RESOLUTION
BY COUNCIL PRESIDENT COLLINS-BELLAMY, MAJORITY LEADER RUBBO, MAJORITY WHIP ROBINSON, MINORITY LEADER BREEN, COUNCILMEMBERS, PINEDA -ISAAC, DIAZ AND MERANTE:
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A RESOLUTION EXPRESSING THE YONKERS CITY COUNCIL’S WISH THAT THE YONKERS PLANNING BOARD SERVE AS LEAD AGENCY FOR THE PURPOSES OF SEQRA REVIEW AND ITS REFERRAL TO THE CITY AND COUNTY PLANNNG BOARDS AND ALL OTHER APPROPRIATE AGENCIES A PROPOSED AMENDMENT OF CHAPTER 43 OF THE CODE OF THE CITY OF YONKERS KNOWN AS THE ZONING ORDINANCE AND ZONING MAP OF THE CITY OF YONKERS TO ADD A NEW “PLANNED FILM & EDUCATIONAL DEVELOPMENT USE” TO THE MG DISTRICT
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WHEREAS, on July 18, 2024, i.Park Riverdale, LLC (“iPark”) filed a petition in the Office of the Yonkers City Clerk, proposing to develop its property located at 501 Hawthorne Avenue (Tax Map Section 1, Block 1, Lot 2) in southwest Yonkers (the “Property”), to include a “Media and Production Magnet School,” to be called the “Robert Halmi, Sr. Academy for Film and Television (the “Academy”); and
WHEREAS, the Academy is projected to enroll 400 to 600 students in grades 6 through 12, providing these students access to a fully operational studio complex, including film-making, set design, set direction, costume design and post-production; and
WHEREAS, iPark proposes to renovate and adapt the current structures on the property, including extensive renovation of the Biondi School, Ames School, and Administration buildings for use as middle and high schools as part of and to be operated by the Yonkers Board of Education; and
WHEREAS, iPark further proposes to construct on the northern portion of the property, a studio complex to include a 90,000 square feet of soundstages and 60,000 square feet of mill/warehouse and office space, and truck and structure parking (the “Studio Complex”); and
WHEREAS, the iPark development proposal will provide hands-on, realistic educational opportunities for Yonkers students and direct paths to employment and apprentice opportunities in the media, film and studio industries; and
WHEREAS, the Property is part of the MG District of the Yonkers Zoning Ordinance; and
WHEREAS, iPark’s vision to develop an education media and film complex (the Media and Production Magnet School; the Academy; and the Studio Complex) will require the addition of a “Planned Film & Educational Development” use to the MG District; and
WHEREAS, it is the desire of the City Council to have the Yonkers Planning Board serve as Lead Agency in accordance with the provisions of 6 NYCRR Part 617 of the New York State Environmental Quality Review Act (“SEQRA”), in order to initiate a review process of the proposed amendment of the Zoning Ordinance and Zoning Map of the City of Yonkers; and
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, that the City of Yonkers City Council hereby expresses its desire to have the Yonkers Planning Board serve as Lead Agency for the environmental review of the proposed amendment of the Zoning Ordinance and Zoning Map of the City of Yonkers; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, should the Yonkers Planning Board accept designation as Lead Agency as set forth herein, that the City Clerk is thereupon directed to circulate Lead Agency notice, together with all other relevant environmental review documents, to all Involved and Interested Agencies and to allow thirty (30) days from the mailing of the Lead Agency Notice for Agency review of the Yonkers Planning Board’s Lead Agency designation; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that if no other Involved Agency seeks to be Lead Agency within thirty (30) days from the effective date of said Notice, the Yonkers Planning Board, should it accept such designation, shall assume Lead Agency status for purposes of the environmental review of this matter; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that said petition be referred for review and report to the City and County Planning Boards; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that this resolution shall take effect immediately.