The following is information and the tone of the feedback we have received regarding the City/Iona College planning process proposal. A copy of the proposal was posted here on Talk of the Sound on September 6, 2011. “City of New Rochelle and Iona College Develop Planning Framework for Student Housing”. Please feel free to give further constructive comment and feedback.
We were lead to believe during the original conversations that Iona College would not be able to re-submit any new proposal for that property for a length of two years running concurrent with the Zoning Amendment. We continue to receive feedback from the surrounding association members on the City/Iona College planning process. Here is a sample of the feedback on the topic of the Planning Process we have received over the past few weeks leading up to the Public Hearing for the requested changes. We remain guarded about the process going forward. While it creates a possibility for opportunity and change, these changes can be seen as both positives and negatives. One person’s benefit is another person’s misfortune. We need to insure a balance. There is still a need to review some of the information in the planning proposal.
A full review of the current Zoning Agreement should be done. Make sure the CR1 zoning and the agreement are clearly understood and in compliance for the West Campus (Block1556 LOT 158). This should be done for the main campus as well. There have been a lot of changes over the last few years at the main campus. Move forward with a clean slate and accurate information.
The use of the term walking distance from the main campus needs to be addressed. Free transportation is provided for public and non-public elementary school students in kindergarten through grade five who reside within the boundaries of the City School District of New Rochelle and who live more than 1-1/2 miles from their school. Would a college student consider living within 1-1/2 miles walking distance? There is public transportation available with other means of transportation as well. Also, based on the preconditions listed in the City/Iona document, it seems that the purpose of this exercise is to make the community feel involved and have their hands in a process that only Iona will benefit from.
In the Ionian Newspaper WWW.IONIANNEWS.COM, there are a few articles that should be read as well. The talk of how the college is growing is a concern. They are in the middle of a residential area that that was there for many years before them. You also get some student views in an editorial. The current agreement growth projection limits were set when the last set of dorms were built. You can review the actual copy of the Zoning Notice in detail on the city web site. www.newrochelleny.com
Public Hearing Notice Zoning Iona College:
Date: September 14 (This is a Wednesday)
Time: 7:30 PM-8:00 PM
Time Details: Public Hearing begins at 7:30 followed by Citizens to be Heard
Address: City Hall Council Chambers
515 North Avenue
New Rochelle, NY 10801
-Go to the City web site www.newrochelleny.com.
– Go to the calendar: Click on September 14th.
– Under Public Hearing Notice Zoning Iona College: Click on More Detail.
– Then Click on Public Hearing Notice – Zoning.
– Then Click on PUBLIC HEARING NOTICE 9 14 11-IONA DORMITORY.pdf
The information for the hearing will come up for your review. This is the current Zoning Ordinance of the City of New Rochelle. The sections to be changed are underlined. Section 2 a, 2 aa, which is a correction to a typographical error and then Section 3 describes what is to be changed.
Use “Common sense for the common good”.
Iona deserves better
I remember this town when I came to live here over 10 years ago. And the picture was not nice. I moved here mostly because of the commute to the city.
Since then, Iona has given so much improvement to New Rochelle, though it still needs improvement in many areas, they did a great job on North Avenue. A very impressive job beautifying the area which desperately needed it. They deserve a lot of credit for the improvement of New Rochelle. Hope it continues. Taxes can come from the richer pockets of New Rochelle who actually don’t do much for this town.
Iona deserves better
I remember this town when I came to live here over 10 years ago. And the picture was not nice. I moved here mostly because of the commute to the city.
Since then, Iona has given so much improvement to New Rochelle, though it still needs improvement in many areas, they did a great job on North Avenue. A very impressive job beautifying the area which desperately needed it. They deserve a lot of credit for the improvement of New Rochelle. Hope it continues. Taxes can come from the richer pockets of New Rochelle who actually don’t do much for this town.
When Iona pays taxes, that’s when the conversation should start!
When Iona starts paying taxes, that’s when the conversation should start, otherwise the city should resist the college’s expansion plans.
What ever happened to the notion of charging for police, fire & emt services like NYC does? If NYC can, I don’t see why NR can’t.
The city stands to gain nothing by giving in to Iona demands. I don’t know why Bramson rolls over to them everytime. Don’t get me wrong, I think the college is great & adds a lot, but at this point in time its taking more than its adding.