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Residents press Westchester committee to keep neighborhood out of proposed university campus zone; university to return after revisions
Summary
Residents told the Westchester Borough Smart Growth Committee the parcel under consideration should remain neighborhood, not campus, after the university sought a rezoning amendment; the university said it received substantial public feedback and requested more time to revise its proposal and return at a later meeting.
Nicole Shimoni, chair of the Westchester Borough Smart Growth Committee, opened discussion Nov. 12 on a proposed amendment to the borough—ode establishing or expanding a University Campus District. Brian Nagel, representing Westchester University and the Pennsylvania State System of Higher Education, told the panel the university received extensive public feedback and is revising its proposal. He asked the committee to defer formal consideration so the university can return with an updated presentation.
Why it matters: the proposal would change how the parcel is classified in zoning code chapter 112-314, which residents say could alter allowable uses, building scale and neighborhood character. Anne Carroll, chair of Civic Action Southeast, and other nearby residents told the committee that the parcel has historically been part of the neighborhood and should not be treated as campus property. "We do not consider that parcel of land campus," Carroll said, urging officials to preserve the area's architecture and family-oriented character.
Nagel said the university is "taking a hard look" at the feedback and will incorporate changes into a revised plan. He confirmed the university will return when it has processed comments; the committee noted its next available slot is February (the committee does not hold regular meetings in January). The committee did not vote on a rezoning at the Nov. 12 meeting and instead agreed to have the applicant return after further analysis. Residents also raised a separate concern about whether a prior university-hosted public meeting had been publicly released. The university representative said an audio recording was made for note-taking and would not be released; residents disputed whether proper notice about recording had been given at that earlier meeting.
Next steps: the university will analyze public feedback and return with a revised presentation at the committee's next available meeting, expected in February. The committee did not take formal action on the rezoning on Nov. 12.
