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April 4, 2012 Riverdale Nature Preservancy panel discussion and community meeting

In the course of meeting their mission, community facilities make decisions about land use, transportation and architecture. These decisions contribute in important ways to the quality of the neighborhoods surrounding each facility.

On April 4, 2012, the Preservancy hosted a panel discussion and community meeitng to begin a positive conversation between local institutions and community members on the topics of creating, enhancing and preserving the cultural, social and natural assets of our neighborhoods as our community and institutions grow.

Paula Luria Caplan, PLC Urban Planning & Policy and former Deputy Director of Planning and Development for the Bronx Borough President, set the context of the issues from a planning perspective. She discussed the ways community facilities and their host neighborhoods mutually benefit and affect each other. She suggested that the Preservancy, the Community Board and major community facilities continue to explore an acceptable approach to the sharing of campus plans.

Helen Morik, Vice President, Government & Community Affairs, New York-Presbyterian Hospital, discussed how the hospital acknowledges its responsibilities to its host neighborhood.

While the hospital and the community understand that projects planned “as of right” do not need permission from the community, the hospital listens to the community in order to perpetuate its role as a good neighbor.

Howard Waldman, Science Teacher, Green Dean, Ethical Culture Fieldston School, outlined how environmental sustainability is being incorporated into the curriculum of students at all levels at the school, instilling in students an understanding of the workings of the natural environment and a recognition of the kinds of actions that people can take to maintain healthy ecosystems.

Damian McShane, Former Chairman, Bronx Community Board 8, spoke about the role of the community board as a venue for communications between residents, institutions, elected officials and government agencies. Like Ms. Morik, he stressed that “as-of-right” does not mean that an institution (or anyone) has the right to do whatever they want.

A facilitated discussion with all attendees followed the panel presentations. The Preservancy is considering ways to follow up on the ideas and sentiments expressed.

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