HomeMy WebLinkAbout2025-6-10 900 King Street Rosemary A. Schlank LetterROSEMARY A. SCHLANK
9 Bayberry Lane
Rye Brook, NY 10573
(914) 939-9273
RSchlank@ix.netcom.com
June 10, 2025
Mayor Klein and Members of the Village Board of Trustees
Village of Rye Brook Offices
938 King Street
Rye Brook, NY 10573
Dear Mayor Klein and Trustees,
Re: SEQRA Amended Findings Statement – 900 King Street
In separate letters, I have already written to the trustees and the planning board to express
some of my concerns about the project proposed for 900 King Street. This letter adds one
additional piece of information that has come to light in recent years, and it adds more
support for the need for an updated traffic impact study and a safe-streets study.
Additional Information
Last year, a Washington Post article and a resulting Senate investigation focused national
attention on the safety issues related to assisted living facilities, especially memory care
facilities. A key concern was that some older adults were able to wander away from the
senior living facilities and they were not found until it was too late. The full extent of this
problem is still not known. But the article cited over 2,000 documented incidents of which
nearly 100 proved fatal to the residents who wandered away from the facilities, including
some who died of their injuries after being hit by a car.
These types of incidents can happen despite the best intentions of the owners and operators
of the facilities. Sometimes the cause is attributed to staffing shortages, and this can have
costly and unexpected consequences for the operators. Sunrise reportedly paid over $18
million last year to settle a class action lawsuit related to staffing concerns. For the owners
and operators of the facilities, the costs of litigation and negative publicity may be
considered the costs of doing business. But the consequences can be more personal for
others, including the homeowners in the Arbors and other nearby communities.
The facility that is proposed for 900 King Street is located near a private residential
community that has minimal police enforcement. Its roads are open to the public but are
maintained by contractors who are hired by the HOA rather than the Village. This includes
the main access road to the 900 King Street site. The HOA does its best to keep the roads
safe and clear of fallen trees, snow and ice. But accidents can happen despite the HOA’s and
the contractor’s best efforts. And a community with narrow roads and no sidewalks might
not be considered safe for an older adult with dementia who has wandered away from an
assisted living facility.
Rosemary Schlank
SEQRA Amended Findings, 900 King Street, page 2
The Need for Studies
Under the circumstances, I suggest that it would be appropriate to condition the approval of
the amended SEQRA findings statement on the receipt, review, and discussion of the
following:
1. The updated traffic study that was requested by the NY DOT. This study will help to
identify any areas where the risk of injuries will be greater due to the proposed
redevelopment of 900 King Street.
2. A safe-streets study to identify the types of improvements that would mitigate the
risks of injury. This type of study would benefit the applicant as well as the nearby
property owners, and it does not need to be costly. There is funding available now
from the USDOT and Westchester County.
3. An agreement with the Village and the owner and operator of the assisted living
facility that will protect the nearby homeowners and hold us harmless from risks of
litigation related to injuries sustained by residents of the assisted living facility who
may wander onto our roads, driveways, paths, and properties as long as we comply
with the recommendations of the safe streets study.
Thank you for considering my comments.
Yours truly,
Rosemary Schlank
c: Chris Bradbury, Village Administrator
Members of the VRB Planning Board
Dan Barnett, President of Arbors HOA