The owner of 250 Boston Post Road in Port Chester, Steven Brauser, has joined with Scott Aaron of Socius Development in proposing to build a residential building with 120 apartments on that property. The application is from the entity 250 Boston Post Road LLC. The developer presents the building as being 4-1/2 stories, an average height based on the slope of the terrain. Village staff in reviewing the proposal suggested that it could be classified as being seven stories, with four stories of residential and three parking levels.
According to Attorney Anthony F. Veneziano, who represents the developer, the parking would be accessible from Boston Post Road. There would be 183 parking spaces provided, more than the 150 spaces required under zoning.
“The residential portion of the building will be set back approximately 30 feet from the front edge of the parking,” Veneziano said. “Our site is relatively flat for the first 50 feet and then elevates approximately 40 feet at the right rear of the site; solid rock.”
Veneziano said that because of the grade of the property, they are figuring they need a variance of 2-1/2 stories from the three stories permitted by zoning. He characterized the site as being “singularly unique” and that the requested variance is justified.
The site covers 1.459 acres and currently has on it a building that formerly was used as a TD Bank branch.
“The tenant has recently announced that while it is still paying rent, it has vacated the property, which allows the current property owner to make this application,” Veneziano said. “This Boston Post Road site environs can be best described as an active commercial/retail portion of the village. There are significant development sites along this Post Road, inclusive of substantial retail centers (regional), local retail stores, national gyms, an active tennis center, a Westy storage facility and residential development.”
Veneziano pointed out that the site is close to the former United Hospital site, which is being redeveloped and that there is a six story building not far away to the east of the site.
“To the rear or north of the site, there is an existing elementary school, the John F. Kennedy Elementary School,” Veneziano said. “There is a significant change of grade from the top of the Boston Post Road in the hospital vicinity down to this site. The change in elevation throughout this roadway affects all perceptions of height, story, and visual impact.”
Veneziano said that his clients believe that their development plan is preferable for neighbors and the village to other possible developments at the site. Those might include a fast-food restaurant as well as residences and would require extensive blasting because of the rock.
Socius told Port Chester that the project would include the 10% affordable apartments required by the village. Arconics Architecture in Rye Brook suggested that the project would produce approximately $1,078,000 in taxes annually. There would be approximately two school-age children living in the building.
