Developers present plan for 1 Lawrence Avenue site; board raises traffic and safety concerns

The Greenburgh Town Board heard a pre‑submission presentation for redevelopment of the former Exo Noble site at 1 Lawrence Avenue, where the applicant proposed outdoor storage for scaffolding and vehicles and discussed possible school‑bus parking.

David Steinmetz, the applicants' attorney, told the board the site has been cleaned under DEC supervision and was acquired by the client; "the site has been cleaned up. The DEC has signed off on it," he said. Steinmetz said the applicant is not seeking a zoning change, text amendment or variance at this pre‑submission stage and described the proposed use as zoning‑compliant storage and parking.

What was proposed: the applicant team described three components — storage for scaffolding equipment, vehicle storage for local dealerships (about 80 autos), and a school‑bus parking/storage area that proponents said had interest from several nearby school districts; the team cited "about 66 school buses" as a potential need. The proposal would not include retail sales on site.

Board and resident concerns were immediate and centered on traffic and safety. Multiple board members and residents said Lawrence Street and the nearby Saw Mill River Road intersection are narrow, prone to queuing and already present safety risks for pedestrians and cyclists. One board member warned earlier community opposition had blocked residential development on that site and said, "I would be willing to bet anything that this is not gonna be approved," citing traffic and neighborhood concerns.

Applicant response and next steps: the applicant acknowledged those concerns and said a formal traffic study — including vehicle counts and turning‑radius templates — will be prepared; Diego Villareal, the project engineer introduced by the applicants, said the traffic study will model operations, counts and truck turning templates so the board and staff can evaluate impacts. Applicants also said the site would include landscaping buffers and could use recycled concrete aggregate to limit impervious surface. The team said they would meet courteously with neighboring jurisdictions and return to the board with data and mitigation proposals.

Why it matters: the site had previously undergone environmental remediation and will be subject to careful review because of its proximity to pedestrian paths and a busy roadway. The board emphasized safety and requested concrete data before advancing any approvals.

What’s next: applicants will prepare and submit a traffic study and come back for further review; staff reiterated that community outreach to adjacent jurisdictions is advisable as part of the review process.