White Plains · issues
Civic issues
Topics getting the most attention in White Plains public meetings, ranked by how frequently they come up.
Two-family conversions on Lafayette Street
Two companion applications would turn single-family houses into two-family homes, each needing variances for lot area, frontage, and setbacks. This touches on neighborhood density and housing supply.
Leffell School campus expansion
The private school wants to add onto Building 1 and alter campus facilities. No enrollment increase is proposed, so traffic impacts shouldn't change — but neighbors may still weigh in.
Verizon Cable Franchise Renewal
The city's cable franchise agreement with Verizon is up for renewal, with a public hearing set. This deal governs cable service terms and related support for community programming.
Fire Apparatus Repair Funding
The fire department needs extra money from the general fund reserve to cover repair costs for its fire apparatus — keeping emergency equipment running.
Youth Bureau grants and library funding
A slate of youth programs is up for funding and agreements: summer jobs, college credit courses, alcohol-prevention services, and more — mostly grant-funded.
1 Water Street site plan amendments
The developer of the 380-unit transit-oriented project at Ferris and Water wants minor amendments: a bit more retail space, reconfigured below-grade parking, a larger public and dog park, plus rooftop solar and battery storage. Newer council members asked for the detailed August submission in writing before any decision.
1 Water Street site plan amendment
The developer of the 380-unit transit-oriented project at Ferris and Water near the train station wants minor tweaks: a bit more retail, reconfigured underground parking, an enclosed garage, an expanded public park and rooftop solar. Groundbreaking is hoped for 2027.
78 Woodcrest Avenue four-lot subdivision and rock removal
A plan to split a three-quarter-acre lot into four building lots requires removing a large rock outcropping and an aging stone wall along Springdale. Board members pushed for alternatives that would preserve the rock and slopes, questioning blasting impacts on neighbors.
Adora Row mixed-use project extension
Two downtown-adjacent projects got more time: 'The Loft' at Court and Quarropas Streets received a one-year site plan extension, and the Adora Row mixed-use project at 80 Westchester Avenue has an extension application under review.
12-unit apartment building at 510 North Broadway
Comstock got a height variance to build a three-story, 12-unit apartment building — a small addition to the city's housing stock.
New 12-unit apartment building at 510 North Broadway
A vacant office building would be replaced by a 12-unit for-sale condo building near the North White Plains train station. The plan includes a stormwater system that would also fix existing flooding behind neighboring Brookdale and Holland Avenue homes.
Parking lot at 322 Central Avenue
Alliance Automotive got the special permit it needed to install a surface parking lot in the B-3 business zone.
Rodent activity on Martine Avenue
A resident says rodent concerns are spreading through the city, with rats drawn to soft dirt and possibly worsened by upcoming construction. He wants to know if the city has a mitigation plan before the problem escalates.
Bus stop sidewalk accessibility
A Park View Court resident says the sidewalk in front of his house is narrow, uneven and in disrepair, forcing a disabled neighbor to cross the street to find a usable path; his ADA funding records request was denied.
Downtown and commercial signage approvals
A batch of sign decisions hit downtown businesses: approvals for Yale New Haven Health, The Altos, and Greystar's master retail sign plan, plus a do-over for Doner Haus's wall sign at 186 Martine Ave.
Pedestrian and child passenger safety grants
Police picked up $35,000 in state grants: $6,000 for child car seat education and $29,000, mostly overtime, for seatbelt and dangerous-driving enforcement.
Taxicab ordinance overhaul
For the first time in ten years, White Plains updated its taxi rules: new metered fares that reflect higher fuel and insurance costs, cheaper medallion transfers and accessible-cab medallions, and new leasing rules for medallion owners.
290 Ferris Avenue tree removal and site buffering
A resident says a county-sold forest at 290 Ferris Avenue was clear-cut, possibly in violation of the tree ordinance, and the light-industrial truck parking site ended up with minimal buffering despite council requirements.