2019.06.11 FP Clark Memo
A HARDESTY&HANOVER COMPANY www.HardestyHanover.com
To: Robert I. Goodman, Chairman, and the
Planning Board of the Village of Rye Brook
Date: June 11, 2019
Subject: 900 King Street – Building Demolition
Site Plan, Wetlands and Steep Slopes Permits Applications
As requested, we reviewed applications, documents and plans submitted by Rye
King Associates, LLC to demolish the existing office building on the property located
at 900 King Street, Town of Rye Tax Map Parcel 129.68-1-13.
Property Description
The 17.77-acre subject property is located within the PUD district situated on the west
side of King Street south of the Hutchinson River Parkway that includes The Arbors
residential development and Harkness Park. It is developed with a 215,000 square-
foot office building and surface parking area. The subject lot is adjacent to and west
of Village Hall and the Village Firehouse, adjacent to and south of the Hutchinson
River Parkway, adjacent to and east of The Arbors, and adjacent to and north of
Harkness Park and the Blind Brook High School property. It is within the King Street
Scenic Road Overlay District (SROD).
Although the lot has 164.78 feet of frontage along King Street, it does not have direct
vehicular access from King Street. Vehicular access to the lot is provided at two
locations along the north side of Arbor Drive, which is currently the only access to
and from King Street for the commercial and residential portions of the PUD.
There are four wetland areas and a watercourse on, or adjacent to, the subject lot,
and areas of steep slopes are situated in various locations. The lot has open areas
that are landscaped and planted with mature trees and shrubs, and areas that are
naturally vegetated.
Project Description
The application proposes to demolish the office building, which would disturb a
portion of the western-most wetland buffer and an area of steep slopes directly ad-
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adjacent to the building. A site restoration plan is proposed to mitigate disturbance of the wetland
buffer and stabilize disturbance of the steep slopes.
Review
We reviewed application materials and plans that include the following items:
1. Short Environmental Assessment Form and EAF Mapper Summary Report
dated 6/6/19
2. Demolition Permit Application
3. Application for Site Plan Approval
4. Site Plan Submittal Review Checklist
5. Site Location Map prepared by JMC, PLLC, Armonk, N.Y. dated 4/3/18
6. Segmentation of Demolition Memorandum to the Board of Trustees from
Veneziano and Associates, Armonk, N.Y. dated June 5, 2019
7. Letter to the Planning Board from Veneziano and Associates, Armonk, N.Y.
dated June 6, 2019
8. Letter to the Board of Trustees from Veneziano and Associates, Armonk,
N.Y. dated June 6, 2019
9. Memorandum to the Planning Board from AKRF, White Plains, N.Y. dated
June 6, 2019
10. Engineer’s Plans, prepared by AKRF, White Plains, N.Y.:
USheet NumberU Sheet TitleU Dated
S-1 Cover Sheet 6/6/19
S-2 Existing Conditions 6/6/19
S-3 Site Demolition Plan 6/6/19
S-4 Site Restoration Plan 6/6/19
S-5 SWPPP, Notes and Details 6/6/19
Please note that our review is limited to planning and environmental issues. We offer the following
comments regarding the application:
1. SEQRA and Reviews. The applicant is requesting to demolish the 900 King Street office
building during the impending school summer break, and remove the demolition of the building
from the SEQRA review of the senior housing project. Therefore, the Board of Trustees
requests a report and recommendation from the Planning Board regarding the demolition site
plan, and the Planning Board will review the wetlands and steep slopes permits.
2. Steep Slopes. The initial demolition of the building and half the ground floor slab will disturb
the line of steep slopes adjacent to the south end of the building, which are stabilized by its
south wall. Stabilization of the disturbed slopes will include grading to reduce the remaining
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vertical slope to a slope of 15%. All disturbed and new slopes will be prepared and immediately
revegetated with meadow grasses and plants. No trees would be removed during this work
according to the applicant.
3. Wetland Buffers. The initial demolition of the building will affect a small portion the buffer of
wetland A. Although no trees will be removed within the buffer, grading and demolition
activities will create open ground within the buffer, which will be prepared and immediately
revegetated with meadow grasses and plants.
4. Additional Demolition and Wetland Buffers. The Site Demolition Plan indicates additional
demolition that would be done if the senior housing project currently under SEQRA review
does not receive approval, or, if approved, does not start construction in a reasonable time (to
be determined) after approval is granted. The secondary demolition would include removal of
all remaining paved roads, walkways retaining walls and parking areas that were not removed
during the initial demolition. This work would disturb portions of the buffers of Wetlands B, C
and D and involve some grading. As with the initial demolition, all disturbed areas will be
prepared and immediately revegetated with meadow grasses and plants.
In the event that the senior housing project is not approved, we recommend that any existing
trees within the parking areas be protected and integrated into the meadow landscape to be
installed.
5. Other Impacts during Demolition. Demolition of the building and, if necessary, the removal of
the rest of the impervious surfaces on the site at a later date would create the potential for
additional impacts regarding construction traffic, erosion and sedimentation, vibration, air quality,
noise, and hazardous materials. The demolition and restoration plans should demonstrate that
these impacts would be addressed during all phases of the work proposed.
6. Coordination with Summer Activities. The applicant should coordinate with Arbors HOA and
any other agencies that may utilize the school campus or Harkness Park prior to the start of
demolition and periodically during the duration of the work to avoid impacts to any activities
planned.
We look forward to discussion with the Planning Board.
Marilyn Timpone-Mohamed, RLA, ASLA, AICP
Senior Associate/Planning/Environment
cc: Mayor Paul Rosenberg, and the Board of Trustees
Michal Nowak, Superintendent of Public Works/Village Engineer
Jennifer L. Gray, Esq., Village Attorney
Mark S. Miller, Esq., Veneziano and Associates, for the Applicant
4133.12.900KingStDemolition.SitePlanWetlandSteepSlope.Memo1