The engineering firm behind the Rye Nature Center's proposed new driveway has laid out how it plans to protect Blind Brook from salt runoff, replace 42 trees with native species, and manage soil during construction, answering a slate of environmental concerns raised by the city's Conservation Commission.
Barton & Loguidice sent the responses in an Aug. 6 letter to the Conservation Commission, according to a Rye Record report on the filing.
The letter arrives ahead of the project's third appearance before the Rye City Planning Commission on Tuesday, Aug. 11. The commission, chaired by Nick Everett, pressed the Nature Center on tree replacement at its two previous hearings, on June 23 and July 16.
The 18-foot-wide driveway would start from an existing unpaved parking lot off Boston Post Road, roughly 500 feet south of the current park entrance on the city-owned, 47-acre property. It would replace the narrower route that crosses a weakening bridge over Blind Brook and add eight to 10 parking spots along its length.
The Nature Center expects construction to begin in late 2026 or early 2027.
Trees: 42 out, 46 native species in
The project calls for removing 42 trees and replanting 46 in their place. In its letter, Barton & Loguidice committed to updating planting plans to follow the Nature Center's Habitat Management Plan, specifying red oak, white oak, shagbark hickory, tulip tree, sweetgum, red maple and American sycamore, among other native species.
The Conservation Commission had asked that a qualified arborist establish tree protection zones and that new plantings be reviewed to avoid disturbances within wetlands. Barton & Loguidice said it would update tree protection measures to comply with ANSI A300 Best Management Practices for tree care, covering site construction, soil management, root management and tree risk assessment.
Salt and stormwater
The Conservation Commission also asked how the city plans to treat the driveway during ice and snowstorms, given its proximity to Blind Brook. The firm said occasional salt and de-icing will be necessary on the winding road, which will carry school buses, maintenance vehicles and other visitors.
Barton & Loguidice wrote that most stormwater from the driveway surface will flow into open-graded stone beneath the roadway for storage and infiltration. Salts entering that system will settle and deposit within the stone layer rather than reaching Blind Brook's riparian buffer, the firm stated.
The Aug. 6 letter also addressed soil conditions, floodplain management and pedestrian accommodations, though specific details on those topics were not published.
What's next
No vote is guaranteed Tuesday. It is unclear whether the commission plans to approve the project or continue its review at the Aug. 11 hearing. The Planning Commission meets at Rye City Hall, 15 Locust Ave. Residents can attend and comment during the public session.
