The Mount Vernon Planning Board approved the 408 South Seventh Avenue project, a new homeownership development, with the condition that its proposed rooftop terraces include six-foot, solid, sound-dampening walls. The board effectively created private, enclosed outdoor rooms, aiming to prevent noise from reaching nearby homes.

What Happened

  • The Planning Board approved the 408 South Seventh Avenue homeownership project after the developer presented revised plans, including options for private rooftop terraces.
  • Commissioners expressed strong concerns about potential noise from rooftop terraces and safety for children, given the project's density and proximity to existing homes.
  • To mitigate noise and privacy issues, the board mandated six-foot high, solid, sound-dampening walls for the rooftop terraces, treating them as enclosed outdoor rooms.
  • The board issued a "negative declaration" under the State Environmental Quality Review Act (SEQRA), determining the project would not cause significant environmental harm, which cleared a path for approval.

Project Outcomes

  • 408 South Seventh Avenue (new homeownership development): Approved, contingent on installing six-foot solid sound-dampening walls for rooftop terraces, conducting a percolation test for water levels, and adding a granite curb cut.

What's Next

  • Council staff will draft a resolution outlining the approved conditions for the 408 South Seventh Avenue project, including the specific requirements for rooftop terrace walls and the percolation test.
  • The developer must coordinate a percolation test for water levels at the 408 South Seventh Avenue site as a formal condition of the approval.
  • The next Planning Board meeting is scheduled for April 8, 2026.