Yeshiva's Campus Reuse Plan Goes To Briarcliff Planning Board

BRIARCLIFF MANOR, NY — Khal Torath Chaim of Rockland plans to put a private religious education institution for 250 male students between the ages of 17 and 20 on the 37-acre site that was once Briarcliff College and then a satellite campus of Pace University.

To see the submitted application materials click here.

"As additional or revised materials are submitted, they will also be posted on the Village website," Village Manager Philip E. Zegarelli said in his report June 25.

The congregation will lease to its affiliate, Yeshivath Viznitz, as an additional campus to support the main campus in Monsey, according to the yeshiva's application to the Board of Trustees for a special use permit.

The papers filed by White Plains-based law firm Cuddy & Feder on behalf of the owner point out that the site has been a school for decades. Briarcliff College was a small liberal arts school; after it closed, the village gave special-permit approval to Pace University in 1978 for academic operations and onsite housing, with an enrollment of up to 700 residential students with an additional 400 commuting students allowed to attend classes per day.

"The Proposed Reuse constitutes a significant reduction in the intensity of the use and operations as previously approved by the Village and operated at the Premises for decades," the law firm wrote. "The reoccupancy provides a benefit to the community by reusing the currently vacant 37-acre Premises with a use which generates little to no environmental impacts or increases in vehicle trips, demand on utilities and municipal resources, or population increase."

The yeshiva proposes using three of the nine existing buildings on the campus plus a portion of a fourth building.

That includes the easternmost dormitory, known as the Valley Dorm, where renovations would include new windows, new flooring, and bathroom renovations but no expansion of the building's footprint.

The 2.5 story, 13,000-square-foot building to the northwest of the Valley Dorm, known as the Tead House, would be used for offices and temporary housing for faculty and staff. No major renovations or expansion are proposed.

The existing glass and brick building located north of the Tead House would be used for classrooms, dining hall, study hall, and a synagogue. This building currently contains two floors plus a mezzanine space. Interior renovations to this building would include the expansion of the third-floor mezzanine space to accommodate the construction of four classrooms.

The southernmost wing of Dow Hall, the main building at the center of the campus, would be used for the Yeshivah’s religious rituals (Mikva) and regular student use. The second floor
would be used for additional offices. The remainder of the main building and the entirety of the
remaining buildings at the site are not proposed to be used, occupied, or renovated at this time.

Up to about 215 of the students would live in an on-campus dormitory with the balance of students commuting. There would be 40 faculty and staff members per shift who would commute. No faculty or staff is expected to permanently reside on campus though short-term temporary housing accommodations would be available for certain faculty and guests.

No students and minimal staff are expected to regularly arrive or depart the premises by personal vehicle — instead, commuting students and staff would arrive and depart by bus or shuttle.

This would generate significantly less traffic than the former Pace University use, according to traffic consultants Collier Consulting, Inc.

The educational and worship activities would typically occur between 6 a.m. and 9 p.m. daily.

Students would study as a whole in the large hall with smaller breakout classes of 30-50 students in the individual lecture rooms twice a day. Meals would be prepared and served in the on-campus dining hall.

The only instances in which the public is expected to visit are during special events such as holiday gatherings and graduations. Parents of the students would be welcome to visit the site on occasion though these visits tend to be infrequent and limited to special events and occasions. Generally, the premises is not expected to receive regular visits by non-students/staff or otherwise be open to the public, Cuddy & Feder said.

The Briarcliff Manor Board of Trustees will conduct public meetings and a public hearing regarding the special permit application. Advance notice will be posted on the village website.

In addition, the Planning Board will review the site plan application. The applicant’s initial presentation to the Planning Board will be held at the 8 July meeting.

Interested residents should monitor the village’s website where any additional submissions will be posted and should attend the Board of Trustees and Planning Board meetings. Any questions about the review processes? Contact any member of the Board of Trustees at [email protected].