Hi Neighbors,
It's been a while since my last email, as similar to Covid-fatigue, I figured many of you had "Schiliro-fatigue". Although I'll be resuming regular emails soon, I wanted to get this email to you in order to avoid any mystery about why there are red balloons flying again near downtown Armonk. This is called a "balloon test" and it allows a development applicant to float balloons around the site of their proposed project to mimic the height and location of proposed structures.
Here is some quick background and information for you on this property, zoning, and project. We welcome your participation.
Background: Currently there is an application in front of the Town Board for the approximately 32.25 acre, vacant and undeveloped parcel adjacent to IBM in the Hamlet of Armonk. In 2009, this property was separated from the IBM's campus into two lots at the request of IBM and rezoned Office Business Hotel (OB-H). The current application is for a mixed-use development, meaning Hotel and age-restricted residential townhomes. The proposed Hotel would be a 115 room hotel on approximately 10.6 acres towards the front of the property, closer to Rte. 22, and the proposed 72 Age-Restricted Townhomes would sit on approximately 21.8 acres located towards the middle and rear of the site. The Townhome request utilizes the zone R-MF-SCH (Senior Floating Zone), the Hotel is a permitted use or as-of-right.
Balloons: The applicant has strategically placed 3-foot diameter red helium balloons to demonstrate the height as well as the position of the proposed buildings. The balloons are up today and should remain floating through next Wednesday when the Town Board meeting takes place. The applicant will attempt to re-inflate the balloons when they deflate, depending on their condition. You may have noticed the same balloons several weeks ago, those were for the same project but for purposes of a site walk for the Town Board and Planning Board.
Process: Once IBM sold the two lots to the applicant several years ago, the applicant began a process of submitting various proposals and studies and is seeking approval for their final plan, 115 room Hotel and 72 Age-Restricted Townhomes. Over the last few years, the Town Board has discussed concerns with the applicant over various proposals, including density which was as high as approximately 140 residential units along with the Hotel. We are now re-opening the Public Hearing for the zoning this Wednesday (it won't be closed on the same night), so if you would like to participate, just follow the instructions on our website related to the Town Board meeting.
