(PHOTO: Rye Town Park is seeking a wetland permit before installing an ADA-compliant concrete sidewalk to replace a portion of the existing stone dust and gravel promenade.)
(PHOTO: Rye Town Park is seeking a wetland permit before installing an ADA-compliant concrete sidewalk to replace a portion of the existing stone dust and gravel promenade.)

Disclosure: This story was prepared with the assistance of artificial intelligence. Feedback on our stories is welcome.

The Rye City Planning Commission is responsible for decisions on a variety of land use applications including site plans, subdivisions, wetland permits, coastal consistency determinations, special use permits and outdoor dining permits. The Commission also periodically provides advisory recommendations to the City Council regarding long-range planning concerns and zoning matters.

The next commission meeting is on Tuesday, September 8, 2026 at 7:00pm. Please note a venue change for this meeting: it will be held on the second floor of the Locust Avenue Firehouse at 15 Locust Avenue.

The meetings provide a look at upcoming developments in Rye, ensuring community members stay informed about significant property changes and planning decisions.

The commission’s seven members are Nicholas Everett (chair), Andrew Ball, Laura Brett, Dan Bsharat, Rick Schaupp, Steven Secon and Jamie Jensen (councilmember liaison). Read Meet the Planning Commission and its Chair Nick Everett.

Plans and application materials can be viewed here. Note: due to “security and privacy concerns” as of April 1, 2025, viewing plans online “plans will be available for approximately one week after posting of the meeting agenda on the City’s website. Those wishing to view plans will also be required to login”.

Properties Being Discussed:

  • 506 Midland Avenue: Continued Wetland Permit review for removing unpermitted fill and stone debris.
  • 261 Kirby Lane: Wetland Permit for installing a fieldstone wall.
  • 315 Brevoort Lane: Wetland Permit for a new dock system and seawall repairs.
  • 5 Stonycrest Road: Wetland Permit for a rear yard fence.
  • 6 Woods Lane: Wetland Permit for house additions and a front porch.
  • 175 Purchase Street: Site Plan review for medical office renovations and driveway relocation.
  • Rye Town Park – Beach Promenade: Wetland Permit for an ADA-compliant concrete sidewalk.

I. Public Hearings

  1. 506 Midland Avenue
    • Required Approval(s): Wetland Permit (WP#483)
    • Location: 506 Midland Avenue (Sheet 146.8, Block 1, Lot 48)
    • Applicant: Rubenstein Estates LLC
    • Project Description: Continuation of the public hearing from the August 11, 2026 meeting regarding the implementation of a remediation plan involving the removal of fill and stone debris previously placed within a regulated wetland without a required wetland permit.

II. Work Session

  1. 506 Midland Avenue – See description above. 
  2. 261 Kirby Lane
    • Required Approval(s): Wetland Permit (WP#584)
    • Location: 261 Kirby Lane (Sheet 147.09, Block 1, Lot 3)
    • Applicant: Hugh & Mary Cullman
    • Project Description: Installation of a 26-inch-high freestanding fieldstone wall adjacent to the north property line inside a regulated wetland area.
  3. 315 Brevoort Lane
    • Required Approval(s): Wetland Permit (WP#585)
    • Location: 315 Brevoort Lane (Sheet 147.09, Block 1, Lot 3)
    • Applicant: Laurence & Cate Holt
    • Project Description: Installation of a new residential dock system consisting of a fixed timber pier, aluminum gangway, landing float, floating dock, tie-off piles, and concrete shore landing, alongside in-kind repairs to the existing seawall.
  4. 5 Stonycrest Road
    • Required Approval(s): Wetland Permit (WP#586)
    • Location: 5 Stonycrest Road (Sheet 146.12, Block 2, Lot 61)
    • Applicant: Jack Kelleher & Shannon Crawford
    • Project Description: Construction of a 4-foot-6-inch high fence in the rear yard of the residential property within a regulated wetland area.
  5. 6 Woods Lane
    • Required Approval(s): Wetland Permit (WP#587)
    • Location: 6 Woods Lane (Sheet 146.17, Block 1, Lot 12)
    • Applicant: Meghan Gulia
    • Project Description: Residential additions comprising a one-story addition, a second-floor addition, and a one-story roofed front porch addition.
  6. 175 Purchase Street
    • Required Approval(s): Site Plan (SP#423)
    • Location: 175 Purchase Street (Sheet 139.19, Block 2, Lot 67)
    • Applicant: Leah Ansel & Margot Chima
    • Project Description: Renovation and expansion of an existing medical office building, including changing entrances to be on-grade for enhanced access and relocating the driveway.
  7. Rye Town Park – Beach Promenade Improvements
    • Required Approval(s): Wetland Permit (WP#588)
    • Location: 95 Dearborn Avenue (Sheet 153.07, Block 3, Lot 93)
    • Applicant: Rye Town Park Commission
    • Project Description: Construction of a new concrete sidewalk replacing a portion of the existing stone dust and gravel promenade at Rye Town Park Beach to provide ADA-compliant access along the waterfront.

III. Minutes

Review and approval of prior Planning Commission meeting minutes.

Beatrice Larzul is a Staff Writer at MyRye.com. She is a Rye resident and a graduate of Williams College with a degree in English and geosciences.

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