A controversial proposal to build a 140-unit apartment building in a notoriously flood-plagued area of Harrison was withdrawn by the developer on Tuesday.
Albert Pirro, attorney for The Stagg Group, announced the news by calling the decision a “careful” one.
“After careful consideration of the need for further study, the Harrison Town Board and Planning Board has been advised that the application which has been filed for the multi-family building at 67 Grant Avenue is withdrawn,” he said.
The decision follows numerous displays of community opposition by residents of neighborhoods in Rye, Harrison, and Mamaroneck that have previously suffered flooding from the Beaver Swamp Brook, near where the project was slated for. And comes just as the Harrison Town Board was set to open a public hearing on Thursday to potentially pass a six-month building moratorium that could have blocked the project.
Pirro noted the developer had plans to include underwriting an environmental impact study to be sure the construction would deal with flooding issues surrounding the Beaver Swamp Brook watershed.
He also said his clients’ were willing to spend more than $1 million for offsite improvements to the areas near the project.
“Notwithstanding, the Stagg Group has heard the concern of both the Town Board and the area residents,” he added.
Harrison is now expected to seek a state grant to address improvements in the area, according to Pirro.
The Rye City Council was set to approve a $16,000 contract at its Wednesday meeting to hire a consultant to monitor the environmental impacts of the project.
