A plan to develop a site next to the Bedford Playhouse, home of the Clive Davis Arts Center in the Town of Bedford is in the conceptual stage but already is undergoing environmental review by the Bedford Planning Board. The board has declared itself to be lead agency for purposes of the review under the State Environmental Quality Review Act (SEQRA).
Developer LHP Old Post Road LLC went to the Town Board to propose a zoning petition. Half of the site up for development is zoned to allow business use while half is zoned residential. The developer wants a zoning change so that the entire parcel has the same zoning and asked that it be given an NB (Neighborhood Business) designation. The Town Board referred the concept proposal to the Planning Board.
Attorney P. Daniel Hollis of the Mount Kisco-based law firm Gettinger Waldinger Monteleone Gushue & Holllis LLP said the site at 633-647 Old Post Road covers 3.14 acres.
Hollis said that the two members of the LHP Old Post Road LLC are Tom Kennedy and Clint Olsen, both residents of Bedford Village.
Olsen said he has lived with his family in Bedford for about 10 years and has been active with the schools and various boards.
“We take this conversation very seriously,” Olsen said.
Kennedy said he has been in the town for 17 years.
“I love this town, love the character … and hoping that this project will be something that people will feel is needed for housing, parking, and things I’ve heard about forever,” Kennedy said.
Hollis emphasized that what the applicant has submitted so far is a concept plan, meaning a plan for what could be developed but not necessarily what will be a final plan. The proposed building would be at the same height as is the Bedford Playhouse building. The mix of apartment sizes to be in the structure has not been determined.
“That’s the plan that could be developed if the rezoning were to be granted,” Hollis said. “The concept plan is for 27 residential units and approximately 5,000 square feet of commercial use. Part of it might be a restaurant and the rest of it a yoga studio or a boutique. We don’t have a rendering of what the building will look like yet and the architects and design team are taking their time really to get to know and absorb the context and the history of Bedford Village.”
Hollis said that they hoped to have rendering to show to the Planning Board at its next meeting on Feb. 9 and that it will be consistent with many things including the character of Bedford Village as it has been. It likely will include architectural elements drawn from existing classic designs seen in Bedford.
Hollis said that the concept plan is faithful to Bedford’s Comprehensive Plan that called for appropriately scaled mixed-use development within the hamlets.
“The town should analyze vacant and underutilized properties in the hamlet centers and consider alternative zoning approaches that could facilitate development of an appropriate scale,” Hollis quoted the Comprehensive Plan as saying.
Hollis said that as the plan is further developed it will include a required number of affordable units, increase the housing stock for empty nesters and others and will have a new on-site wastewater treatment plant to replace the existing plant on the property. The new plant would be capable of handling not only this project but the existing playhouse building and, should the Bedford Central School District require it, the Bedford Village Elementary School’s effluent as well.
