Loading...
HomeMy WebLinkAbout900 King Street Second Amended Findings Statement as an Involved Agency Draft Resolution 2026-5-14 -1- INVOLVED AGENCY SECOND AMENDED FINDINGS STATEMENT State Environmental Quality Review Act This Second Amended Findings Statement has been prepared in accordance with Article 8 of the Environmental Conservation Law, the State Environmental Quality Review Act (SEQRA), and its implementing regulations promulgated at 6 NYCRR Part 617. Involved Agency: Planning Board, Village of Rye Brook Address: Village Hall 938 King Street Rye Brook, NY 10573 Name of Proposed Action: 900 King Street Redevelopment SEQRA Classification: Unlisted Action Summary of Proposed Action: The Applicant proposes a second amendment to the PUD Site Plan to redevelop the approximately 17.77-acre property with an integrated age-restricted residential community that includes independent living, assisted living, and age-restricted residential townhouse units. The Project proposes 231 residential units, including 126 independent living (IL) units, 20 townhouse units, and 85 assisted living (AL) units. The Applicant has represented that the community will be owned and operated by a single entity that would offer the various units for rent. Residency within the community will be restricted to those 62 years old or older. As part of the original PUD Application, to facilitate the proposed redevelopment, the Applicant petitioned for a text amendment to the PUD zoning regulations to allow additional density on the Site, as well as other changes. The text amendment to the PUD zoning regulations was adopted by the Village Board of Trustees (the “Lead Agency” or “Village Board”) in 2021. No additional amendments to the PUD zoning are proposed as part of the amendments to the Amended PUD Site Plan. Location: The Project Site is designated as 900 King Street within the Village of Rye Brook, County of Westchester, New York (Tax Map Parcel No. 129.68-1-13). The Village of Rye Brook Planning Board (the “Planning Board”) is an Involved Agency, as defined by the New York State Environmental Quality Review Act (Article 8 of the New York State Environmental Conservation Law) and its implementing regulations, 6 NYCRR Part 617, referenced 900 King Street Redevelopment Second Amended Involved Agency’s SEQRA Findings Statement -2- herein as “SEQRA,” in the review of the Proposed Action identified below. Pursuant to the requirements of SEQRA, the Planning Board makes the findings contained herein for the Proposed Action. In preparing this Involved Agency SEQRA Findings Statement, the Planning Board relies on the facts and analysis presented in the Draft Environmental Impact Statement (“DEIS”) and the Final Environmental Impact Statement (“FEIS”) and the current environmental record before the Village Board and Planning Board. JURISDICTION OF PLANNING BOARD Pursuant to § 250-7.E(4)(c) of the Rye Brook Village Code, the Planning Board is the approval authority for the Second Amended PUD Site Plan. In addition, pursuant to § 245-3 and § 213-7.B of the Rye Brook Village Code, the Planning Board is the approval authority empowered to grant or deny wetland permits, if any, and steep slope permits, if any. DESCRIPTION OF ACTION Sunrise Development, Inc. (the “Applicant”) has made an application on behalf of 900 King Street Owner, LLC (the “Owner”) for a Second Amended PUD Site Plan for the construction of an integrated, age-restricted residential community (the “Proposed Project”) that would replace the existing, largely vacant, office building and surface parking lot at 900 King Street (the “Project Site” or the “Site”) in the Village of Rye Brook (the “Village”), New York. The PUD Site Plan was originally approved in September 2021. To effectuate its proposal, the Owner had petitioned the Village Board to amend the Rye Brook Zoning Code to include a section entitled, 900 King Street Planned Unit Development, as Section 250-7(E)(6) (“Proposed Zoning”). The Proposed Project, Proposed Zoning and Proposed Local Law were together referred to as the Proposed Action. The 2021 PUD Site Plan included both a Wetland Permit and a Steep Slope Permit. In 2025, the Applicant applied to amend the 2021 PUD Site Plan (“Amended PUD Site Plan”) with the following proposed changes:  Reduction of the building footprints of the Independent Living and Assisted Living buildings to reduce the building coverage from 16.5% to 15.91%  Reconfiguration of entry driveway and port cochere  Reconfiguration of the courtyards  Addition of balconies and walk-out terraces to the Independent Living building  Addition of a garden area to the Assisted Living building  Modifications to the rear loading zone, generator space and trash area 900 King Street Redevelopment Second Amended Involved Agency’s SEQRA Findings Statement -3-  Reconfiguration of Townhouse garages to be 2-car garages instead of 1-car garages  Modification of the footprints of 10 of the cottages to allow a second main level bedroom The Planning Board approved the Amended PUD Site Plan after which the Project received Village of Rye Brook Architectural Review Board (the “Architectural Review Board”) approval. The Amended PUD Site Plan did not necessitate any changes to the Wetland Permit and Steep Slopes Permit previously approved by the Planning Board. In 2026, the Applicant applied to amend the Amended PUD Site Plan (“Second Amended PUD Site Plan”) with the following proposed changes:  Relocation of Townhouses from approved footprints in Amended PUD Site Plan  Reconfiguration of loop road, sidewalk and walking path adjacent to the Townhouses  Revision to grading plan for Townhouse area  Modifications to sanitary sewer system routing  Modifications to stormwater system in garage  Addition of trench drains and oil water separator for by-pass line in garage  Modifications to generator space and trash area  Reconfiguration of allocated parking and land bank parking spaces  Architectural modifications including enclosing two shallow covered exterior patios at ground level to minimally expand and enlarge the adjacent interior space, addition of exterior roof awnings over sitting areas in the IL North and AL North courtyards, addition of louvers for air conditioner units under windows on the AL building exterior and conversion of guards on upper level balconies from solid wall to aluminum picket rails. PROJECT SITE The Project Site is located at 900 King Street in the Village and is approximately 17.77 acres. The Site is bounded to the north by the Hutchinson River Parkway (the “Parkway”), to the east by the Rye Brook Police Department (RBPD), Rye Brook Fire Department (RBFD), Village Hall, and approximately 168 feet along King Street (NYS Rt. 120A), to the south by Arbor Drive, Harkness Park, and the Blind Brook Middle School and High School, and to the west by The Arbors townhouse community. Access to the Site is from Arbor Drive, which connects to King Street at a signalized intersection. Arbor Drive is a private street, owned by The Arbors Homeowner’s Association. The Project Site is the beneficiary of an easement, allowing the Project Site to access an improved Arbor Drive. Secondary emergency access to the Project Site is proposed via easement through the Village Hall property to the east. The Project Site, The Arbors, and Harkness Park are within the Village’s Planned Unit Development (PUD) zoning district. The schools, municipal buildings, the Parkway, and the area to the north are within residential zoning districts (e.g., R-15 and R-20). 900 King Street Redevelopment Second Amended Involved Agency’s SEQRA Findings Statement -4- PROPOSED PROJECT The Proposed Project includes construction of an integrated age-restricted residential community that includes IL, AL, and age-restricted residential townhouse units. The Second Amended PUD Site Plan application does not propose a change in the number of proposed units or the number of proposed bedrooms. The Proposed Project would include 231 residential units, including 126 IL units, 20 townhouse units, and 85 AL units. The Applicant has represented that the community will be owned and operated by Sunrise Development, Inc. that will offer the various units for rent. Residency within the community will be restricted to those 62 years old or older—a change from the DEIS, which proposed a community restricted to those 55 years old and older. The findings herein rely specifically on the assumption that the community will be operated as a rental, taxed, integrated residential senior living facility restricted to those 62 years old or older. To construct the Proposed Project, the existing 215,000 sf office building and 5.3-acre surface parking lot on the Project Site would be removed. Construction of the Proposed Project would occur on the portions of the Project Site that have been previously disturbed by prior development. The Proposed Project would not disturb the existing vegetation in the western portion of the Project Site, between the Project Site and The Arbors. The Applicant modified the project originally proposed in its petition and analyzed in the DEIS. In the FEIS, this project was referred to as the “Revised Proposed Project.” SEQRA allows for, and in principle encourages, applicants to modify projects in response to public comment on the DEIS, so long as those modifications, and any potential environmental impacts of those modifications, are described and analyzed in the FEIS, which they were. The principal modifications from the original project include the following:  Raising the age restriction for residents of the Proposed Project from 55 years old and older to 62 years old and older, consistent with the existing Site zoning;  Reducing the proposed gross square feet (gsf) of the Proposed Project by 89,098 square feet (sf)1, a 20 percent reduction in size, through: - Reducing the number of proposed IL units by 24 units (15 percent) from 160 to 136;2 - Reducing the average IL unit size by 100 sf, or 8 percent; 1 The square footage of the IL/AL building was further reduced by approximately 10,000 gsf in the “Further Reduced Alternative” discussed below. 2 The number of IL units was further reduced from 136 units to 126 units in the “Further Reduced Alternative” discussed below. 900 King Street Redevelopment Second Amended Involved Agency’s SEQRA Findings Statement -5- - Reducing the number of two- and three-bedroom IL units and increasing the percentage of one-bedroom IL units, thereby reducing the total number of bedrooms in the IL building by 22 percent; - Reducing the size of the amenity and common spaces in the IL and AL building; and, - Reducing the number of townhouse units by 16.7 percent from 24 units to 20 units.  Increasing the setback of the IL building from Arbor Drive and from The Arbors, as follows: - Increasing the setback of the three-story portion of the IL building an additional 31 feet from Arbor Drive, for a total setback of 147 feet, and an additional 86 feet from The Arbors, for a total setback of 550 feet from the property line with The Arbors; and - Increasing the setback of the four-story portion of the IL building an additional 30 feet from the Arbors, for a total setback of 494 feet from the property line with The Arbors.  Reducing the height of the IL roof closest to The Arbors to reduce the potential for visual impacts;  Increasing the setback of the townhouses from The Arbors;  Reconfiguring the interior layout of the proposed age-restricted townhouses to relocate the master bedroom to the first floor to more clearly meet the needs of the residents;  Reducing the amount of grading required during construction as well as reducing the amount of fill material required to be imported to the Site by lowering the elevation of the finished floor of the IL and AL building by 18 inches and by reconfiguring the layout and reducing the number of townhouses; and  Expanding the on-Site pedestrian path system by 5,690 linear feet and providing an enhanced landscape program, most notably along Arbor Drive. As a result of the reduction in the size of the IL and AL building and the increased setback of that building from Arbor Drive, the landscaped area was extended approximately 25 feet “deeper” in the Project Site providing additional screening of the IL building from Arbor Drive. As part of the FEIS, and at the request of the Lead Agency, the Applicant also developed a “Further Reduced Alternative,” which is substantially similar to the Revised Proposed Project. The only difference is that the Further Reduced Alternative included ten fewer IL units than the Revised 900 King Street Redevelopment Second Amended Involved Agency’s SEQRA Findings Statement -6- Proposed Project (126 units) and, subsequently, an IL/AL building that is approximately 10,000 gsf smaller than the Revised Proposed Project (345,902 s.f.). In the 2021 Findings Statement, the Lead Agency found that with the mitigation measures and conditions implemented, the Further Reduced Alternative minimizes environmental impacts to the maximum extent practicable consistent with social, economic and other essential considerations. Therefore, the 2021 Statement of Findings described the program and impacts of this alternative, which is referred to as the “Further Reduced Alternative” or the “Proposed Project.” In the 2025 Amended Findings Statement, the Lead Agency found that the Amended PUD Site Plan continued to minimize environmental impacts to the maximum extent practicable consistent with social, economic and other essential considerations. In its 2026 Second Amended Findings Statement adopted on April 28, 2026, the Lead Agency found that the Second Amended PUD Site Plan would minimize environmental impacts to the maximum extent practicable consistent with social, economic and other essential considerations. The Planning Board makes reference to the Lead Agency’s prior 2021, 2025 and 2026 Statements of Findings pursuant to SEQRA. The Lead Agency’s prior analysis is retained herein and is supplemented by a description and analysis of the impacts presented by the Second Amended PUD Site Plan (“Second Amended Further Reduced Alternative”) as compared to the project analyzed in the 2021 Findings Statement. This document provides specific findings and reasoned elaboration of the relevant facts and conclusions as interpreted by the Planning Board relating to specific approvals under its jurisdiction. The Planning Board, as an Involved Agency, has reviewed the changes proposed as a result of the Second Amended PUD Site Plan, concurs with the Findings issued by the Lead Agency and finds that its Second Amended Further Reduced Alternative minimizes the environmental impacts to the maximum extent practicable consistent with social, economic and other essential considerations. ENVIRONMENTAL ANALYSIS A. LAND USE, PUBLIC POLICY, AND ZONING The Second Amended Further Reduced Alternative does not change the building coverage or the gross land coverage from the Amended Further Reduced Alternative and therefore does not result in any additional impacts related to land use, public policy, or zoning. The Planning Board incorporates by reference the Lead Agency's findings from the original analysis of the Further Reduced Alternative with respect to land use, public policy, and zoning which remain unchanged as a result of the Second Amended Further Reduced Alternative. 900 King Street Redevelopment Second Amended Involved Agency’s SEQRA Findings Statement -7- B. Geology, Soils, and Topography The Limit of Disturbance (“LOD”) or disturbance to steep slopes has not been increased by the Second Amended Further Reduced Alternative. Slight grading adjustments are proposed in the townhouse area to reduce the overall elevation difference between townhouse Units 17-20 and the ring road. As a result, there will be a net decrease of approximately 5 linear feet of walls up to eight (8) feet high and a net increase of approximately 274 linear feet of retaining walls up to four (4) feet high. It is not anticipated that the proposed amendments to the site will result in any additional impacts related to geology, soils or topography. The Planning Board incorporates by reference the Lead Agency's findings from the original analysis of the Further Reduced Alternative with respect to geology, soils or topography impacts which remain unchanged as a result of the Second Amended Further Reduced Alternative. C. Waters and Wetlands The Second Amended Further Reduced Alternative reconfigures the loading zone, generator area and parking to the rear of IL/AL building. This reconfiguration has resulted in a slight increase of impervious surfaces within Wetland Buffer B-C. Specifically, the impervious surface within the buffer will be increased from 0.259 acres to 0.268 acres without the landbank parking and from 0.305 acres to 0.3108 acres with landbank parking. Although there is a slight increase in impervious surfaces under the Second Amended Further Reduced Alternative, the increase does not result in a impervious surface coverage that is greater than that proposed by the Further Reduced Alternative. In other words, the changes to the project proposed in 2025 decreased the amount of impervious coverage within the buffer of Wetlands B & C and the changes now being proposed revert to the same or similar amount of impervious surface coverage presented in the original approved project in 2021. The Second Amended Further Reduced Alternative also reconfigures the Townhouses adjacent to Wetland Buffer A. This reconfiguration results in no change to impervious surface within Wetland Buffer A. The Planning Board incorporates by reference the Lead Agency's findings from the original analysis of the Further Reduced Alternative with respect to waters and wetlands which remain unchanged as a result of the Second Amended Further Reduced Alternative. D. Stormwater Management The Second Amended Further Reduced Alternative results in no change to building coverage from the Amended Further Reduced Alternative, which decreased the building coverage from 2.932 acres (16.50%) to 2.827 acres (15.91%) and reduced the gross land coverage from 40% to 37.78%. Also, Second Amended Further Reduced Alternative results in a net decrease in impervious surface coverage of approximately 106 square feet. The stormwater management system is proposed to be modified to adjust a stormwater line through the garage and add an oil/water separator to accommodate the lowering of the garage elevation by approximately 2 feet, and to add trench drains at the front and rear garage ramp entrances to pick up flow directed toward those entrances. It is not anticipated that the proposed amendments to the site will result in any additional impacts related to 900 King Street Redevelopment Second Amended Involved Agency’s SEQRA Findings Statement -8- stormwater management. The Planning Board incorporates by reference the Lead Agency's findings from the original analysis of the Further Reduced Alternative with respect to stormwater management which remain unchanged as a result of the Second Amended Further Reduced Alternative. E. Vegetation and Wildlife The Second Amended Further Reduced Alternative does not increase the number of trees to be removed from the Site. However, 512 trees will be planted on the Site, which is 33 additional trees from the original proposal. The Second Amended Further Reduced Alternative results in no change in the Project’s building coverage or gross land coverage. The Amended Further Reduced Alternative had reduced the building footprint and had decreased the building coverage from 2.932 acres (16.50%) to 2.827 acres (15.91%) and had reduced the gross land coverage from 40% to 37.78% creating additional open space on site. It is not anticipated that the proposed amendments to the site will result in any additional impacts related to vegetation or wildlife. The Planning Board incorporates by reference the Lead Agency's findings from the original analysis of the Further Reduced Alternative with respect to vegetation and wildlife which remain unchanged as a result of the Second Amended Further Reduced Alternative. F. Visual Resources and Community Character The Second Amended Further Reduced Alternative will result in a net increase of 33 additional trees from the original proposal, with the vegetative buffer around the perimeter of the Site being maintained. The Second Amended Further Reduced Alternative results in no change in the Project’s building coverage or gross land coverage. The Amended Further Reduced Alternative had reduced the building footprint and had decreased the building coverage from 2.932 acres (16.50%) to 2.827 acres (15.91%) and had reduced the gross land coverage from 40% to 37.78% creating additional open space on site. Minor architectural features are proposed to be modified, including some new windows behind the porte cochere roof, enclosure of porch areas at the ground level office space, addition of louvers for AC units under certain windows and some adjustments to balconies on upper levels, but the building height will remain as previously approved. The Second Amended Further Reduced Alternative does not result in any additional impacts related to visual resources and community character. The Planning Board incorporates by reference the Lead Agency's findings from the original analysis of the Further Reduced Alternative with respect to visual resources and community character which remain unchanged as a result of the Second Amended Further Reduced Alternative. G. Community Facilities The Second Amended Further Reduced Alternative does not add additional IL, AL, or townhome units to the site plan. It is not anticipated that the proposed amendments to the site will result in any additional impacts related to community facilities, including those related to emergency services and fire protection. The Planning Board incorporates by reference the Lead Agency's findings from the 900 King Street Redevelopment Second Amended Involved Agency’s SEQRA Findings Statement -9- original analysis of the Further Reduced Alternative with respect to community facilities which remain unchanged as a result of the Second Amended Further Reduced Alternative. H. Infrastructure and Utilities The Second Amended Further Reduced Alternative does not add additional IL, AL, or townhome units to the site plan. It is not anticipated that the proposed amendments to the site will result in any additional impacts related to infrastructure, utilities, water supply or sewage disposal facilities. The Planning Board incorporates by reference the Lead Agency's findings from the original analysis of the Further Reduced Alternative with respect to infrastructure and utilities which remain unchanged as a result of the Second Amended Further Reduced Alternative. I. Traffic and Transportation The Second Amended Further Reduced Alternative does not add additional IL, AL, or townhome units to the site plan. Therefore, there will be no change in the number of vehicular trips to and from the site. It is not anticipated that the proposed amendments to the site will result in any additional impacts related traffic or transportation. In addition, the Second Amended Further Reduced Alternative proposes relocation of certain parking spaces but will not result in a reduction of the number of paved or land banked parking spaces proposed in the Further Reduced Alternative. The Planning Board incorporates by reference the Lead Agency's findings from the original analysis of the Further Reduced Alternative with respect to traffic and transportation which remain unchanged as a result of the Second Amended Further Reduced Alternative. J. Construction The Second Amended Further Reduced Alternative results in no change to building coverage, relocates Townhouses, reconfigures the loop road, sidewalk and walking path adjacent to the Townhouses, makes modifications to sanitary sewer routing, makes modifications to the garage stormwater management system, reconfigures the rear loading zone, generator area and trash enclosure location, and reconfigures allocated parking and land bank parking. The proposed changes to the Site Plan will not have an impact on the duration of construction, create additional noise during construction or proposed construction in new areas of the Site. The Planning Board incorporates by reference the Lead Agency's findings from the original analysis of the Further Reduced Alternative with respect to construction which remain unchanged as a result of the Second Amended Further Reduced Alternative. SEQRA FINDINGS This Involved Agency Second Amended Findings Statement retains the analysis provided in the 2021 Findings Statement which was based on the administrative record including the Draft Environmental 900 King Street Redevelopment Second Amended Involved Agency’s SEQRA Findings Statement -10- Impact Statement (“DEIS”), Final Environmental Impact Statement (“FEIS”), and the comments from the public and agencies. It also retains the analysis provided in the Lead Agency’s Amended Findings Statement adopted in 2025 and the Lead Agency’s Second Amended Findings Statement adopted in 2026. Pursuant to Article 8 of the Environmental Conservation Law and its implementing regulations (6 NYCRR Part 617) and after due consideration of the relevant environmental impacts, facts and conclusions disclosed in the DEIS and FEIS and subsequent environmental record, and after weighing and balancing the relevant environmental impacts with social, economic, and other considerations and the relevant provisions of the Village of Rye Brook Village Code, the Planning Board certifies that the Proposed Project avoids and minimizes adverse environmental impacts to the extent practicable. The Planning Board hereby certifies that its obligations as an Involved Agency under 6 NYCRR Part 617 have been met. INVOLVED AGENCY DISCUSSION OF DECISION As reflected in the foregoing, the Planning Board, as an Involved Agency, has carefully considered the Second Amended Further Reduced Alternative, and has considered in detail the social, economic, fiscal, land use and other relevant factors, as well as the reasonably anticipated environmental impacts of the Second Amended Further Reduced Alternative and measures to mitigate impacts with respect to those aspects within the Planning Board’s jurisdiction. These findings are the result of the Involved Agency’s weighing and balancing of these and other relevant factors and considerations as set forth above. Certificate of Findings to Approve the Action: Accordingly, having considered the DEIS and FEIS, the Planning Board through this Findings Statement, certifies that: A. It has considered the relevant environmental impacts, facts and conclusions disclosed in the DEIS and FEIS; B. It has weighed and balanced the relevant environmental impacts with social, economic and other considerations; C. The requirements of 6 NYCRR Part 617 have been met; and D. Consistent with social, economic and other essential considerations from among the reasonable alternatives available, the Second Amended Further Reduced Alternative, as modified by this Statement of Findings, avoids or minimizes adverse environmental impacts to the maximum extent practicable; and 900 King Street Redevelopment Second Amended Involved Agency’s SEQRA Findings Statement -11- E. Adverse environmental impacts will be avoided or minimized to the maximum extent practicable by incorporating as conditions of any site plan approval within the Project Site those relevant mitigation measures identified in the DEIS, FEIS and this Statement of Findings. Certified by the Planning Board by Resolution adopted on May 14, 2026. Planning Board, Village of Rye Brook By:_______________________ Robert Goodman Planning Board Chairperson