P&Z Watch: Commissioners, BNA question appropriateness of self-storage facility on waterfront

“We’ve spent significant sums to improve it from an environmental perspective. We’re trying to thread the needle between the desire to have something that would work on the waterfront, be viable, that wouldn’t have too much impact, and would work in a flood zone.”

– Sean Wallace, applicant/owner of 84 South Water Street

Alban said no matter what use the applicants pursue, they will be impacted by the residential development across the river in Port Chester, NY.

All along Main Street in Port Chester there are multi-story apartment buildings under construction, and more in the works, including just opposite at the block that featured the former Tarry Lodge.

Mr. Barile said the site had been used for storage for many years. “It’s actually not a change of use,” he said.

“I thought initially it was light industrial, but you’ve done more research,” Ms Alban said. “I’m going to believe you, but I thought it was approved for light industrial.”

Wallace said the front of building was used for manufacturing, and the back of the building was used for assembly and storage.

“They brought components in from all over the world. I can show you pictures form the newspaper around the turn of the century, they had to bring pig iron into that facility. They’d blow up the Byram River (ice) so they could service that facility.”

Ms Alban said the historical aspect of the site was valuable and appreciated.

Mr. Macri said when the applicant returns he’d like to see the certificates of occupancy for previous uses as well as a brief on how the intended use fits the WB zone use.

DeLuca said since the site was deep, it might be possible to do create kayak storage along the side of the building.

“We’d love to see you do water, we’d love to see pubic access,” Alban said. “We’d love to see something that is other than cement color, and add some trees. If you can restore that facade, it could be very cool. It could be a real boost.”

Public Comment

During public comment, Al Shehadi, who is chair of land use committee for the Byram Neighborhood Association, said his neighborhood group submitted written comments. The BNA had just discussed the proposed self-storage application during their meeting Monday night.

Mr. Shehadi said his understanding was that the building was used for millwork that depended on water delivery. He said he had toured the building with a previous owner.

He said the BNA simply did not want a self storage facility in their neighborhood.

“We are blessed with a historic walkable downtown area. It has a modest critical mass. It has suffered from benign neglect, but there is enormous potential there. The BNA is actively encouraging development of underdeveloped sites, reuse of existing sites that build on our strengths, that preserve history, that and expand our walkable downtown and expand access to the waterfront, and generally add vibrancy to the area,” Shehadi said.

“There are numerous studies that said blank facades with no interaction to the street kill street life. People just walk past and I’ve seen studies that say speed up when they’re walking past. We want uses that will slow people down and get people to interact with the street and the building.”
Al Shehadi, Byram Neighborhood Association land use committee chair

Shehadi said he sympathized with the developers not being able to develop the property for residential use, but that the BNA’s opinion was that if a storage use were to be approved, that it be secondary to the goal vibrancy and street connection.

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P&Z Watch: Commissioners, BNA question appropriateness of self-storage facility on waterfront

By: greenwichfreepress | November 11, 2021