Over the past year, the Rosedale Residential Association (RRA), residents on Windward Avenue and West Street affected by the new development have been working together and engaging with the developer regarding the redevelopment of the former Windward School campus at 5 and 13 Windward Ave. Since that time, the property has been sold by the school to the developer, Tony Casale, Inc.

The developer first approached the RRA at its public meeting last April to discuss a potential rezoning of the property. Since then, the developer has continued discussions with neighborhood representatives, while residents have remained focused on three primary objectives:

• Completing appropriate environmental due diligence;
• Preserving the existing neighborhood density and character; and
• Maintaining an open dialogue with local officials through the RRA.

To support these efforts, neighborhood leaders retained land use counsel, wetlands consultants, and civil engineers to review the developer’s proposals and potential zoning changes.

The developer originally sought to rezone the property to allow for a higher-density townhome development. In response, residents met with members of the Common Council to discuss the proposal and request their support in maintaining the existing R1-12.5 zoning, which permits single-family homes consistent with the surrounding neighborhood. More recently, neighborhood representatives also met with the newly elected council members to provide an update on the project’s status and the community’s ongoing priorities.

Following many meetings and discussions throughout last summer and fall, the developer elected to move forward with an “as-of-right” subdivision and site plan application, rather than pursuing a rezoning. The application is currently under review by the City’s various departments. The developer has also obtained a demolition permit and plans to begin demolition this summer, with the stated intention of completing the site work and infrastructure before selling the project to a national homebuilder.

The current application proposes 14 single-family homes on the approximately 5.4-acre site. Once the City’s departmental review is complete, the project will proceed to a public Planning Board hearing for consideration of the subdivision and site plan. The developer has indicated that the overall project is expected to take approximately 36 months.

Environmental Review

Neighborhood representatives also commissioned a wetlands review in the vicinity of the Leeward Way paper road. The consultants identified isolated wetlands, potential vernal pools, and several notable ecological features. While these wetlands are currently not regulated by New York State following recent legislative changes, they appear to fall under White Plains’ local wetlands ordinance and will continue to be evaluated as part of the City’s review.

Looking Ahead

We anticipate a public Planning Board hearing once the City’s departmental review is complete and will share meeting dates and additional information with RRA members as soon as they become available.

To help ensure resident input is presented in a coordinated and effective manner, questions and comments to the City regarding the application will be submitted through the neighborhood’s land use counsel.

As demolition begins, please stay off the property and do not enter through or around the construction fencing. The site will be an active construction zone, and access will be unsafe.

A Note of Thanks

We would like to thank Mayor Justin Brasch and the White Plains Common Council for encouraging the developer to meet with the RRA and neighborhood representatives before advancing its plans. That early engagement helped establish an open dialogue, kept residents informed throughout the process, and ultimately resulted in a proposal that preserves the existing zoning.

We will continue to monitor the project closely and keep the community informed as additional information becomes available. Thank you for your continued interest, engagement, and support.

Sincerely,
The Rosedale Residential Association