Rye hasn't updated its core land-use rules since 1985. That's about to change, and city officials want residents at the table.
Deputy Mayor James Ward laid out the city's sustainability push and what's next in a podcast interview published Thursday. He spoke with former Mayor Doug French on Episode 12 of the MyRye.com Conversations podcast.
The new comprehensive plan will shape land use, housing, transportation, flooding and sustainability in Rye for the next 10 to 15 years. The City Council approved a $285,000 contract with planning firm AKRF on March 4 to write it. Mayor Josh Nathan called it "one of the most expansive community engagement efforts in the city's history."
The Big Picture
- Rye earned Bronze Climate Smart Community certification in 2024, scoring 153 points against a 120-point minimum.
- The city is now targeting Silver certification by 2027. Only 17 New York communities currently hold Silver status.
- The goal: cut municipal greenhouse gas emissions 40% by 2030, according to Sustainability Committee Chair Hilary Garland.
- Steps so far include four electric vehicles added to the city fleet, citywide LED streetlights, a yard and food waste program, and enrollment in a renewable-energy purchasing program.
A Natural Resources Inventory, last updated in 1979, is also being redone with a $70,080 state grant. AKRF's contract runs 18 months, with plan adoption expected in 2027.
Ward pointed to two ways homeowners could save money:
- Solar: Sustainable Westchester's Solarize It program offers free rooftop assessments and bids from five vetted installers. Ward said solar investments can pay for themselves in about four years.
- Free energy audits: NYSERDA offers free home energy audits to Rye residents.
Ward also flagged a demand-response program that pays residents for cutting electricity use during peak grid alerts. He said a New Rochelle school earned $70,000 to $100,000 through a similar program.
Rye's moratorium on commercial-scale battery storage systems remains in place. Ward said he backed the pause until the city sorts out fire-safety requirements.
