Good Counsel Campus Site Subject of Potential Zoning Change
The new owners at 52 North Broadway, White Plains, former motherhouse of the Sisters of the Divine Compassion and Our Lady of Good Counsel Academy campus, WP Development NB, LLC, is petitioning the City of White Plains for a zoning change.
The proposal written by the developer was referred to the Planning Board by the Common Council. The job of the Board at this point is to review the zoning proposal and make a recommendation to the Council, which will be the lead agency in determining if such an amendment to the Zoning Ordinance should be made.
The 16.04-acre parcel currently resides in the RM-1.5 zone. The proposed spot change would establish a new zoning district called “Planned Residential Development,” a mixed residential district including multi-family housing, graduate or professional school housing and an assisted living/memory care facility.
Under the existing RM-1.5 zone, the developer claims it could by “right of ownership” build 467 units in three-story buildings that would take up most of the property and obliterate any existing open space. The proposal includes two ten-story buildings of contemporary design with 400 rental units and levels of parking below ground situated at the back of the property where the ground drops off toward I-287; 66 suites of graduate school housing located across from the Pace Law School building for Pace students, with parking rights on the Pace property; and a 93,000 sq.-ft. facility with 65 assisted living units and 30 memory care units.
The assisted living building would be located where the Mapleton house is now situated and that house would be moved to the other side of the Chapel of the Divine Compassion, which would remain where it is.
The conceptual plan, developed by Perkins Eastman would leave 2.7 acres of open space fronting North Broadway and would maintain the Chapel and Mapleton House as historic landmarks. The other 11 buildings on the property would be demolished. The Sisters of the Divine Compassion would have the right to use the Chapel 150 days of the year for three hours a day.
In discussing the proposal, members of the Planning Board said they were clear about the fact that their job at this point is to decide whether or not the proposed zoning change is compatible with the White Plains Comprehensive Plan, which the developer pointed out, did not take into consideration the fact that the Good Counsel property might ever be sold.
Board member Bob Stackpole said this was a big planning issue with implications for the entire city of White Plains, which is situated within 10 square miles. Little bit by little bit the residential quality of the city is being eaten away and the downtown core moving ever outward.
Residents from neighborhoods adjacent to the site, particularly those fronting the property at the back of the site were concerned with the impact on their homes. They were given time at the end of the meeting to speak briefly.
The Board decided to review the Comprehensive Plan in detail and make visits to the site before further discussion, which would continue at the next Planning Board meeting in September.
