New Rochelle City Council Regular Legislative Meeting - July 21, 2026
New Rochelle City Council Regular Legislative Meeting - July 21, 2026
The New Rochelle City Council held its regular legislative meeting on July 21, 2026, which was noted as the last formal meeting before the August recess. The council approved a consent agenda, several resolutions, and discussed two major topics: the Pratt Landing development and the Davenport Neck zoning proposal. No public comments were heard, and the meeting concluded with a motion to enter executive session.
Consent Calendar
- Items 2 through 15 were approved unanimously. The mayor noted light edits on item 6 (traffic regulation changes on Nordosi Place and Industrial) - the image was updated to match legislation excluding the Costco parking lot pending a response from Costco. On item 8 (taxicab ordinance), the definition of taxi meter was mechanically removed as discussed and voted on at the CAL.
- Minutes from the regular legislative meeting of May 19, 2026, and the committee of the whole session of June 9, 2026 were accepted. Minutes from the June 16 regular meeting and July 14 committee of the whole were submitted.
Discussion Items
- Item 20: Pratt Landing Update - Councilmember Tarantino requested an update, citing public concern over the project's status. The developer is seeking a site plan amendment in response to a state building code revision (from ASCE 7-16 to ASCE 7-22) affecting structural loading and the subterranean parking structure. The amendment is expected to go before the planning board in October 2026. The city manager stated the developer (now Lincoln Property Group) remains committed and is dealing with financial headwinds and interest rates. Councilmember Tarantino expressed concern that the city is still maintaining the property (costing residents) and is waiting for the $12 million sale payment. He suggested exploring a fee for extensions, similar to downtown projects. The city manager agreed to review options. No vote was taken.
- Item 21: Davenport Neck Zoning - Councilmember Tarantino raised concerns from residents and marina owners about the proposed zoning changes. The plan shifts higher density from secondary roads to the primary corridor (Church Street) to preserve marina uses, while lowering heights and requiring a $35,000 per unit fee for infrastructure improvements. Councilmember Tarantino argued the density increase near residential neighborhoods will worsen traffic, the floodplain restrictions are not absolute, and marina owners were not adequately consulted. City staff and other council members responded that the new zoning is more restrictive than the existing one, the fee will fund traffic and flood mitigation, and the changes protect the maritime character. The building commissioner clarified that building in flood zones (not floodplains) is allowed with elevation requirements. No vote was taken.
Key Outcomes
- Resolution authorizing settlement of Chatham New Rochelle R I L L C vs. City of New Rochelle in the amount of $150,000 – adopted.
- Resolution authorizing the city manager to submit a New York State Consolidated Funding Application and Climate Smart Community Grant for tree planting, with a 20% match of $80,000 – adopted.
- Ordinance accepting the Westchester County 2026 National Night Out Grant Award of $2,472 – adopted. The event will be held August 4, 2026 at police headquarters.
- Ordinance approving the 2026 CDBG and HOME Annual Action Plan and budget amendments – adopted.
- Meeting adjourned to executive session for a real estate matter; no public session was resumed.
Meeting Transcript
Good evening and welcome to the July regular legislative meeting. Madam Clerk, please call the roll. Mayor Rainbows Herbert. Here. Councilmember Lopez. Councilmember Tarantino here. Councilmember Peters. Councilmember Aston Layet. Councilmember. Good evening again to our July meeting. Just as a reminder, in August, we are on recess. So this is our last formal meeting until September. Tonight we have 15. No, we have sorry, pretending it's my first day. All right, may I have a motion in a second accepting the minutes for the regular legislative meeting of Tuesday, May 19th, 2026, and the committee of the whole session of Tuesday, June 9th, 2026. Kay and Stern, all in favor. Any opposed, and I'll note the submission of minutes for the regular legislative meeting of Tuesday, June 16, 2026, and the committee of the whole session of Tuesday, July 14th, 2026. We have items two through 15. I just want to call out a couple of light edits. On item six, these were the traffic regulation changes on Nordosi Place and Industrial. I'm advised that the image in the packet was updated to match legislation, which currently excludes the Costco parking lot because we're waiting for a response from Costco. So I think it's just in tiding up the legislation to the image. And I'm advised on item eight. This was the taxicab ordinance that mechanically was removed from the definition of taxi meter as discussed and voted on at the CAL requested by Councilman Stern. Are there any questions regarding items two through 15 on the consent agenda? Hearing none may have a motion and a second adopting items two through 15, please. K and Lopez, all in favor say aye. Any opposed. Brilliant. Moving on to item number 16, which is a proposed settlement of claim. It's a resolution authorizing the settlement of the matter entitled Chatham New Rochelle R I L L C versus the City of New Rochelle, New York, in the amount of 150,000. This was discussed at our executive session last week at the Cal. Anything you want to add, Corporation Council? No. City Manager. Any questions or comments on item number 16? May I have a motion and a second adopting this resolution, please? Kay and Lopez. All in favor say aye. Any opposed. Moving on to item number 17. This is a new item. It is a resolution authorizing the city manager to submit New York State Consolidated Funding Application and related New York State Department of Environmental Conservation, Climate Smart Community Grant Application for Tree Planting and to commit matching funds. If I recall correctly, Councilwoman Kay uh raised some questions about this last week. Anything you'd like to add, City Manager? Um, we just took the opportunity to um take advantage of this grant to continue our tree planting program beyond into the future years and to hopefully secure funding in the later years beyond uh what we already have in place. Excellent. Uh questions or comments, Councilman Peters. Um matching fund. Well we know the matching fund for number 17.
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