Road work around Crane Neck

Dear Crane Neck Resident,

Portions of Crane Neck Road and Laurel Lane are scheduled to be repaved soon. The repaving will start on Laurel Lane and a small section near the end of Crane Neck Road on Wednesday, June 30 and finish on Friday, July 2. The repaving of other portions of Crane Neck Road will commence on Tuesday, July 6 and finish on Friday, July 9.

During this time, please be careful and be prepared for delays.

Sincerely,
The Board of Directors of The Crane Neck Association

Crane Neck Association Assessment Meeting – Tuesday, October 4th 7:30PM

Dear Crane Neck Residents,

There will be a Crane Neck Association meeting on Tuesday, October 4th at 7:30PM in the Community Room at the Emma Clark Library. The meeting is called to discuss the proposed plans for road maintenance. Please find the referenced letter below:

craneneckmeetingletter-20161004_page_1craneneckmeetingletter-20161004_page_2

craneneckmeetingletter-20161004

Municipal Home Rule Law Opinion

Opinion 90-59

Opinion 92-42

 

Letter to Crane Neck Residents – Roads Assessment

Dear Fellow Crane Neck Resident,

I hope you are enjoying the summer and are taking advantage of the weather to partake in all that the Crane Neck community has to offer.

The purpose of this letter is to inform you of the status of CNA’s road project and Special Assessment and to again ask for your input on this important issue that affects the entire community.

As those of you who attended the CNA annual meeting know, the maintenance and safety of the community’s roads is the Association’s primary responsibility As reported at the annual meeting, as well as the subsequent special meeting held on June 9th, the roads are currently in a state of disrepair that requires some immediate action as well as a plan to proactively maintain the roads going forward.

The annual financial operations of the Association were reviewed at the annual meeting. The annual dues of the association are sufficient to pay for the general maintenance of the community roads, including snow removal and pothole repair but insufficient to perform any meaningful repairs and resurfacing to the roads. At the annual meeting, the need for a special assessment was discussed, and the group as a whole agreed that a special assessment to deal with the most pressing of the road repairs and resurfacings to those roads in the most severe state would be appropriate.

At a follow up meeting on June 9th, the board discussed with the CNA membership the possible remedies for the road maintenance issue and recommended a programmatic approach where a number of immediate projects would be undertaken, funded by a special assessment, and the ongoing dues would be adjusted to a level that would fund a program of regularly scheduled resurfacing of the Association’s roads in future years. The current immediate projects to be undertaken would be Shore Drive (both branches) and the section of Crane Neck Road by the entrance to the community. This phase would begin in the fall. A second phase would include Woodcock Lane and a second section of Crane Neck Road, potentially in the following 12 months.

The board feels that this programmatic approach is in the best interests of all the residents of Crane Neck as it will be a significant step in providing safe roads for the community now and in the future.

A number of other points the board has considered:

  • We have met with representatives of Stony Brook University concerning their participation in funding these projects and, while we are confident that they will participate, we have not yet finalized that commitment.
  • The use of oil and stone on the roads was suggested at the June 9th meeting and we have consulted with professionals on this issue.   We have found there is not a significant price differential between asphalt and O&S and asphalt has greater durability. It would potentially have to be redone every three- five years. For these reasons we have not considered that alternative further.
  • Based on the anticipated resources available from this current as well as future assessments, as well as the future increase in annual dues, the board has established the following prioritization of projects (Priority 1 will be undertaken this year and priority 2 will begin in 12-24 months)
  • Shore Drive (both sections)
  • The portion of Crane Neck Road closest to Mt Grey.
  • Woodcock (after the construction projects of lots on this road are completed)
  • The completion of Crane Neck Road and other side roads.

4) We will be continuing pothole repair where needed on roads during the process.

As a result of these prioritizations the Board sees has decided:

  • To implement a current special assessment of $1,000 per member in order to fund the immediate projects. (An invoice in that amount is enclosed)
  • Annual membership dues will increase to $1,100 per member as of the next fiscal year.
  • There will potentially be a need for another special assessment in each of the next two fiscal years to continue the next phases of the project. These assessments will be considered in the future, but it is likely that there will be further assessments of $500 per annum in each of the next two years.
  • The board has considered undertaking the entire project during the next twelve months and requesting one assessment, but decided it was not feasible to undertake the entire project at once and the amount of the assessment would be substantial. For these reasons that option was not considered further.

The decision on the assessment and the increase in annual dues was made only after extensive consideration and the increase is considered very necessary to insure the continued safety in using the road system.   That being said the Board would once again appreciate the input of the membership on any aspect of the plan, particularly the order of priorities noted above. You can forward your questions and concerns to any member of the board and they will be circulated to the full Board.   My email, as well as that of Joe Mitchell, Roads Chairman, is at the bottom of this email.

An invoice for the special assessment is attached. The board would appreciate your payment of this invoice in order that the association can embark upon the first phase of this important project.

Very truly yours,

Thomas P Dowd, President CNA     Marishof@aol.com

Joseph Mitchell, Chairman Roads Committee Joeandcindy2@verizon.net

Flooding on Crane Neck Road

The Crane Neck Board is pleased to announce that the trash screen in Flax Pond has been replaced and heightened.  The screen prevents the fouling of the drain pipe that runs through the berm.  This should end most of the high water flooding of Crane Neck Road that have plagued residents since we were hit by superstorm Sandy.

Please note once more that virtually all (98%) of your dues are used to maintain our roads.  This was just another such cost along with paving, snow plowing, drainage improvements, mowing and tree trimming.

Thanks for your patience!

Warning: Salt water flooding on Crane Neck Rd during very high tides

The trash screen that prevents the drain and valve on Crane Neck Road from functioning properly has been destroyed by recent storms.  This has resulted in debris fouling the pipe and valve allowing water from Flax Pond to flow unimpeded into Crane Neck Road during periods of very high tides.  Do not attempt to drive a sedan along the road when this occurs–your automobile will be destroyed by the salt water.  (This actually happened to a resident during the 1996 October Nor’easter!)

We must get permission from the DEC to reinstall the trash screen in the Pond, a process that may take some time.  We have alerted Steve Englebright to the problem and hope that this might expedite decision-making.  Meanwhile Tim Smith will gather the necessary materials to effect repairs.  (No landscaper will knowingly run afoul of the DEC.)

In the event of an emergency please contact a neighbor who has a high clearance vehicle.  In the interim fire and emergency service vehicles should be able to get through the water.

Thank you for your patience.

Your Crane Neck Board