2016-02-12 County comments on RYB 16-001 Sun Homes IF ster Referral Review
gov.com Pursuant to Section 239 L,M and N of the General Municipal Law and
Section 277.61 of the County Adntinistrative Code
Robert P.Astorino
County Executive
County Planning Board
February 12, 2016
Marilyn Timpone-Mohamed, Consulting Planner
Rye Brook Village Hall
938 King Street
Rye Brook, NY 10573-1226
Subject: Referral File No. RYB 16-001—Sun Homes; Site Plan
Dear Ms. Timpone-Mohamed:
The Westchester County Planning Board has received a site plan (dated revised December 23, 2015)
and related materials for the above referenced application. The application involves a proposed planned
unit development that would contain 110 dwelling units of which 10 would be set aside as affordable
affirmatively furthering fair housing (AFFH). The subject site is the Phase 3 parcel of the Reckson
Executive Park, which was previously approved for the construction of a 280,000 square foot office
building with 1,120 parking spaces. That building was not constructed. The application would seek to
construct the new housing development instead of the office building, with vehicular access provided
via an extension of International Drive, the road which currently services the office park.
We note that the 31.56-acre site has been rezoned from OB-1 to PUD and the PUD district regulations
have been amended so as to require inclusion of affordable AFFH units in new developments. The
applicant has also received PUD concept plan approval.
We have reviewed the site plan under the provisions of Section 239 L, M and N of the General
Municipal Law and Section 277.61 of the County Administrative Code and we offer the following
comments for your consideration:
1. Affirmatively furthering fair housing (AFFH). We are supportive of the proposed application as it
will bring 10 additional affordable AFFH units to the Village. This aspect of the application is consistent
with the County Planning Board's long-range planning policies set forth in Westchester 2025—Context
for County and Municipal Planning and Policies to Guide County Planning, adopted by the Board
on May 6, 2008, amended January 5, 2010, and its recommended strategies set forth in Patterns for
Westchester: The Land and the People, adopted December 5, 1995, which calls for increasing the
range of housing types in Westchester County. We recommend that the Village require that the
affordable AFFH units meet all requirements of the Housing Settlement Agreement.
2. County sewer impacts. The proposed development will increase sewage flows from this site into the
existing infrastructure. The increased flow will add to the volume of sewage flow requiring treatment at
432 Michaelian Office Building
148 Martine Avenue
White Plains,New York 10601 Telephone: (914)995-4400 Website. westchestergov.com
Referral File No. RYB 16-001—Sun Homes
February 12, 2016
Page 2
one of the treatment plants operated by Westchester County. As a matter of County Department of
Environmental Facilities' policy, we recommend that the Village implement, or require the developer to
implement, measures that will offset the projected increase in flow. The best means to do so is through
reductions in inflow.:infiltration (I&I) at a ratio of three for one for the market rate units and at a ratio of
one for one for the affordable AFFH units.
3. Sidewalks and connections to adjacent parcels. We recommend that the plans be revised to place
sidewalks along all roadways within the development. Doing so will provide for a safer walking
environment for residents. We also recommend that a sidewalk be added to the full length of
International Drive so as to connect the development to the office parks as well as to the Bee-Line bus
stops that are located in front of each office building and along King Street.
In addition, it may also be worth considering the provision of a pedestrian connection between the
proposed development and the existing Belle Fair development since they will abut each other. Such a
connection would greatly facilitate the ability for people to visit each other between the two
developments without the need to drive (or walk) a circuitous route. Since these are two private
residential developments, this could potentially be accomplished with a gate that only residents have a
key for, if security is an issue.
4. Provisions for recycling. We recommend that the Village require the applicant to verify that there is
sufficient space within the development to accommodate the expanded County recycling program that
includes plastics with numbers l through 7. County regulations for plastic recycling may be found at:
http://environment.westchestery,ov.com.
5. Stormwater management. We agree with the Village Planning Board recommendations that the
applicant should submit an enforceable maintenance agreement for stormwater management facilities.
6. Green building technology. We encourage the applicant to consider using as much green building
technology as possible in the proposed development.
Thank you for the opportunity to comment on this matter.
Respectfully,
WESTCHESTER COUNTY PLANNING BOARD
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Edward Buroughs, AICP
Commissioner
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