HAPPY
ST. PATRICK'S DAY
March 17, 2017 | Vol. 5, Number 11 | www.ryecityreview.com
City Council still can’t decide on Crown Castle controversy By JAMES PERO Staff Writer
Rye Neck’s Christian Cefaloni throws a pitch during the 2016 season. This year, new pitch count rules have been instituted in New York state. For story, see page 15. Photo/Bobby Begun
United Hospital site zoning amendments OK’d By JAMES PERO Staff Writer The village of Port Chester Board of Trustees has voted to allow a set of zoning changes that will pave the way for a long-debated multimillion dollar development on the village’s former United Hospital site. But by moving the project forward, the village may be opening itself up to litigation. Amendments to the village zoning code, passed during the Board of Trustees meeting on March 6, will alter various zoning laws, including the addition
of a density bonus that will see the developers, Starwood Capital, transfer $3 million into a fund for community planning and rehabilitation. According to Eric Zamft, the village director of planning and economic development, that money—which will be used at the discretion of the village— could be spent on things like housing creation and affordable housing, or neighborhood revitalization efforts. In addition to 36 affordable housing units, according to Zamft, the development’s floor area ratio is set to 0.8 with a 0.8 bonus, an amend-
ment that the village Board of Trustees included in order to expand the amount of money the developer would contribute to its community fund. While that number is currently $3 million, previous iterations of the project would have only seen $1 million contributed to the fund. The zoning amendments will allow for the required density sought by the developers to see their project to fruition. Starwood’s mixed-use, 1 million-square-foot development would also feature restaurants, offices and a hotel.
Overall, the project contains 730 residential units, the majority of which are one-bedroom, studio or loft units. With the zoning laws altered, Starwood’s $400 million development will soon go to a site plan review process where, Zamft said, the village board will have a “second bite of the apple” in terms of vetting the project even further. And though the village board voted to unanimously push the project toward fruition, officials in neighboring Rye have been ZONING continued on page 9
Contrary to what was supposed to be a finite deadline of March 15, a decision on the proposal by telecom contractor Crown Castle to install wireless communications equipment citywide will be extended yet again as negotiations with the Rye City Council continues. According to an agreement signed by on March 10 by the city and Crown Castle—which is proposing the installation of 72 nodes, compared to the previously proposed 64—wireless locations across the city—a decision will now be extended until April 20. “I believe that we are best off negotiating an acceptable outcome, rather than going to litigation and having an outcome imposed on us in the courts,” said Mayor Joe Sack, a Republican. Previously, a decision on the project’s determination under the State Environmental Quality Review act, SEQR, and also a final decision on whether the project will be permitted to move forward were slated for this week, after press time. City Attorney Kristen Wilson, who spoke to the Review earlier this month, said that if the project is forced to undergo a full environmental impact statement—which can be triggered by a positive determination under SEQR—or if it is denied outright, the city faces a very realistic chance of being sued. While the city and Crown Castle have been in active negotiations to alter the project and reach a compromise to lessen the impact on some of Rye’s
residential areas, an amended proposal by Crown Castle sent to the city earlier this month was met with derision from City Council members after the telecom company floated an increased number of locations. The latest proposal increased the number of nodes—wireless signal emitting equipment— by tacking on eight additional signal locations on municipal properties. Now, the city will work to address concerns from residents who fear that the project could have adverse impacts on neighborhood aesthetics and consequently, property values. Fervor over the project has percolated since its introduction last summer when residents flocked to public hearings and City Council meetings in opposition of what many felt was an intrusive effort by Crown Castle—which is being contracted by Verizon Wireless—to bolster cell service across the city. According to the new agreement, a round of public hearings will be held until April 5, after a settlement conference between both parties which is slated to take place between March 23 and 29. City Manager Marcus Serrano said that a new draft of the city’s telecommunications law—which has been retooled in an effort to give the city greater control over its wireless infrastructure—will likely be voted on at the April 5 council meeting. City Council members are hopeful that Crown Castle’s proposal can be processed under the potentially amended law. CONTACT: james@hometwn.com