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Council declares intent to serve as lead agency for environmental review of proposed Buddhist temple at 1 Sycamore Lane; mayor recuses
Summary
The Common Council announced its intent to act as lead agency for the environmental review of a proposed Buddhist temple at 1 Sycamore Lane submitted by Droga Sang Foundation Corp., authorized a consultant agreement and escrow for technical review paid by the applicant, and noted Mayor's recusal from related items.
The White Plains Common Council on Feb. 3 declared its intent to serve as lead agency for the environmental review of a site plan application for a proposed Buddhist temple at 1 Sycamore Lane, submitted by Droga Sang Foundation Corp. The council also authorized an agreement with a consultant to provide technical review and established an escrow account to cover those consultant costs.
Mayor (name not specified) stated at the start of the meeting that he was recusing himself from Items 29, 31, 32 and 33 "for reasons previously stated." The recusal was noted before the council moved the consent agenda that included the Droga Sang items.
Council members spoke about the site’s environmental sensitivity and neighbors’ concerns. Councilman Brasch said he supports religious institutions generally but emphasized that the Sycamore Lane site is "an environmentally sensitive site" and that the city will hire a consultant—paid by the applicant—to analyze wetlands, zoning and land‑use aspects. He said council members had visited the site and heard neighbors’ concerns and that they would “look at that very carefully.”
Councilman Frye Pearson and Councilman Payne echoed those remarks. Frye Pearson noted that members of the council and neighbors had inspected the site in cold weather and cautioned that what used to be once‑in‑a‑century floods are now more frequent; he said an independent environmental specialist will study the project and that the council would “spend a lot of energy trying to get this right.” Payne thanked neighbors for attending and said the city would be careful in reviewing next steps and appreciated that the developer would fund an independent consultant.
Council President Presser said the council will take the environmental review assignment "very seriously" and will undertake it with due diligence. Councilwoman Puja confirmed that the council’s action is to accept lead‑agency status under the environmental review process and said she was in favor of becoming the lead agency; she added that council members had walked the site.
What the council authorized: The agenda items recorded the council’s intent to act as lead agency for the environmental review of the Sycamore Lane site plan and authorized an agreement with a consultant to review technical issues. The items also authorized establishment of an escrow account for payment of technical assistance to the common council and city departments; the record indicates those consultant costs are to be paid by the applicant.
No final land‑use approvals were granted for the site at the Feb. 3 meeting; the actions address only the environmental review process and technical review arrangements. The council’s statements and the recorded recusal were entered into the public record.
