the new rochelle comprehensive plan

The New Rochelle Comprehensive Plan

Preliminary Public Hearing, March 21, 2016

Comprehensive Plan Recommendationswww.newrochelleny.com/envisonr

2 Preliminary Public Hearing , March 21, 2016

New Rochelle Comprehensive Plan

Comprehensive Plan Recommendations

Recommendations —History and Regional Context

Key Concept: Restore Downtown to its regional importance.

2.1 Support implementation of the Downtown Overlay Zone to promote downtown redevelopment, promote economic development, and reestablish New Rochelle’s position as a regional downtown in Southern Westchester County.

2.2 Advocate for Metro-North link to Penn Station via Amtrak (through the Bronx connecting to Co-op City and Parkchester).

2.3 Advocate for Federal Railroad Administration upgrades and safety improvements to the Northeast Corridor passenger rail system to achieve higher speeds.

2.4 Support Thruway and Parkway upgrades.

Recommendations — Population and Housing

Key Concept: Upgrade existing affordable housing stock to preserve affordable units.

3.1 Increase affordable housing fund to enhance existing affordable housing and rehabilitation program.

Key Concept: Expand opportunities for the creation of new affordable housing.

3.2 Review and revise the affordable housing fees (payment in lieu) to ensure that developers have an effective and meaningful incentive to construct affordable housing on an inclusionary basis.

3.3 Develop diverse types of new affordable housing to serve New Rochelle residents.

3.4 Give developers the option of building 10% affordable at 80% of AMI or 5% affordable at 60% of AMI.

3.5 Expand the priority framework established for the Downtown Overlay Zone to apply citywide, rather than holding an affordable housing lottery.

Key Concept: Develop incentive programs to help homeowners increase energy efficiency of their homes.

3.6 Implement a local loan program to make energy efficiency improvements more affordable by enlisting lenders to provide favorable financing terms, secured by property tax obligations and paid back through energy savings.

NR

3.7 Conduct an informational campaign to reduce energy consumption and waste generation in existing commercial or multi-family and mid-rise and high-rise structures. NR

3.8 Continue to promote Energize NY to educate homeowners about strategies to improve the energy efficiency of their homes.

* NR denotes recommendations that are consistent with the City’s objectives to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and supportprinciples of sustainability.

3Preliminary Public Hearing , March 21, 2016



Recommendations — Land Use and Zoning

Key Concept: Enhance and support the City’s downtown center and neighborhood commercial clusters.

4.1 Increase affordable housing fund to enhance existing affordable housing and rehabilitation program.

4.2 Golden Horseshoe: Adjust zoning to reflect existing uses.

4.3 Quaker Ridge/Weaver Ave: Adjust zoning to reflect existing uses.

4.4 5th Avenue District: Adjust zoning to allow live/work housing.

4.5 Union Avenue: Create new mixed use Neighborhood Business-Hospital district east of 1st Street and Neighborhood Business-Residential district west of 1st Street to reflect existing uses.

4.6 Hospital District: Encourage Montefiore Medical Center to consolidate on its property by increasing the allowable FAR in the H district.

4.7 Reduce parking requirements in neighborhood commercial corridors that are near the New Rochelle Transit Center.

4.8 Lincoln Avenue from Memorial Highway to Dewitt Place: Adjust zoning to reflect existing uses and allow compatible mixed-use development.

4.9 Strengthen New Rochelle’s neighborhoods by promoting diverse land uses within neighborhood commercial clusters.

Key Concept: Support new neighborhood clusters in key locations.

4.10 Municipal Marina: Support redevelopment of marina to allow mixed-use development, including residential, recreational, hotel, restaurant and retail at appropriate heights and scale.

4.11 Echo Bay: Ensure that new development provides continuous waterfront public access and waterfront esplanade.

4.12 Creation of a Cultural District in the Downtown West area.

Key Concept: Implement zoning changes to promote sustainability.

4.13 Amend Zoning Code to remove barriers to sustainability. NR

4.14 Establish LEED Equivalency guidelines for new development. NR

4.15 Recognize TODs outside of the Downtown and allow higher density and lower parking ratios. NR4.16 Explore options for incentivizing use of Passive House standards to work toward net zero energy for buildings

and homes. NR4.17 Utilize diverse land use tools to where appropriate to preserve or expand New Rochelle’s remaining natural

habitats and to reclaim contaminated properties for public use and benefit. NR

4.18 Review for adequacy the City’s Flood Damage Prevention Regulations in light of sea level rise projections. NR

4.19 Develop green site design guidelines that implement Low Impact Development principles. NR




Recommendations — EconomyKey Concept: Recognize the importance of neighborhood commercial corridors and major institutions in

providing employment opportunities and economic development for the City.

5.1 Provide ongoing support for large institutions (e.g. hospital and higher education), general business uses (e.g., auto-related, large retail, industrial) and commercial corridors (e.g., promote mixed-use, consider moderate increase in density, develop storefront improvement programs).

Key Concept: Create new opportunities for the local economy by promoting small business creation.

5.2 Support small business incubators in light industrial districts and other commercial districts. NR5.3 Employ various land use, marketing, and incentive methods to attract a larger “creative class” to New Rochelle,

stimulate demand for underutilized built space, and realize the economic benefits associated with arts and culture.

NR

5.4 Foster green job growth and attract additional green businesses to New Rochelle, while also enhancing access to training, particularly for under-skilled or under-employed residents. NR

5.5 Provide workforce training and hiring assistance for local residents and young people, with a focus on low income residents and recent high school graduates from New Rochelle. NR

5.6 Support New Rochelle’s creative economy by establishing the Downtown West Cultural District. NR

*

Recommendations — Downtown

Key Concept: Transportation, Infrastructure & Connectivity Initiatives.

6.1 Downtown Transit Connectivity Strategy.

6.2 Pedestrian Connectivity Strategy. NR

6.3 Energy Conservation Strategy. NR

6.4 Parking Management Strategy. NR

Key Concept: Economic Development Initiatives.

6.5 Business Plan Competition.

6.6 Race to the Top.

6.7 Pop-Up Retailing (New Ro’s Pops).

6.8 Marketing Campaign.

6.9 Best of Westchester.

Key Concept: Recommendations by Downtown Overlay District.

** Note: Recommendations for the Downtown excerpted from the 2015 Recommended Action Plan for Downtown New Rochelle.





Downtown Core (DoCo)—DO-1

6.10 Train Station as City gateway.

6.11 Enhance multimodal transportation & parking opportunities at the Transit Center.

6.12 Connecting the Downtown Core with the Transit Center.

6.13 Improve street level commerce at existing garages.

6.14 Create a unique live-work-play experience at Ruby Dee Park.

6.15 Library: an asset to the Downtown.

6.16 Promote and Expand Main Street and North Avenue for boutique retail.

6.17 Activate key streets and civic spaces.

6.18 History adds character.

Downtown District – DO-2

6.19 Promote Main Street and North Avenue retail to include more small format and large format national retailers to create greater opportunities for all businesses in the downtown.

6.20 Activate Anderson Street plaza with a multi-purpose civic space, retail event space.

6.21 Incentivize new investment in New Roc City to improve its connectivity to street level pedestrian and retail activity.

6.22 Pursue building medical office and bioscience or other commercial space at the Garden Street Innovation Triangle.

6.23 Convert one-way portions of Main and Huguenot Streets to two-way (see Chapter 8: Transportation).

6.24 Create a welcoming gateway experience with buildings, signage and landscaping at Garden Street/North Avenue.

6.25 Increase mid-block pedestrian connectivity to connect civic places, commercial destinations and parking facilities.

6.26 Celebrating the arts in Downtown West.

Gateway Transition Area – DO-3

6.27 Encourage redevelopment of larger industrial blocks into artisan production/mixed-use buildings to enhance employment of local craftspeople.

6.28 Enhance sidewalks, streetscapes and introduce mid-block pedestrian ways to encourage walkability in the downtown.

6.29 Extend existing street grid to create greater connectivity in the downtown.

6.30 Enhance the existing western gateway by placing buildings adjacent to and surrounding the Main and Huguenot Triangle civic plaza.




Recommendations — Downtown6.31 Build a Green Parking Facility at the Maple Avenue Lot and provide car share parking, electric vehicle and

downtown bus recharging.

6.32 Leverage Monroe College and the College of New Rochelle as education and employment anchors for the downtown.

River Street Commercial District – DO-4

6.33 Encourage redevelopment of sites for multi-story commercial uses along Cedar and River Streets to build upon superb access to I-95 and the regional customer base.

6.34 Encourage retail, service and restaurant uses to complement the nearby Echo Bay waterfront redevelopment efforts.

6.35 Encourage educational and institutional uses including student living and educational employment opportunities.

6.36 Limit building height north of Huguenot Street to respect neighborhood character.

Wellness District – DO-5

6.37 Create a medical and health care services district while promoting connectivity to Montefiore New Rochelle Hospital and nearby transit service.

6.38 Encourage roadway reconfigurations to improve traffic flow and add on-street parking on North Avenue and shift significant portions of the traffic to Memorial Highway.

6.39 Encourage multifamily residences in close proximity to transit, downtown and Montefiore New Rochelle Hospital.

6.40 Promote additional pedestrian ways connecting this district to the Downtown and adjacent neighborhoods.

North of Lincoln District – DO-6

6.41 Encourage restaurant, retail and incubator office to complement the municipal and civic anchor uses.

6.42 Promote downtown circulator transit investments to connect this district to the Downtown.

6.43 Encourage redevelopment of surface parking lots and underutilized sites for commercial uses.

District-Wide Recommendations

6.44 Provide a range of market rate and attainably priced residential options in walking distance from Downtown Center.

6.45 Allow increased density to support commercial vitality and satisfy desire to live in walking distance to where the “action” is.

6.46 Regulate street frontages to require or encourage storefronts and entrances facing major commercial streets.

6.47 Create safer streets by increasing street enclosure, providing on-street parking, visible crosswalks with pedestrian refuge islands.

6.48 Parking should be screened and placed in the back whenever possible.

6.49 Buildings should occupy most of the frontage to avoid “missing teeth.”

6.50 Actively promote the downtown for companies seeking to relocate.





6.51 Seek partners to create Community Benefits through training and employment.

6.52 Promote restaurants especially those offering outdoor dining to create a dining destination.

6.53 Encourage lot aggregation to permit economically viable development.

6.54 Establish shared off-street and on-street parking facilities to promote district redevelopment.

6.55 Encourage reinvestment in residential buildings to promote affordable downtown living alternatives for those who want to live near employment, transit and downtown amenities.

6.56 Encourage office, medical office and research and development uses to complement nearby educational and hospital uses.

6.57 Encourage indoor recreation and fitness uses.

6.58 Promote downtown circulator transit investments to connect this district to the Downtown Core.

Recommendations — Public Facilities and Utilties

Key Concept: Plan for New Rochelle’s future needs for public facilities.

7.1 Require that all Site Plan applications be circulated to City’s essential service providers (i.e. police, fire, DPW, etc.) for review and comment.

7.2 Include recommendations from the WXY Schools Study.

7.3 Develop a plan to relocate City Yard opening up Echo Bay waterfront for public access.

7.4 Evaluate possibility of relocating City Hall to a more central location in the Downtown.

7.5 Enhance the energy and water efficiency of municipal buildings through physical and operational improvements, such as energy recovery systems, LED light bulbs and high-efficiency fixtures. NR

7.6 Replace or convert City vehicles to improve average gas mileage, utilize alternative fuel technology, and reduce the emission of air pollutants. NR

7.7 Support the future needs of Montefiore New Rochelle Hospital to ensure its continued role as a regional leader in healthcare and a significant New Rochelle employer.

Key Concept: Incorporate Resiliency planning into New Rochelle’s utility systems.

Solid Waste and Sanitation

7.8 Reduce Waste. NR

7.9 Divert stormwater away from the sanitary sewage system. NR7.10 The most current climate science should be considered when siting, designing, developing, or renovating

municipal infrastructure to mitigate the effects of sea level rise and storm surge. NR

7.11 Encourage and enforce use of marine waste pump-out facilities. NR




Recommendations — Public Facilities and Utilties

7.12 Increase municipal recycling rates. NR

7.13 Encourage backyard composting. NR

Stormwater Management

7.14 Encourage implementation of Stormwater Best Management Practices. NR

7.15 Establish raingardens community-wide. NR

7.16 Reduce impervious surfaces. NR

Water supply

7.17 Conserve water use. NR

7.18 Reduce stress on wastewater treatment facilities. NR7.19 Advocate that the New York State building code remove barriers to the use of graywater for interior and

exterior use. NR

Energy

7.20 Promote Local Renewable Energy Generation. NR7.21 Identify opportunities for the use of district energy systems/community energy districts within the City and

authorize their use in appropriate City zoning districts. NR

7.22 Explore opportunities for renewable energy production on publicly-owned sites and infrastructure. NR

Asset Management

7.23 Select a platform for the new GIS program, obtain and input data, and establish a management team to maintain a current data and planimetric base.

Recommendations — Transportation

Key Concept: Improve Safety for Pedestrians, Bicyclists and Motorists.

Implement Complete Street Treatments for Key Corridors. NR

8.1 Adopt a Complete Streets Plan.

8.2 Complete Street Treatments along North Avenue.

Reduce Speeds through Traffic Calming.

8.3 Road Diets along High Speed Corridors.





Improve Design and Traffic Control of Unsafe Streets and Intersections.

8.4 Memorial Highway.

Key Concept: Reduce Congestion, Improve Accessibility.

Implement Circulation Improvements to Enhance Access to Major Employment Generators and Activity Centers.

8.5 Two-way system on Huguenot and Main Streets.

8.6 New Traffic Pattern around Train Station.

8.7 New Traffic Pattern around Cedar Street at I-95 Exit 16 Interchange.

8.8 Conduct a Complete Streets Study and Design.

Improve Access to the New Rochelle Waterfront.

8.9 Complete street treatments along waterfront corridors.

8.10 Improve transit connections to Waterfront destinations.

Reduce congestion contributed by loading.

8.11 Create Additional Loading Zones in Downtown.

Key Concept: Improve Pedestrian Friendliness.

Improve pedestrian connections across infrastructure barriers. NR

8.12 Memorial Highway Circle.

8.13 I-95 Exit 16 Interchange.

8.14 Linkages in Downtown.

Design pedestrian crossings to safely accommodate all users. NR

8.15 Create safe walking environments around New Rochelle schools.

8.16 Improve access to Montefiore Hospital.

Create a Pedestrian Master Plan.

8.17 Conduct a Sidewalk Inventory.

8.18 Conduct an Access Audit.

8.19 Create a GreeNR Walking Guide.





Key Concept: Increase Bicycle Infrastructure.

Increase visibility of bicycle routes with pavement markings and signage. NR

8.20 Add Dedicated or Shared Lane “Sharrow” Markings to Bicycle Routes.

8.21 Add Bicycle Wayfinding Signage.

Increase supply of bicycle parking and access to amenities. NR

8.22 Require Bicycle Parking to be provided On-Site in all New Large Scale Developments.

8.23 Encourage office buildings and institutions to provide amenities to active transportation commuters.

Create a Bicycle Master Plan. NR

8.24 Fill gaps in existing bicycle network.

Key Concept: Encourage Use of Public Transit.

Improve Access to train station and city-wide transit services. NR

8.25 Improve access to bus stops.

8.26 Study and Implement MobileNR.

Improve User Experience.

8.27 Improve bus efficiency.

8.28 Increase number of bus stops with bus shelters.

Advocate for regional transit improvements.

8.29 Advocate for rapid cross-county bus service linking New Rochelle to Yonkers.

Key Concept: Parking.

Satisfy future parking demands by encouraging more off-site and shared parking.

8.30 Expand in-lieu payments and shared parking.

Increase parking efficiencies by better utilizing existing parking supplies.

8.31 Increase supply of scooter and motorcycle parking.

8.32 Encourage Park and Walk Behavior.

8.33 Monitor Parking Utilization.





Improve user experience.

8.34 Incorporate parking as part of wayfinding and branding scheme.

8.35 Improve lighting and condition of parking facilities.

Key Concept: Encourage Sustainable Transportation.

Explore strategic infrastructure investments to support new technologies for sustainable transportation, such as electric vehicle charging stations, hydrogen powered buses and other alternative-fuel vehicles. NR

8.36 Expand supply of electronic vehicle charging stations and alternative fueling stations.

8.37 City Procurement Policy.

Create financial incentives to discourage single-occupancy vehicle commuting by municipal employees, while also encouraging the adoption of similar policies by major local employers. NR

8.38 City TDM Plan.

Recommendations — Parks, Open Space and Natural ResourcesKey Concept: Develop strategies that improve operational efficiencies, promote partnerships, and support

revenue generation for public parks, open space, and conservation efforts.

9.1 Highlight the public parks facilities available for rental that can accommodate organized events.

9.2 Establish a simple fee structure that reduces barriers for the public to access existing public open space particularly along the waterfront.

9.3 Encourage continued private support for existing public facilities through projects that will have immediate impacts and results.

Key Concept: Expand the open space available to the public.

9.4 Identify strategies to ensure all residents have high quality public parks within a reasonable walking distance of their front door.

9.5 Develop an opportunity for walkway and bike connections between public open spaces that develop a greenway network. NR

9.6 Encourage residents to utilize public open space for socialization and physical fitness activities.

9.7 Develop linear park along Lincoln Avenue (Lincoln Loop).

9.8 Establish a payment in lieu fund for public waterfront open space/access.

9.9 Improve and expand access to Long Island Sound by reclaiming contaminated land for public use including at least one additional mile of shoreline, establishing better links among waterfront parks, and enhancing recreation and tourism opportunities.

NR

Key Concept: Promote New Rochelle’s waterfront as a recreational destination.

9.10 Waterfront parks and open space should be the focus of a coordinated economic development plan which focuses on connectivity between waterfront amenities.




Recommendations — Parks, Open Space and Natural Resources9.11 Activate Hudson Park through new design features, outdoor performance facilities, food concessions, or other

amenities.

9.12 Incorporate resiliency measures into capital projects located along the waterfront. NR

Key Concept: Incorporate sustainability measure into future open space planning efforts.

9.13 Utilize diverse land use tools to protect and preserve New Rochelle’s remaining natural habitats. NR

9.14 Increase community-wide permeable surface encouraged by municipal lead efforts. NR

9.15 Reduce stormwater run-off from all municipal owned grounds and structures. NR

9.16 Achieve a net increase of 10,000 trees on public property and rights-of-way over by the year 2040. NR9.17 Undertake comprehensive capital improvements and encourage best practices to improve the Long Island

Sound ecosystem and tributaries. NR9.18 Undertake comprehensive capital improvements and encourage best practices to improve the Long Island

Sound ecosystem and restore the health, beauty, retention capacity and recreational value of local inland water bodies.

NR

Recommendations — Historic and Cultural Resources

Key Concept: Preserve and promote New Rochelle’s Cultural and Historic Resources.

10.1 Establish a Cultural District and implement recommendations from the Cultural Resources Study.

10.2 Develop a public arts program.

10.3 Promote the City’s new branding effort.

10.4 Create a Preservation Plan which includes a strategy to delay demolition of historic structures. NR

the new rochelle comprehensive plan

Documents