Overview:
A modified six-month building moratorium has been passed by the Rye City Council, exempting Rye Country Day School from the new law. The school is allowed to proceed with the construction of athletic facilities on its newly purchased property in exchange for conducting public sessions and not seeking approvals until October 2026. The moratorium is focused on the Central Business District area and multi-family and larger developments throughout the city.
A modified six-month building moratorium passed City Council in a 5-to-2 vote on Wednesday evening, June 8th, 2026. City Council members Marion Anderson and Jamie Jensen voted against the measure, arguing for additional time was needed to prepare a more concrete plan. The moratorium will go into effect as soon as early next week, once it is filed with the New York Secretary of State.
Hall Pass for Rye Country Day School
The biggest modification made to the moratorium on Wednesday was removing Rye Country Day School from the new law. The school is embarking on a new capital campaign to fund the construction of athletic facilities on the nine-acre property it purchased from the New York State Thruway Authority back in 2022. In exchange for its exemption, the school has agreed to conduct a number of public sessions to give local residents visibility into its plans and to not go before the Rye Planning Commission for any approvals until October 13, 2026. It will also fund, at its own cost, a professional review of its plans, including impacts on issues such as traffic and storm water.
“Rye Country Day has always sought to be a collaborative partner with the city and our neighbors and the broader community,” said interim Head of School at Rye Country Day School Dr. Stacey Sotirhos. “We’ve identified a path forward on this project that reflects our shared commitment to partnership to the positive engagement that we all are striving to find.”
The city had made its biggest concession on the building moratorium two weeks ago when it removed one- and two-family homes outside the B1 and the B2 districts in the downtown area from any moratorium. Concerns around one- and two-family home construction remain and it is reasonable to think this issue will resurface again and again during the comprehensive plan process.
For now, the building moratorium is focused on the Central Business District (CBD) area as well as multi-family and larger developments throughout the rest of the city. It is also important to note that in the original draft of the moratorium, The Osborn home was made exempt from any restrictions. In fact, The Osborn returns to the Planning Commission on Tuesday evening with a shot at getting thumbs up on its final approvals from that body.
Watch the public hearing:
