Sunshine Children’s Home Expansion Nears New Castle ZBA Approvals
After months of discussion and often heated debate, the proposal to expand the Sunshine Children’s Home and Rehab Center is nearing approval by the New Castle Zoning Board of Appeals.
At its meeting Monday night, the ZBA came to consensus to provide variances and a special use permit for the project.
The board is considering holding a special meeting at a date to be announced to provide its approvals after it has time to review resolutions that will be prepared by town staff, including Eric Gordon, the attorney for the board.
Though the ZBA came to a meeting of the minds on Sunshine Children’s Home’s proposal to expand from about 19,000 to 147,000 square feet serving children with medically complex issues, not everyone who attended the meeting agreed with their decisions. At the conclusion of the 90-minute meeting several residents made catcalls directed at the board, including “Shame on You.”
Sunshine Children’s Home is looking to increase its bed count from 54 to 122 on its 33-acre property on Spring Valley Road.
Director of Planning Sabrina Charney Hull reviewed her 24-page memorandum outlining her comments about the amendment of a special exemption use permit that is needed for the project.
Board members commented that they supported the project. All five ZBA members said they backed a negative declaration under the state Environmental Quality Review Act (SEQRA), which means the project would not have a negative environmental impact. As a result, there would be no requirement for the applicant to submit an Environmental Impact Statement (EIS).
Gordon said aside from the special exemption use permit, the ZBA also needed to decide on two variances. One variance would allow the facility to operate despite the lack of frontage on a state or county road. Sunshine was constructed prior to New Castle’s frontage requirement was approved in the early 1960s, he said.
The second variance would increase the maximum threshold for beds, which is currently 83.
Planning Board Chairman Kenneth Cooper said the lack of frontage on a county or state road has not posed any negative impacts with the 54-bed facility. Cooper also said having additional beds would not negatively impact the neighborhood.
ZBA member Harvey Boneparth said the project would benefit the town. Currently, some children are forced to travel outside the state, he said. Also, 60 children from the area are on the waiting list to receive treatment from the facility.
Janet Giris, an attorney representing the applicant, asked the ZBA to approve the project as soon as possible. ZBA members expressed potential support for a special meeting to provide their approvals, but did not make a commitment to a specific date.
Wrapping up the meeting, Cooper said, “I want to thank the citizens of New Castle for their participation in the process.”
But some citizens were dissatisfied with the ZBA. Many Spring Valley Road neighbors who have spoken at public meetings dating back to last year have strongly criticized the proposal.
Resident Linda Lowell said some of the neighboring residents, including herself, are contemplating pursuing an Article 78 against the town. She charged that the board was predisposed to approving the project from the beginning of the process.
Lowell disagreed with board members’ comments that the project would not harm the neighborhood.
“They don’t live in the area,” she said.
