Thursday, March 28, 2024
46.8 F
Larchmont
HomeHome and GardenLarchmont Manor Developer Appeals Moratorium

Larchmont Manor Developer Appeals Moratorium

40 Ocean Ave., Larchmont
40 Ocean Ave., Larchmont

 

The developer that purchased the historic Larchmont Manor home that is at the center of a successful citizens’ campaign for a building moratorium now says he is being “unfairly targeted.”

More today in LoHud: 

The developer of a controversial project in Larchmont is challenging the village’s moratorium on demolition and subdivisions in residential neighborhoods. A recent moratorium also went into effect in the Town of Mamaroneck.

KOSL Building Group said the moratorium was “enacted to thwart” its proposed plans to tear down a home at 40 Ocean Ave. and build four new homes on the 1.57-acre property, according to an appeal filed on Feb. 3. The property was acquired through a private sale for $4.7 million, and the project doesn’t need a variance from the village. more 

6 COMMENTS

Subscribe
Notify of
guest

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

6 Comments
newest
oldest most voted
Inline Feedbacks
View all comments
John Hodgson
John Hodgson
March 4, 2016 4:03 PM

As I have said before, if people wanted to have houses jammed together, they should go and live in a city, not in the village of Larchmont. I have lived here for 40 years, and have been saddened by the rise of tear downs in recent years. It heartens me to see that many residents appear to share my viewpoint, and that we are trying to maintain the feel of our lovely village, and are trying to stop the building of these new houses, built all the same, but leaving out the character we had in the past.

Onlyme
Onlyme
February 23, 2016 1:20 PM

Developers only goal is to make money, money, money. This they do by tearing down perfectly good houses to build ugly Mcmansions, or by cramming 4 houses into a lot that formerly held just one. The sad thing is that when these piggish developers (redundant, I know) scoop up these houses, often in cahoots with the real estate agents who sometimes don’t even put the houses on the open market, it keeps ordinary people who wouldn’t tear them down from ever having a chance to consider buying them. Greed. That’s all it is. I’m so glad Larchmont is trying to put a stop to it. Too bad Rye refuses to.

Antonio Anselmo
February 14, 2016 2:07 PM

The actual trend to stop development that could damage our community was in full swing in 1999 when we opposed IKEA and the plans for a 300,000 square foot store. More importantly, the store was actually going to be built in New Rochelle, on the border of the Town of Mamaroneck. IKEA had already purchase about 60% of the property for the project. When the residents of 10538 get focused, tremendous talent is brought to bear on any problem. Alma and Memorial fields are good examples. As far as 40 Ocean is concerned, besides the immorality of knocking down a perfectly good home, the property is in complete harmony with it’s surroundings. The “lid has come” off and the community is rising to resist the “build to the lot line” trend.

Jeffrey Powers
Jeffrey Powers
February 13, 2016 1:28 PM

Larchmont Village’s Moratorium’s “What When and Why” occurred because residents opposed overbuilding when they saw what was a trend that had been building for years over time with tear downs increasing and very severe issues with road and sewer work at an all time high last summer(and to this day) & another project had been the leading project irritating residents when I moved back to the Village last summer ’15 and 40 Ocean wasn’t even on the radar…with the monstrosity of an apartment building just getting ready for occupation on the other side of 95 near the village entrance people were irate as this was impacting traffic and roads —anger grew and late fall 40 Ocean wasn’t even owned by the developer when the large contingent went to Village Hall in November- and only by coincidence did the builder drop off his application off on Friday (3 business days earlier) so it is with humor they claim of being targeted its preposterous as their is no doubt in my mind one project (which wasn’t even on the calendar for a review) couldn’t by itself be the main reason for anything as it was “a way too late entry project” for Frank our inspector who on a small addition with “no variances” takes 2-3 months to calendar since 40 Ocean in its infinitesimal incomplete & embryonic stage (that had to be handed back as incomplete) didn’t made up the villagers minds “overnight” of more than 1000 residents who wanted a moratorium to enact sensible zoning laws to preserve the value of their properties and landmarks they rightly cherish. It’s a law instituted because residents had enough…certainly not because of one project. The only one who targeted 40 Ocean is KOSL who should have known the process and the risks as we all know without the permit your subject to changing laws- when I owned 20 Prospect and near finishing the law on runoff went into effect I had two choices 1. Not to knock down a garage & build a new driveway or 2. Double my cost and do it the villages way. At the time I felt it unfair but I decided to do it and have less -spending much more money. The law isn’t about fairness it’s about rules and dates- and being uniformly applied. It’s time to focus on the creation of new zoning laws & move away from disputing fact, bending rules & omitting facts while creating disingenuous talking points. This obviates what a great neighbor I have…hopefully what’s done might keep other great developers from moving here too as this is about the future certainly not one project.

theLoop
Admin
February 13, 2016 2:48 PM
Reply to  Jeffrey Powers

Thanks for your comment. Yes, this was definitely the culmination of many years of frustration by residents, and it was the potential demise of the property on Ocean Avenue that brought it to City Hall and the moratorium.

job
job
February 12, 2016 5:59 PM

Did the mayor know this was going to happen ??

• C O M M U N I T Y • C A L E N D A R •

6
0
Would love your thoughts, please comment.x
()
x