The city’s effort to update its comprehensive plan for the first time in more than 40 years is moving into its next phase, with a public workshop planned for Oct. 14 offering residents an opportunity to learn more about the initiative, meet the planning team, and find out how they can get involved.
The comprehensive plan steering committee focused its Aug. 27 meeting on existing conditions in the city, including housing and demographics, reviewing census data, and comparing aspects of Rye’s housing stock and population to the rest of Westchester County.
The nine members present, including the two high school students serving on the 15-member committee, examined the age and size of the city’s housing inventory, vacancy rates, rentals, and affordability. Members also discussed whether younger residents and families can afford to remain in or return to the community, as well as how much additional housing the city can realistically accommodate.
The discussion also touched on the limited amount of undeveloped land remaining in the city and whether existing areas designated for multifamily housing have additional capacity.
Housing was one example of the broader issues the comprehensive plan will seek to examine, alongside transportation, sustainability, economic development, community services, and other aspects of life in the city.
Planners emphasized that sustainability will be considered throughout the plan, including environmental, economic, social, and cultural factors, rather than as a stand-alone topic.
“It’s how we look at everything,” said Peter Feroe, a Senior Vice President at AKRF, who is serving as the principal-in-charge for the City of Rye’s comprehensive plan update.
During the roughly 90-minute meeting, consultants Tiffany Zezula, deputy director for the Land Use Law Center at Pace University, and Corey Block, of AKRF, guided the committee through a discussion about needs in the community as it looks to build a sustainable future.
The Oct. 14 event will introduce residents to the comprehensive planning process and provide an overview of what lies ahead. Attendees will have an opportunity to meet members of the planning team, learn about the initiative and explore ways to participate as the process moves forward. The event is slated for 7 p.m. at the Rye Free Reading Room.
While registration is not required, it’s highly encouraged, Feroe said, as planners want to gauge how many residents are considering attending.
The city is also developing neighborhood ambassadors as another way to expand outreach, with training planned for late September. The steering committee will meet next on Sept. 24. Other goals for September include developing community engagement opportunities, continuing assessments of existing conditions and conducting interviews with city officials and employees, as well as members of land-use boards and committees.
