LPRA Actions to Date
Summary: LPRA told the Planning Board that this project will negatively impact our neighborhood and character. Our concerns include: traffic congestion, street safety, and radically altered views of the property shorn of its old-growth trees lining Valentine Lane. Our environmental concerns include erosion, stormwater runoff exacerbating local flooding, long shadows in winter months, increased light pollution from on-site lighting, construction related health issues arising from local lead contaminated soils, and inattention to the potential for archaeological finds. LPRA requested that a draft environmental impact statement (DEIS) be prepared for this project, as required for TYPE I Actions. We requested a community meeting with National Resources to address concerns about the project’s scale, traffic, and environmental impacts.
- Email and Flyer delivered to neighbors asking that they send comments to the Planning Board
- Police Community Meeting December 18, 2024
We highlighted our concerns as it relates to the Police Department and alerted neighbors to the issue. We specifically highlighted our concerns over increased traffic around the schools and the negative impact this would have on pedestrians. Several residents voiced their concerns upon learning about the project and expressed irritation at the lack of transparency by the City of Yonkers. At the meeting Representative Lakisha Collins-Bellamy, City Council President, and Corazon Pineda-Isaac, Second District Councilperson encouraged residents to reach out to them in emails.
Next Steps
Current Status of Rezoning Process
The Planning Board has recommended that the City Council amend the City’s Zoning Ordinance to add a “Planned Film and Educational Development” use to the MG District zoning that applies to the property. The current MG district precludes the construction of film studios and the other commercial projects proposed by National Resources, thus the need for the change to the Zoning Ordinance. The City Council has received this recommendation and will schedule a public hearing and then vote on it. If this change to the Zoning Ordinance passes, National Resources will apply for the Special Use Permit and submit their detailed plans for a Site Plan review. The Planning Board will hold a hearing before approving the Site Plan and if approved the project will go to the Yonkers City Council for final approval. The City Council will hold its own hearing before its final vote.
We will closely follow both the Planning Board and the Yonkers City Council agendas and will let residents know when and how to respond throughout 2025.