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Neighbors urge pause and stronger studies as Planning Board weighs 570 Main Street changes
Summary
Dozens of residents urged the Planning Board to halt or further study the 570 Main Street project, citing traffic, school safety, shadowing, air quality and affordability; attorneys representing 25 LeRoy called for a positive SEQRA declaration and additional massing alternatives.
Residents turned out in force to criticize the 570 Main Street proposal during a public hearing that stretched for more than two hours. Speakers described repeated, specific concerns including pedestrian safety at school drop‑off, overflow parking on residential streets, construction noise and vibration, and permanent shadowing on neighboring properties.
Raya Mallett, representing residents at 25 LeRoy Place, asked the board to require a positive SEQRA declaration because the proposal would exceed a DOZ2 threshold and potentially cause disproportionate impacts: "Approving this by a negative declaration as business as usual would explicitly contradict the city's 2021 findings," she said. Neighbors asked for additional massing alternatives, contextual north‑facing elevations and for the board to require fuller traffic and air quality studies that account for cumulative downtown build‑out.
Other speakers focused on affordability and long‑term neighborhood change. Sean Wiewotski and others highlighted how a 10% affordable set‑aside tied to county AMI leaves most new units unaffordable to average New Rochelle residents, and urged the board to prioritize projects that deliver deeper affordability. The Planning Board recorded the comments, acknowledged residents' concerns and appended conditions intended to mitigate construction and operational impacts, but approved the project later in the meeting.
