In the May 3, 2013 issue of Soundview Rising
Mayor Noam Bramson outlined the most controversial provisions of the proposed Iona Dormitory at the April 9, 2013 New Rochelle City Council Committee meeting. They were: the ownership management structure by either Iona or the developer, and the parking ratio to the number of dormitory rooms. The zoning sought for this new dormitory was for one seven story building and another five story building instead of the presently zoned three stories on North Avenue. Under present zoning, college use is not allowed. Building coverage of the lot would increase from 70% to 90%. If an agreement can be reached parking requirements would be reduced to .25 (or one for four students) instead of one parking space for three students. The Planning Commissioner, Luiz Aragon, was not available at the Council meeting to discuss his research on this so it was suggested the discussion be tabled until the next meeting on April 16..
Council Lou Trangucci said he had spoken to two neighborhood association presidents and both felt Iona College should manage the dormitory. In a related example, Monroe College had stated they had plans to manage their newly proposed dormitory. City Manager Chuck Strome stated three neighborhood associations had forwarded an email and this item could be discussed next week.
The public hearing for the rezoning needed for these dormitory proposals was held that evening. Naomi Towers read a letter from three neighborhood associations that she had sent to City Council which emphasized Iona College should manage the dormitory, not the developer.
Citing a lack of confidence in the “hand picked” committee which worked on the dormitory proposal and “couldn’t get it right,” Robert McCaffrey said the neighbors were upset with the proposal. In 2010 the zoning or floor area ratio allowed up to three stories, but the proposed rezoning allows seven stories. Continuing, he added, New Rochelle has a habit of spot zoning and taxing residents “beyond their means.” Seven stories in his view was “too high.”
Proponents of the project also spoke including several students from Iona College who felt the dormitory was needed especially for upper classmen who presently could not be accommodated in Iona’s dormitories. More pointedly, the students advocated for management of the dormitories by Iona. Particularly impressive was the Iona Student Government Association President, Jacyln Shearor, who spoke about the community values that were lived and learned at Iona. Dormitories operated by Iona College in her view bring all these values together.
Mitchelle Nelson, Iona’s Director of Off-Campus Housing, felt the joint planning committee had met and decided that Iona should manage the dormitory and that the current legislation does not meet the needs of the students. Charles Carlson, Iona’s Vice Provost for Student Life, who was also on the committee, stated the process used “served Iona very well” but he opposed the legislation because it does not go along with the committee’s recommendation that only Iona should manage the dormitory.
Tom Cassidy who lives in the neighborhood felt if the dormitory is not built on North Avenue, Iona will build on the side streets, “sacrificing the neighborhood for a college.” With optimism that a favorable outcome could result, Greg Varian felt the zoning needed to be changed because “failure is not an option.” The zoning proposed permits college use and the “objections raised are real, but not insurmountable.” The neighbors wanted three story buildings. He wanted to encourage development “in small parcels.”
Zoning and development should “attract, not repulse people,” according to Ward Henderson. He said friends had moved away from the Iona neighborhood because of City regulations and zoning. He urged the elected officials to be “stewards for New Rochelle” and protect neighborhoods.
It is not very often that elected officials comment after a hearing, but Mayor Bramson did at the end of this one. He felt “most people are in agreement but there are a couple of issues we have to work through,” then added “No doubt we will cross the finish line.” Certainly residents would like to know more about what people agree on and what they do not, especially since such diverse views were expressed at the hearing.
When City Council revisited the Iona dormitory at their April 15, 2013 meeting there were a lot of comments by Council members about the proposed zoning, heights of the buildings, and the parking accommodations for students. The City Manager, Chuck Strome, has stated this topic will be discussed at the May Council meeting and another hearing will probably be held in June.