Applauding Bold Ideas in the CBD Update Plan; Encouraged by the Direction of the CBD Update

Public Comment to the Central Business District Development Review Committee
Subject: Encouraged by the Direction of the CBD Update

On behalf of the Rye Community Planning Collaborative, we want to express our appreciation for the Committee’s thoughtful efforts to update the plan for the Central Business District.

We’re especially encouraged to see that many of the solutions now being advanced—such as the use of grade elevation for parking, the relocation of the police station, and improved pedestrian connectivity—align closely with ideas first outlined in our Station Square proposal. We take that as a sign that these concepts resonated and are grateful they’ve contributed to the conversation.

Among the initiatives we’re most excited to see gaining traction:

  1. Creative parking solutions that take advantage of grade changes—central to our Station Square vision.

  2. Relocating the police station and courthouse, opening up new possibilities for civic and commercial space.

  3. Encouraging public/private partnerships to help activate underutilized areas.

  4. Providing design guidance for the Rye Subaru site, proactively shaping the future of the district’s largest adjacent parcel.

  5. Adding much-needed housing, strengthening the economic and social vitality of the CBD.

  6. Improving pedestrian and bike access, particularly near the municipal complex and along Boston Post Road.

  7. Addressing underutilized parcels along McCullough Place, which hold untapped potential.

  8. Acknowledging how the mix of parking lots, limited retail, and poor walkability along McCullough creates “dead zones” that isolate the train station from the Purchase Street core.

  9. Recognizing opportunities for Transit-Oriented Development, a key principle in our planning approach.

We’re encouraged by the direction of this plan and hopeful that it reflects a broader shift toward more proactive, design-forward, and community-focused planning. We look forward to supporting the City’s continued progress.

—Rye Community Planning Collaborative

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