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Planning board approves Cloudbound toddler play center at 80 Nardozzi Place
Summary
The New Rochelle Planning Board granted site-plan approval to Cloudbound, a SkyZone sister brand aimed at children ages 0–6, with conditions tied to traffic review and life-safety plans.
The New Rochelle Planning Board on June 20 approved a site plan for Cloudbound, a new play venue for children ages 0 to 6 to be located at 80 Nardozzi Place in a CABLSR-1 zone.
The board approved the interior-only remodel of a former Ashley Furniture retail space after presentations from applicant representatives and discussion about parking, traffic and life-safety measures. The approval included conditions requiring a traffic trip-generation review with the director of traffic engineering, life-safety signage and lighting plans, and an administrative follow-up to consider staggered party/checkout procedures if the trip study indicates it is needed.
Cloudbound, presented by Caitlin Shufelt, vice president of Cloudbound (a new brand from the SkyZone team), is billed as a membership-focused, drop-in-friendly indoor play venue designed for children 0–6 and parents. “Cloudbound is meant to be that option for you to make it as easy as possible for parents,” Shufelt said during the public hearing. Amy Miles, associate with PB2 Architecture and Engineering, said the proposal involves only an interior remodel of the vacant Ashley Furniture space and that the existing parking "goes space for space" with the proposed experiential use.
Board members raised concerns about traffic intensity at the Nardozzi/ nearby corridor and the potential for party-related peak arrivals. Benito Seja, senior project manager, and Kevin Kane, director of planning and sustainability, confirmed staff had requested a traffic study and proposed a condition requiring review of projected trip generation and any necessary signal timing modifications before issuance of a temporary certificate of occupancy. Shufelt said Cloudbound will operate as a members-only product with presales and two-hour ticketed sessions and that the operator anticipates staffing and operational controls to limit throughput compared with a typical SkyZone trampoline park.
The board resolution included four written conditions: remediation of any construction damage to city right-of-way to DPW standards and required DPW permits for any temporary obstructions; applicant review of projected trip generation with the director of traffic engineering before a temporary certificate of occupancy to address signal timing modifications; submission of an exit signage and emergency lighting plan prior to building permits; and an administrative return to the board to consider staggered checkout/party start times contingent on the trip-generation study.
The motion for site-plan approval passed unanimously.
Cloudbound representatives said they will complete the traffic study and work with city staff on any operational limits needed before opening. The board noted that any required signal timing or other off-site traffic adjustments would be coordinated with the city prior to a temporary CO.
