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Planning Board approves Potter Avenue auto‑body addition and parking with conditions, requires post‑occupancy review
Summary
The board approved a 2,800 sq ft addition and 18‑space parking reconfiguration for an existing auto‑body facility at 70–74 Potter Avenue, and conditioned approval on DPW permits, drainage improvements (oil interceptor), landscaping and a six‑month traffic/parking review after occupancy.
The New Rochelle Planning Board on Dec. 16 approved a site‑plan and special‑permit application to allow a 2,800‑square‑foot rear addition and an 18‑space parking configuration at 70 and 74 Potter Avenue, properties associated with an existing auto‑body operation.
Architect Robert Sanzial said the prefabricated metal addition will add three service bays to the existing facility and match the height and width of the current building; the owner intends to clad the addition with insulated metal panels and carry a blue band across the façade. The project includes reconstruction of sidewalks and curbs, a new oil‑interceptor for storm drainage before discharge to the city storm system, and added landscaping and buffer islands on the parking lot.
Board members pursued extensive questioning about operations and parking. Members asked how many vehicles are typically on site across three connected lots (addresses referenced in the record as 62, 70 and 74 Potter). The applicant and owner estimated the combined properties can park roughly 40–60 vehicles at a time and said average vehicle turnaround is about seven days; the owner said better interior storage and the addition would help keep cars inside rather than outside.
Several members expressed concern that adding bays (and a stricter code‑required 19‑space striped layout) could eliminate unmarked stacking space and push stored vehicles into the neighborhood. Staff and the applicant agreed to a condition requiring the applicant to return to city staff six months after issuance of a certificate of occupancy for a traffic/parking review to determine whether mitigation is needed. Other conditions include DPW permits and repairs to any city right‑of‑way damage, sidewalk and curb reconstruction, storm drainage extension tied into an existing trench drain and a new oil interceptor, and code‑required landscaping. The board voted to approve the application by voice vote.
