Planning board schedules May 8 public hearing for Meadowlark driveway relocation, asks for native‑plant screening

The Rye Brook Planning Board voted May 8 to set a public hearing on the amended site plan for 35 Meadowlark Road, which proposes a revised driveway alignment and updated landscaping. The hearing is scheduled for 6:30 p.m. on May 8, 2025.

Applicant Scott Schwartz described the revised driveway that shifts the entrance past a utility pole so the drive meets the road where it straightens. He said the new configuration reduces impervious cover compared with the previously proposed wide two‑lane driveway and creates a single‑lane approach that “pans out” into a small turnaround area, allowing garage egress without backing directly onto the road.

Why it matters: the revised plan reduces impervious area and repositions the driveway away from a utility easement; neighbors and the board emphasized native species and screening to minimize visual impact. Planning staff and the applicant agreed that the proposed turnaround is not intended for parking but to facilitate safe vehicle movements.

Board requests and next steps The board directed the applicant to provide a revised landscape plan that favors native species and taller screening plantings (e.g., oak‑leaf hydrangea was discussed as a suggestion for native shrub plantings). The planning board set the matter for public hearing on May 8 and asked staff to confirm the construction‑management and inspector coordination items already discussed on site.

Ending The board said the design appears to address earlier concerns and scheduled the public hearing to give neighbors an opportunity to comment.