2018_01_09 L_ Chen CommentsFrom: Li Chen [mailto:chenleo999@gmail.com]
Sent: Tuesday, January 09, 2018 8:32 PM
To: Christopher Bradbury; Mayor Paul S. Rosenberg; Susan R. Epstein; David M. Heiser; Jason A. Klein;
j.rednick@verizon.net
Subject: My Comments to 900 King Street redevelopment
AHOA Board of Directors
January 7, 2018
Re: Comments to the Draft DEIS Scoping Outline for the 900 King
Street Redevelopment dated December 18, 2017
Dear Honorable Mayor Rosenberg and Honorable Members of the Board of Trustees,
As a current resident in the Arbors, I am writing this email regarding the proposed
project at 900 King Street. Based on what I have heard from the meetings in Village
Hall, I am really concerned about this proposal of redevelopment and totally agree with
our Board's opinions. I am sure you have already received a lot of similar letters, so
here I just replace the details in each section with my own points.
1. Less bulk, density, and scale: Can't image to have such a huge change in my
neighborhood and more importantly all the impacts I have thought are negative! We are
talking about 5% more population of Rye Brook condensed in just one lot in front of
Arbors.
2. Less impact on ground disturbance and wetlands: I am not an environmental
person, but such a big change of land use from commercial to residential will obviously
decrease our environmental quality.
3. Less Impact on Vegetation: I want to have more green area, less buildings. That's
one of the reasons we rather to take longer commute and live in this town.
4. Alternatives to setting the age restriction at 55 years: There is no reason to
consider 55 as Senior and of course family of this kind will have many school-aged kids.
Just check the latest Census data and you will find this out.
5. Alternatives that will have less impact on local traffic: We are talking about more
than double of the daily commute traffic size with the same pattern on Arbors drive, i.e.
we are now waiting for 3 green lights before turning on King St, and in the future we
might need to wait for 6 or more in peak hours. I still remember the severe traffic block
on King St last month in which I got stuck 1 mile away from home for over 45 mins. I
don't want this to happen more frequent!
6. Alternatives that do not require demolition and a massiveconstruction project:
yes, we have school right across the street. If possible, why don't minimum the
construction. The building still looks nice and reliable.
Other important areas of concern for us include:
a. The need for opening the Arbors’ emergency access road to outgoing cars during the
entire construction period to adequately ensure the safety and well being of Arbors
residents at all times
b. The need for a construction road other than Arbor Drive
c. The need for more parking both at the Arbors and at the new facility
d. Information regarding how solid waste disposal will be handled, either privately or at a
cost to the Village
e. Keeping the overall height of the structure in keeping with other buildings in Rye
Brook
f. The rise in transient workers near the school could be dangerous for the children
g. Will either or both of the two presently installed electrical boxes on Arbor Drive have
to be moved, and, if so, what would the new location be
h. During the construction period, what will be done to ensure the safety of middle and
high school children as they walk around and on Arbor Drive to get to and from school
i. What will be the cost to the Village of emergency vehicles necessary for the additional
police and fire officers that will be required
j. What safety precautions will be necessary during blasting, and will they be sufficient,
due to the proximity of the Tennessee Gas lines
k. What is the plan to ensure that there is no interruption of utility services to the Arbors
residents during construction, as all utility lines come in through King Street
l. If this lowers the home values in the Arbors, is that factored in to the revenue
calculations presented by the developer in their proposal
m. Blasting and asbestos removal are needed and construction is expected to last three
years; what is the plan to protect Arbors residents and school children and faculty
n. Where will the overflow parking for the school go at such times as meet-the-teacher
night, soccer/sports tournaments, as town residents use 900 King Street as an overflow
parking lot and there are hundreds of cars parked there for these events
o. Does the traffic study take into account that in the years when 900 King Street was
fully occupied the Arbors had fewer cars
The Arbors represents a significant portion of the population in Rye Brook, and we
thank the Village in advance for taking our concerns seriously and for acting in the best
interest of so many Rye Brook citizens.
Respectfully,
Chen, Li
97 Brush Hollow Close, Arbors