January 13, 2017 by The Harrison Review

Harrison REVIEW THE

January 13, 2017 | Vol. 5, Number 2 | www.harrisonreview.com

Brightview residence to seek final approval By COREY STOCKTON Staff Writer

A ban on gun shows held at county facilities was pushed forward by Westchester County lawmakers this week following a razor-thin 9-8 partisan vote, but County Executive Rob Astorino, a Republican, may have the final say, as a veto looms large. For story, see page 6. Photo/Aaron Kershaw

Proposed AvalonBay development making headway By FRANCO FINO Staff Writer The town’s proposed transitoriented development, known as the AvalonBay Harrison, which would be built along the MetroNorth train station on Halstead Avenue, is making headway after the Planning Board elected to commence a period of public comment on Jan. 9 for a zoning change. The Planning Board is seeking to take the next step by recommending a change in the town’s zoning ordinance, which would pave the way for the remaining municipal approvals sought by AvalonBay. Currently, the proposed complex is locat-

ed in a central business district, which restricts the construction of a transit-oriented development. “This is definitely wonderful for the town,” said Mayor Ron Belmont, a Republican. “This project has continuously been vetted and vetted, and hopefully this will be the start of a renaissance.” The proposed development calls for the construction of three, 4-story mixed-use buildings and two pedestrian plazas that will include 143 units of luxury apartments—76 one-bedrooms, 59 two-bedrooms, and eight three-bedrooms—in Harrison’s central business district. According to the proposal, the complex will include 136 mar-

ket-rental apartment units; seven will be reserved for affordable housing. Additionally, the multi-family residential complex, which has been virtually unopposed, according to Belmont, would include 27,000 square feet of commercial space for restaurants and coffee shops, structure parking in two of three buildings, and infrastructure improvements that will include an underground storm water management system. Mark Weingarten, an attorney representing AvalonBay Communities, the company proposing the complex, said he expects the development will draw interest from companies such as Starbucks to attract patrons. He

added that the housing development will appeal to “professionals, empty nesters, and people in transition.” According to the proposal, it is anticipated that the Harrison school district could see a potential increase in new schoolchildren—approximately four to 10 students—as a result of the project, which could cost the school district as much as $217,000. In return, the district would generate approximately $445,012 in property taxes, and would gain a net tax benefit of between approximately $220,000 and $358,000. The proposed structure, which AVALON continued on page 9

Eight months after the Town Council approved an amendment to the town zoning code at the request of a developer planning to build a senior living facility, Harrison officials have scheduled a public hearing before they possibly issue a final approval. The Harrison Town Council will hold a public hearing on Feb. 16, and could then vote to approve or deny the construction of the Brightview Senior Living Center, a proposal that has stirred the West Harrison community for more than a year. During a Dec. 20 meeting, the Planning Board issued site plan approval on the 160-unit senior living facility slated for a 7.3acre site in West Harrison. But, since a special exception for the development was first requested in 2015, residents have protested that the development would put excess strain on the town’s emergency services, could cause traffic congestion on Lake Street, and could create noise and odor pollution to the surrounding areas, including a ridge which overlooks the site. David Steinmetz, an attorney for the developer, pointed to several changes that have been made to the plans in the fall to mitigate those concerns, including lowering the building’s roof height, pushing the building back from the property line, and reducing the noise generated by the rooftop heating, cooling and ventilation systems. Steinmetz added that he expects the Town Council to approve the

development soon. “The town has already engaged in a very careful and thoughtful rezoning, environmental and planning process,” he said. In 2015, Brightview Senior Living Center and its parent company, The Shelter Group, petitioned the Town Council to adopt a zoning amendment allowing for assisted living facilities to be built on nine residentially zoned properties. One of those parcels was 600 Lake St., the site of the defunct Lake Street Quarry, on which Brightview said it planned to build a 165,000-square-foot development. In May, the council passed a stricter amendment, allowing assisted living on only six sites instead of nine, but that list still included the Lake Street property. The makeup of the Town Council has changed since that vote, however. Newly elected Councilman Richard Dionisio, a Republican, has spoken out publicly against the proposed development. During his campaign, he said he thought 600 Lake St. was not an appropriate location for a senior living development. Dionisio could not be reached for comment as of press time. “I think the town seems to be rubber-stamping this,” said Angela Damiano, a West Harrison resident who has spoken out against the development. She added that she thought a lawsuit, which is currently before the court intended to repeal the zoning amendment, would be more likely to stop the development than a public hearing. After the decision in May to BRIGHTVIEW continued on page 8