Town of Henrietta, New York

From: Supervisor Michael Yudelson 
Re: Proposed Group Home at 16 Cobblefield Way
Updated: July 3rd

To keep everyone who is interested informed, we wanted to let you know that the Town of Henrietta has submitted another alternative site to CDS.  It is located on East Henrietta Road.

Thank you to everyone who submitted possible site ideas to us.  Although the site we suggested was not one of those sites, it was very helpful to have these possibilities to sort through.  Many of the submissions were for the same properties.  The most common problems with them were that: the property was not serviced by sewers, which CDS requires; or the property was in the middle of a subdivision with the same housing density as Cobblefield Way.

We will now wait to hear back from CDS and will keep you informed.

Best wishes to everyone for a safe and happy July 4th!

From: Supervisor Michael Yudelson 
Re: Proposed Group Home at 16 Cobblefield Way
Updated: June 24th

As mentioned in my June 21st posting on this page, the Town of Henrietta proposed an alternative site to CDS earlier this month and CDS has declined pursuing this site.  The Town Board needs to now investigate another property (or properties) that we might recommend.

Several residents contacted us with suggestions for alternative sites.  We welcome your immediate input on that again, keeping in mind that we only have about a week in which to respond.

For those who might want to make a suggestion, I thought it would be helpful to let you know the reasons for the selection of the Cobblefield Way property, as stated in the original April 7, 2008 letter from CDS to the Town:

"The reasons for the selection of this property specifically are as follows:

A separate living room, eat in kitchen, dining room, family room, and large deck allow for sufficient room for 6 individuals and their visiting families.

Day Programs and medical facilities are easily accessible by van.

The driveway can be expanded to accommodate 5-6 cars.

The property is within .5 miles of public transportation.

The convenient location provides easy access to shopping areas, restaurants, banks and bus lines."

Please note that CDS did not state that these are the sole criteria for the selection of any property, but rather the reasons for the selection of the Cobblefield Way property. 

Also, Mr. Curletta of CDS has told me via e-mail that "CDS would not chose a home that was on septic unless there was sewer available at the road". 

Finally, please note that it is very unlikely, as was mentioned at the May 29 meeting, that the Town Board would "pit one neighborhood against another" by choosing a location that was in a densely populated subdivision, such as yours, no matter what the level of property values happens to be.

Please complete the following form with any suggestions you may have for an alternative site:

From: Supervisor Michael Yudelson 
Re: Proposed Group Home at 16 Cobblefield Way 
Updated: June 3rd at 11:00 a.m. 

Thank you to everyone who came to the informational meeting with CDS on May 29.  Councilwoman McCabe and I were very impressed by the research and thought that so many of the residents had put into this issue while also being respectful of CDS and their clients.

Although not opposed to group homes in any way, the Town Board takes seriously its role as advocates for the residents of the town, and guardian of issues related to public safety.   It is noted that the majority of speakers at the informational meeting talked about their concerns about the curve right in front of the subject property as already being a safety issue, which would possibly be exacerbated by the introduction of several more vehicles at that location.

As a result, I will be sending CDS a letter on behalf of the Town suggesting an alternative location on Pinnacle Road and will look forward to their response to our suggestion.

As always please do not hesitate to contact me with any questions or feedback.

From: Supervisor Michael Yudelson 
Re: Proposed Group Home at 16 Cobblefield Way 
Updated: May 20th at 4:00 p.m. 

In yesterday’s update on this web site, we let you know that the Town Board has requested that a meeting be scheduled with CDS officials, to be facilitated by the Town, at which residents could present their questions or concerns, to supplement the meeting CDS held last week.

That meeting will take place on Thursday, May 29 at 7:30 p.m. in the Main Meeting Room of the Town Hall, 475 Calkins Road.

Please feel free to contact me with any questions or concerns prior to that meeting by clicking here.

That meeting will take place on Thursday, May 29 at 7:30 p.m. in the Main Meeting Room of the Town Hall, 475 Calkins Road.

Please feel free to contact me with any questions or concerns prior to that meeting by clicking here.

We did follow through and spoke with CDS about our position that they should extend the timeframe in which the Town of Henrietta can file an objection to this application, so that an additional opportunity could be provided for residents to present their questions and concerns to CDS and the Town Board, or that otherwise we would file an objection to make sure that the New York State Office of Mental Retardation and Developmental Disabilities (OMRDD) holds the hearing provided for by State statute.

We are pleased that they agreed to this request and have extended the timeframe to June 5, 2008.  I will discuss this with the Town Board and we will then schedule such a meeting, to occur no later than June 4th, at which residents will be able to speak further on this proposal.  We will have the particulars of that meeting worked out by Wednesday of this week and the information will be posted here.

If you did not receive my letter from Friday, it is linked below, and I would ask that you take a minute to read it.

Thank you,

Michael Yudelson, Supervisor