CROTON YACHT CLUB: THE GAZETTE LETTER FROM MR. HARVEY BRILL

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The following letter from Mr. Harvey Brill on the Croton Yacht Club appeared in the 6/28/12 edition of the Gazette.

To The Editor:

I've been a resident of Croton for 18 years and became a member of the Croton Yacht Club just about 3 years ago. As it happens, I was drawn to boating after walking one day with my wife along the river and noticed a boat for sale conveniently parked against the fence. Living about a mile from the boat club, what was appealing to me was that there are varying types of membership which can range from an initiation investment and the requirement of hours served with a reduced fee for boating, or in the alternative the option of being an Associate and paying market rates, which are slightly below the rates that Tarrytown is purported to be charging in Ms. Whiting’s recent letter. In either case, it's a cost that I as a boater get to pay, in time and money or just money. 

I've been reading Mr. Kauderer's many letters to The Gazette and have to say that I'm perplexed. In his earliest letters, his claim was that the CYC was paying minimal rent and not paying taxes, to which there have been a number of responses in both the Gazette and at Village Work and Budget sessions (some of which I've had the opportunity of speaking at) in order to set the record straight and to make those interested aware of the facts. There is no doubt that the Croton Residents who are invested in boating are adamant about the value that the club presents to all of its varying types of members, there is an intrinsic value in the club remaining a Village asset which is operated by its residents for the benefit of its residents. It also can't be argued that the terms of the present lease will be renegotiated, but to characterize the fees that were deemed appropriate and agreed upon by all parties when executed as imprudent and irresponsible is not tied to reality and like most things that we see in the news in an election year is self-serving.  

This then leads to the basic question of why? Why is Mr. Kauderer so intent upon the Club being turned over to private interests for the establishment of a Restaurant? Mr. Kauderer as a member of the Village Planning Board has publicly been in support of property that was committed in Half Moon Bay's site plan with The Village, as a restaurant be granted a change in use so that Mr. Plotkin could build a 6600 sq./ft. (habitable space) private home. When you view the site plan, this area is clearly a more appropriate spot which is highly accessible and could be serviced by cars, pedestrians or the many shuttles which already serve Half Moon Bay and Discovery Cove. Mr. Kauderer also in his many letters suggests that the village should consult with Mr. Plotkin for ways to commercialize the Yacht Club space. Why is this? Is Mr. Kauderer speaking in his capacity as a member of the Planning Board, an Attorney associated with many commercial real estate development companies, an Advocate of Mr. Plotkin for yet unknown reasons, or a concerned citizen? 

The hundreds of people who utilize these Village facilities are clear in their goals; it's the preservation of the historical usage of the property which dates back 55 years. What's unclear and needs clarification is what Mr. Kauderer's role actually is in his quest to commercialize this land. 

Harvey Brill, Croton on Hudson, NY