.

To Be Completed
The westernmost curb cut on 26th Avenue is scheduled to be used for egress only. A new curb cut, to be created 46 feet east of the "movie curb cut," is planned for ingress only. Expansions of the Independence Savings Bank and Waldbaums buildings are also scheduled for the future.
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PUMPING STATION

Construction continues on the Pumping Station at Waters Edge Lane. The station, designated as a by-pass for sewer treatment, will connect to the also under construction Pumping Station at Clearview-Robinswood at Little Bay. The estimated completion date is January 2004.