Memo to Rye City Council from Blind Brook Lodge Owners, Inc. 66 Milton Road 11/1/25

Residents of 66 Milton Road, Rye NY, object to the Rye Arts Center’s attorney’s response to the August 27^th Planning Commission Memorandum to the City Council for several reasons and we would like to be included in the public hearing on this matter.

1. Parking Concerns: The memo acknowledges that the proposed parking requirement of 3 spaces per 1,000 square feet is reasonable but also notes that the Planning Commission could waive or reduce on-site parking requirements if sufficient public parking is available nearby. Residents of 66 Milton Road worry that this could lead to increased parking congestion in the area, particularly when the municipal parking lot at 51 Milton Road becomes overcrowded.
2. Traffic Impact: The supplemental parking study indicates that the peak parking demand for the Rye Arts Center is during weekday evenings, which could lead to increased traffic and noise during those hours. We are concerned about the impact on public safety and our quality of life, as the area inevitably becomes busier and noisier due to events at their new facility.
3. Aesthetic Concerns: The memo advises against granting the Planning Commission authority to review the aesthetics of the proposed structure, leaving this responsibility solely to the Board of Architectural Review. We feel that the Planning Commission should have a say in ensuring the new Arts Center aligns with the character and aesthetics of the surrounding area, particularly we believe the new facility will negatively impact the neighborhood's visual appeal.
4. Potential Overcrowding: The memo supports limiting the Arts Center use to larger residential districts (R-1, R-2, and R-3), but the residents of 66 Milton Road worry about the impact of the new facility on the density and character of our neighborhood, especially when the Arts Center attracts large crowds for events.
5. Environmental Concerns: The memo mentions efforts to avoid impacts within the wetland buffer, but we have concerns about potential environmental effects, such as increased runoff and disruption to the natural landscape.
6. Public Interest and Input: While the memo requests a public hearing to gather input, we feel that our concerns have not been adequately addressed in response to the Planning Commission Memorandum, particularly we believe the proposed zoning text amendment prioritizes the interests of the Rye Arts Center over those of neighboring property owners and the community at large.

In summary, residents of 66 Milton Road object to the Rye Arts Center’s response to the August 27 Planning Commission comments due to concerns about parking, traffic, aesthetics, neighborhood character, environmental impact, and whether our voices will be adequately heard in the decision-making process.

We thank you for your consideration in this.

Sincerely,

The Board of Directors

Blind Brook Lodge Owners, Inc.

Sarah O’Keefe, President David Kent, Treasurer

Hope Bernard, Vice President John Johnson, Secretary

David Barton, Director