With The Osborn proposing a massive expansion of its campus, the city recorded the most Planning Commission’s most recent review of the project for interested viewers who were unable to attend the Sept. 9 session.
Rather than adopting a blanket policy to record all Planning Commission meetings going forward, the decision will be made on a case-by-case basis depending on need and staff availability, according to Interim City Manager Brian Shea.
He said the Sept. 9 meeting was recorded because it coincided with a Rye City School District Board of Education meeting, giving residents the opportunity to view both. The meeting can be viewed on city website.
Currently, the City Council is the only government body in Rye whose meetings are always recorded and aired live on the city website. That practice has been underway for years.
Recording land use board meetings would mark a new chapter for the city.
The Osborn, a 56-acre retirement community on Theall Road, is seeking approval for a major redevelopment plan that includes 108 new residential units, a wellness center, interior cottages, and parking garages. The plan also calls for the removal of 177 trees, though The Osborn has pledged to replant 230.
Westchester County planning officials, in an advisory review, raised concerns about the absence of affordable housing, potential strain on stormwater systems, and the scale of proposed parking. Some residents have also objected to the project, warning of overdevelopment and neighborhood impacts.
In response, The Osborn has submitted revisions to reduce the visual impact of one building along Post Road and to provide updated stormwater data.
The Planning Commission’s Sept. 9 meeting marked the start of public hearings on the proposal, with more sessions expected in the coming months.
