White Plains council hears presentation on proposed Buddhist temple at 1 Sycamore Lane

The Common Council of White Plains heard a detailed presentation Jan. 27 on a proposal to convert a four‑acre property at 1 Sycamore Lane into a Tibetan Buddhist temple, but took no formal vote to advance or approve the project.

Why it matters: The site sits adjacent to a meandering stream and mapped wetlands and the proposal would trigger coordinated environmental review and multiple land‑use approvals. How the council defines wetland buffers and whether it becomes lead agency under the State Environmental Quality Review Act (SEQRA) will determine whether the Zoning Board of Appeals can act on requested variances and whether the site plan returns to the council for a supermajority vote.

Planning Commissioner Christopher Gomez briefed the council on why the Common Council has jurisdiction over the site plan: because the code calculates that the proposed use requires 50 or more parking spaces, the council — not the planning board — must approve the site plan. Gomez also explained the SEQRA coordination process, noting the council could declare its intent to be lead agency and then confirm lead agency status after the required notice period.

Attorney David Steinmetz,…