NW Hospital Lighting Plan Discussed in Mt. Kisco
A lighting plan for the Northern Westchester Hospital’s planned parking garage could be approved as early as next month.
At its Jan. 24 meeting, the Mount Kisco Planning Board instructed village staff to create an approval resolution that could be voted on when the board meets on Feb. 28.
In December the board unanimously approved a new parking garage for the hospital. But while the board provided amended site plan approval on Dec. 13, it still needs to approve a lighting plan for the new, three-and-one-half story, 457-space, open air parking lot that will be located on the southern part of the hospital’s property.
Planning Board Vice Chairman Anthony Sturniolo and board member Doug Hertz met with the hospital’s representatives in November about a lighting plan for the new parking garage. Sturniolo and Hertz wanted the hospital to place on top of the garage six, 24-foot-high light poles with 15-foot “arms” on each with two LED light fixtures on each arm.
During the Jan. 24 planning board meeting Michael Caruso, the hospital’s vice president of facilities and David Vander Wal, senior vice president for Walker Parking Consultants, said the hospital agreed to the request from Sturniolo and Hertz. “This is what we decided,” Hertz replied.
But Hertz said he wanted the board to have an idea of how the lighting would look to neighboring houses, from St. Mark’s Place and the area around the hospital from Route 117. One of the things he wanted to find out if there would be enough tree screening, he said. “Make it clear both to the public and the board,” Hertz said.
Hertz said he wanted the hospital to provide a photo overlay diagram of how the view of the lights would be in the west side residential neighborhoods near the hospital and the hospital’s representatives told the board they would agree to his request.
Hertz also asked if the lights on the outdoor garage could be dimmed at night Vander Wal said there would be a “30 to 40 percent decrease is light output” at night. But the outdoor garage lights could not be dimmed much lower because the hospital wants enough light for employees, especially nurses, who will end their shifts in the middle of the night, Vander Wal said.
“We don’t want to compromise the security of our staff,” Caruso said.
No residents spoke during the public hearing, which was adjourned until the Feb. 28 meeting.
Hertz said the board and the hospital were approaching an agreement on the lighting plan. “We are on the same page,” he said.
