Reckson Withdraws King Street Ice Rink Facility Proposal

Updated: Oct. 24 @ 7 p.m.

Here is Greenwich First Selectman Peter Tesei's reaction to the withdrawal of the plan to build a four-rink ice skating facility on King Street, on the Greenwich-Rye Brook, NY border.

Tesei said, "The applicants withdrawal of the ice rink proposal in the Village of Rye Brook, New York is welcome news. The King Merritt Homeowner's Association, Northwest Greenwich Association and town worked in a collaborative manner to point out the significant impact this proposal would have on Greenwich's King Street residential neighborhoods with increased traffic."

Tesei added, "The other over arching concern was the ability for emergency service vehicles to navigate King Street at peak times with added traffic generated from such a facility. I am pleased with this action and appreciate the
efforts of our residents working with us to bring forth the concerns to the
Rye Brook Village Board of Trustees."


Original story: Oct. 24 @ 1:27 p.m

By Liz Giegerich and Barbara Heins.

Reckson Operating Partnership L.P. has withdrawn its controversial application for an amended site plan approval and special permit to build a 140,000-square-foot ice rink facility on the Greenwich—Rye Brook border.

In a brief letter dated Oct. 24, Reckson's attorney informed Rye Brook Mayor Paul Rosenberg and the Board of Trustees that they were withdrawing their application for a four-rink facility, "without prejudice to its resubmission."

Reckson first brought the application to build the ice facility at its 1100 King St. location to the board in late 2012, with plans to have it completed by September 2013. Since then, neighbors and officials from Greenwich and Rye Brook spent hours opposing the plan at several public hearings held throughout the year. A few supporters also turned out to speak in favor of the project throughout the year, but they were outnumbered by those opposed. 

While Reckson performed several studies on traffic, noise and environmental aspects involved with the project, the Village board and residents have continuously asked for more studies that they felt would be necessary to provide an accurate description of what could be expected. 

Residents' biggest concern was how the project—that would have been located just south of Sherwood Avenue and St. Paul's Catholic Church—would affect traffic on the King Street corridor.

Greenwich officials, including Town Planner Diane Fox expressed concern that initial traffic studies were conducted during weekends and when local private schools to the north of the proposed facility were not in session, thereby skewing actual traffic counts of when classes are in session at Convent of the Sacred Heat and Brunswick School. Fox also was unhappy that developers didn't consult Greenwich on the impact of changing traffic light cycles on King Street at Anderson Hill Road and at International Drive.

On Thursday, Fox said, "We are encouraged by the news that the applicant has withdrawn the present application. However, ... there is an implication of a
resubmission in the future of something...we would hope that the applicant
would work with Rye Brook and Greenwich officials and residents of both
towns prior to any new plan submission for input and comments that could be
productive to all sides."

Read more on Reckson studies here and find more articles on the project and public hearings here.