New Rochelle Committee of the Whole Meeting - September 8, 2026

The New Rochelle Committee of the Whole met on September 8, 2026, to discuss and advance a series of bond resolutions, zoning and code amendments, and other administrative items. Key topics included a major land use proposal for the Surf Club property on Davenport Neck (subject to a public hearing), a multi-million dollar bond package for capital projects, and several quality-of-life code updates regarding garbage, rodents, and property maintenance. The council also addressed the upcoming Propel NY transmission cable project and school speed zone camera programs.

Public Hearing on Proposed Amendments to Chapter 133 and Chapter 331 (Waterfront Residence District)

The evening included a public hearing on a proposed zoning change for the R1-WF-10 district, primarily aimed at the Surf Club property on Davenport Neck. Multiple residents spoke in opposition, citing concerns about overdevelopment, traffic, infrastructure strain, environmental impacts, and lack of transparency. Key points raised:

• Thomas Leghorn (710 Davenport Ave) opposed the 65 units on 5 acres, stating it is far above what the infrastructure can support, and compared it to Watermark Point's 72 units on 13.2 acres, which would justify only 25–28 units on the Surf Club site.
• Adrian Weiss Harrison (780 Davenport Ave) echoed infrastructure concerns and argued that the proposed density is inappropriate; she also questioned the developer's data on wedding income, noting the club hosts many other events.
• Dr. Magne Mikhail (78 Hampton Ave) criticized the city's development focus over resident concerns and called the zoning change a "sweetheart deal."
• Jessica Zalin (attorney for owner of 401 Davenport) asked the council to preserve density previously approved for that site and to allow attached dwelling units in the R1-WF-10 zone to provide housing diversity.
• Terry Clemens urged caution, emphasizing environmental risks and loss of recreational access.
• Charles Mulcahy and Dr. Kristen Harkin (5 Echo Bay Dr) highlighted severe traffic congestion, safety concerns with limited egress, and frequent power outages.
• Judith Elkin (Molly Sana Lane) reported multiple power failures in the past month and criticized the city's failure to enforce traffic rules.
• Stephen Sonnet noted that the inability to leave the neck during school hours is a daily problem.
• Paul Martin (president of Sun Manor Association) challenged the transparency and process, alleging campaign contributions from the development community to some council members may create bias. He stated that the current zoning already allows profitable redevelopment without change.

Commissioner of Development Adam Salgado explained that the public hearing is part of a transparent process, and staff will review comments and potentially revise the amendment before a future council vote.

Consent Calendar

Numerous items were moved to the consent agenda and approved unanimously. These included:

• Item 4: Bond resolution ($268,000) for 381st Street site acquisition for a parking lot.
• Item 5: Bond ($100,000) for City Hall improvements.
• Item 6: Bond ($100,000) for tree rehabilitation and community forest management plan.
• Item 7: Bond ($1,510,310) for road construction, traffic calming, and complete streets on Pinebrook Boulevard, Lincoln Avenue, and Webster Avenue.
• Item 8: Bond ($200,000) for street lighting improvements (LED modules).
• Item 9: Bond ($100,000) for parks, recreation, and street safety enhancements.
• Item 10: Bond ($2,208,864) for trucks, vehicles, and heavy machinery.
• Item 11: Bond ($2,118,710) for fire fighting vehicles, including replacement of Engine 22.
• Item 12: Bond ($10,250,000) for citywide drainage and emergency sewer improvements.
• Item 13: Authorization to negotiate an easement agreement with New York Transco LLC and NY Power Authority for the Propel NY project (high-voltage underground cables). The city will receive ~$3 million in compensation and require adherence to local permits, noise monitoring, and a community liaison.
• Item 14: Addition of a stop intersection at Atherstone Road and Thornbury Road.
• Item 15: School speed zone on Main Street in front of Soleshi High School.
• Item 18: Amendment to the 2026 budget accepting a NYS Boating Infrastructure Grant ($1.125 million state, $375,000 city match) for marina dock replacement.
• Item 19: Extension of intermunicipal agreement with Westchester County for the RICI criminal information system.
• Item 20: Donation of expired fire department PPE to Engine 911 Farm in Young Plus.
• Item 23: Appointment of Christina Dominion to the Participatory Budget Steering Committee for District 2.
• Item 30: Authorization determining municipal use at 459/465 Fifth Ave and 8 Portman Road for a 2,900 sq ft community space within a mixed-use development, to be operated by a future operator selected via RFP.
• Item 31: Authorization to transfer $85,000 from the Community Benefit Bonus Fund for phase one of the 11 Garden Street community space and to negotiate a lease with the Center for Justice Innovation.
• Item 32: Authorization to transfer $1,564 from the Private Arts Betterment Fund for stabilization and preservation of the former public library at 662 Main Street (Carnegie Library), including security cameras and rodent control.
• Item 33: Acceptance of the $50,000 Ivory Prize for Housing Affordability (co-winner with Chattanooga, TN).
• Item 34: Amendment to the code regarding signs, awnings, canopies, and marquees to allow administrative approval of blade signs.

Discussion Items

Bond Resolutions and Debt Capacity (Items 3–12): The council reviewed the 2026 proposed bond resolutions totaling over $16 million, but only about $3.5 million will go to market immediately. The city's current debt capacity is approximately 24.5% of the 25% internal threshold; this issuance will increase it to 24.8%. The city's total bonding power is about $700 million. Assessed valuation has increased 20% over five years, and amortizing debt will free up additional capacity. Councilman Peters asked about staying under the 25% cap to avoid a credit rating downgrade. The finance commissioner explained that the amount going to market is limited and that freed-up funds from a lower-than-expected eminent domain cost ($4 million of the $10 million bond) will help pay down debt.

Propel NY Easement (Item 13): Commissioner presented the request to authorize an easement for the Propel NY project. Councilmembers asked about safety, tree protection, staff time, field conditions, noise monitoring, and community complaint mechanisms. The city will use a third-party consultant paid for by the project, and a community liaison and hotline will be established. Phase one may work 24/7. The $3 million compensation is based on an appraisal and may be adjusted after a post-construction survey. Councilman Peters raised concerns about unforeseen field conditions (e.g., rats, buried obstacles) and coordination with other city projects. The city manager confirmed that DPW will lead, with a point person for complaints.

Garbage and Rodent Code Amendments (Items 16–17): City Manager introduced a comprehensive overhaul of sanitation codes to address rodent populations by cutting off food sources. Changes include requiring covered containers for garbage and recyclables, tighter timeframes for putting out trash, and clearer language. Councilwoman Kay asked about resident costs (e.g., buying covered bins) and the communication campaign. Councilman Tarantino noted issues with undersized on-site storage in downtown buildings and infrequent pickups. Staff emphasized that education will precede enforcement. A public hearing was set for October 13, 2026.

School Speed Zone Camera Program (Items 21–22): City Manager announced that New Rochelle has been authorized to participate in a state demonstration program for school speed zone cameras. Three initial locations: Webster Avenue, Quaker Ridge Road, and Wayman Avenue. Lincoln Avenue and Prince Street are future candidates. Council asked about timeline; the police commissioner said a vendor meeting is tomorrow, and cameras could be up in a couple of months with a 30-day warning period. Discussion also touched on traffic safety on Brook Street, with possible speed bumps and red light camera expansion. Councilwoman Ashan Laye requested a reassessment of Brook Street given new options.

Property Maintenance Amendments (Items 24–26): A package of code changes addressing rodents, pet waste, and waste storage. Highlights include mandatory pet waste stations on private property, expanded owner responsibilities, and bait station requirements in garbage enclosures. Discussion included enforcement capacity and the need for violations tracking. A typo correction was noted (Section 250-7). Public hearing set for October 13.

Site Plan Administration Fees (Items 27–29): A new tier of amendments: minor, administrative (50% fee, one-year extension), and substantial (75% fee, two-year extension). Also a $500 extension fee for projects outside the Downtown Overlay Zone. Public hearing set for October 13.

11 Garden Street Community Space (Item 31): Commissioner described the plan to activate the ground floor with the Center for Justice Innovation as operator. The buildout is estimated at $3 million. $85,000 from the Community Benefit Bonus Fund will fund phase one (hiring a CJI coordinator to assist with design and grant advocacy). Councilman Peters expressed desire to be more involved; the commissioner explained the RFP process and community input via the African American Advisory Committee. The space will be developed in stages.

Carnegie Library Stabilization (Item 32): $1,564 from Arts Betterment Fund to pay for security cameras, lighting, locks, and rodent control. The building is considered a work of art. The city is also dealing with a printing press left in the building; appraisal is underway to determine its value.

Key Outcomes

• All consent calendar items were approved unanimously (voice votes).
• Public hearing for the waterfront district amendments (item 2) was held; staff will consider comments and may revise before a future vote.
• Public hearing dates were set for October 13, 2026, for garbage code amendments (item 17), school speed zone camera program (item 22), property maintenance amendments (item 26), and site plan administration amendments (item 29). Lead agency status was also approved for items 25 and 28.
• Items 30–34 were moved to the consent agenda and approved.
• The council voted to enter executive session for pending litigation and the city manager's evaluation.
• No vote was taken on the waterfront district rezoning; it remains pending.