A major residential development is moving forward in Mount Pleasant as the Jewish Board of Family & Children’s Services seeks to subdivide the 126-acre Hawthorne Cedar Knolls campus. Represented by David Steinmetz, the applicant has proposed a 91-lot subdivision featuring 87 new single-family homes. By utilizing a “cluster development” model, the project aims to provide much-needed housing while protecting over 30 acres of permanent open space and allowing the existing Cedar Knolls Academy to continue its operations.

The project is currently entering a rigorous environmental review process under the State Environmental Quality Review Act (SEQRA). During recent Planning Board sessions, Zarin & Steinmetz highlighted that the plan is designed to minimize environmental impact by clustering density away from northern wetlands. However, the Mount Pleasant Planning Board has issued a “Positive Declaration,” meaning a detailed Environmental Impact Statement must now be prepared to address potential effects on local traffic and infrastructure.

A public scoping session is scheduled for April 20, 2026, marking a critical step in determining the project’s future footprint.