The New Rochelle Zoning Board of Appeals held a regular meeting on April 7, 2026, chaired by Erica Eisner, to hear applications for area variances and an administrative extension request. The board considered four cases and one administrative item, approving two variances, adjourning one application, referring one case to the planning board, and granting a 12-month extension. All votes required four affirmative votes to pass.
Good evening and welcome to uh this evening's session of the New Rochelle Zoning Board of Appeals. My name is Erica Eisner, and I'm the chair. Um, just a little bit about our function. The Zoning Board of Appeals is a quasi judicial body responsible for hearing and deciding applications for variances and appeals of administrative determinations that have been issued by the city in accordance with the city's zoning ordinance. Our role is to apply the law to the specific facts presented to us by each applicant, which includes both the submissions that have been made on your behalf, which we have reviewed, and the presentation made at this hearing or any other hearing in the case that this your matter is adjourned. If written opposition or written support has been submitted in advance of the meeting or presented orally here, we consider that as well. You should also know that the members of this board have visited each site personally and are aware of the attributes of the site that can only be seen by by actually going there. Um in making our determination, we're responsible for applying a five-factor test to each application before us and to permit only the minimum variance that we deem necessary and adequate at the time to preserve and protect the character of the neighborhood and the health, safety, and welfare of the community. The format for tonight's meeting will be as follows. Our clerk will call the role to confirm who is present here on each application, both in support and in opposition. Then we'll hear each application. The applicant will go first with their presentation, and the board will have an opportunity to ask questions of the applicant. Anyone else wishing to be heard on the application will then have an opportunity to speak for or against the application, but your comments will be strictly limited to three minutes. At the conclusion of the presentation and the comments, the board will vote on whether or not to approve the application. In order for a motion to pass, the applicant must have four votes in favor. Each applicant is entitled to request an adjournment of their hearing, either if we don't have a full board or if they wish to revise or modify their application per before proceeding to a vote. But once we do go to a vote, our decision is final. So with that, I'll turn it over to Regina to call the roll. Good evening. First case tonight's case 7, 2026, 516 Pelham Road. The applicant is here. Opposition of voices to be heard on that. Just I had I had a few from last month through the mail. Case 5, 2026, 120 Buffard Place. That has been adjourned until May 5th. If anyone's here for that. Case 12, 2026, 12 Elmridge Drive, the applicant is here. Opposition of voices to be heard on that. Case 13, 2026, 21 Circuit Road. Opposition of voices to be heard. And case 14, 2026, 73 Abbey Close, the applicant's here. Opposition of voices to be heard. And then we have one administrative item, case one, 2025. For 22 sound view and 22 arcade terrace. So the first case. Excuse me, Madam Chair, would you like to refer that one case to the planning board? Uh 21 Circuit is not being heard. We have to refer it to the planning board. Yes, that hasn't already been done. So we're not going to hear 21 Circuit Road tonight because that uh matter is going to be referred to the planning board for a recommendation. And then once the planning board issues that recommendation, then it will be placed back on the calendar to be heard. Which will probably be the May meeting. Okay. So case six first case tonight's case seven, twenty twenty-six, five sixteen Pelham Road. Well, good evening to the board. Uh good evening, Madam Chairwoman. Good evening to the city staff. Um again for the record, my name is Mark Blanchard from the Blanchard Law Group here on behalf of the application. We this is our third meeting. Um we have a second resubmission following the original submission.