Iona College has a new plan which states its “Mission and Goals.” But it also describes in great detail how a committee will be composed of Iona and New Rochelle officials, and neighborhood members. A time frame with a series of steps is suggested starting with September 22, 2011 for appointment of the committee, to May 15, 2012 for adoption of the report that will be formulated.
The report begins with a “Preamble” which stresses the need for a “stronger relationship” between Iona and the City of New Rochelle. The non-binding agreement would result in “mutually beneficial action.” Meeting “Iona’s current and future housing needs within walking distance of Iona’s central campus” is listed prominently in the “Mission and Goals” of the report. Before anything else is completed, the Dormitory Authority or required state building codes for the next two school years must be approved by the City Council of New Rochelle (after a public hearing on September 14, 2011.) Presently the City of New Rochelle zoning codes allow only 698 students to be housed on the Mayflower School site and Iona already has about 800 students in the dorms there. Iona will withdraw the present application until the end of the 2012 school year after the City approves an increase in the occupancy limits.
Special “ground rules” are given in the report that everyone on the committee must agree to, including that there is a need for additional student housing and members of the committee must proceed from this premise. Included is a statement that the participants must, “Refrain from public comment regarding proposals under review until the planning process is finished with the exception of any agreed upon public statement or presentation.”
The committee membership is also specified. There will be twelve voting members: the New Rochelle City Manager and Commissioner of Development, five Iona representatives selected by the President of the College, and five members of the neighborhood selected by the City Manager “in consultation with the President and Committee.” Two City Council members from Districts 3 and 5 will be non voting members. While consensus of the Committee is sought, the final decision would be approved by two-thirds of the voting members. Councilman Jared Rice, D, District 3 and candidate this year, said “I look forward to sitting down and talking with Iona College about different ways to strengthen the North Avenue Corridor.” Ilyse Spertus, candidate for Republican Council District 5, said, “I support the collaborative relationship recently forged between Iona’s new President and our City Government. If elected, I would work to achieve a balance where the College was able to thrive, but the interests of residents in my district were, first and foremost, advanced and protected.”
The staff from the City of New Rochelle will assume responsibility for the committee meeting and for obtaining input from the residents. At least one general meeting must be held. Consulting services will be funded with up to $50,000.
Iona had withdrawn a proposal for an additional ten story dorm on the Mayflower School site because the present dorms had more students than the area presently allowed in the City’s zoning for that parcel. Councilman Lou Trangucci, R, and a candidate for District 1, told the Westchester Guardian that when he asked the Fire Commissioner and Building Official at the last Council meeting about whether the present number of students in the dormitories at the Mayflower site met safety requirements of state building and fire codes, he was aware that the present zoning only allowed 698 students on the whole Mayflower site.
Residents also had comments. Warren Gross said, “my general feeling is that this agreement essentially provides little empowerment for the neighborhood as there is no limited ‘give’ on the location based on the so called walking distance caveat which eliminates many potential site areas in the City such as one in a more credible commercial or
commercial/’residential zone as well as contains a clause that either the major
parties can opt out of the arrangement as they choose. It does little for the
hopes of the neighborhood with these restrictions unless Iona agrees to build
within the parameters of their own university conclave. Otherwise, it seems to be simply an exercise in form and not substance. My problem is that it the City has the power to employ what it feels to be the right way to go, but that including the neighborhood association under the restrictions in the proposed plan seems to be more condescending than anything
else.”
Another person living near the College, Suzanne Nolan, said, “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 hand in a process that only Iona will benefit from. The document states outright that Iona will withdraw their dorm proposal only until June 2012, conveniently after the City will increase occupancy limits in the zone the dorms (both existing and proposed) are located in. Iona will have neatly tied up the on-campus overcrowding issue in time for their re-submittal, while playing the community like a bunch of fools.”
One neighborhood association President, McCaffrey, President of the Mount Joy Neighborhood Association took a thoughtful and cooperative view of the process. He said, “Due to vacations and such, I am still receiving feedback from the association members. 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. Making sure everything is understood and in compliance
for the West Campus (Block1556 LOT 158). This should be done for the main campus
as well. Move forward with a clean slate and accurate information.”
From the September 15, 2011 issue of the Westchester Guardian