How do you keep the Village of Mamaroneck from evolving into overbuilt urban sprawl? Answer: Pass a law restricting development.
This comes after a boom of residential development in the Village of Mamaroneck, such as the $1.4 million dollar plus Philips Harbor Townhomes on Boston Post Road, the Mason on Waverly Avenue and the Grand on Mamaroneck Ave., the Board of Trustees of the Village of Mamaroneck is tightening the reins on residential growth while adding assurances that any new apartment, townhome or condominium complexes include some affordable housing.
With a goal of reducing density, the Board of Trustees unanimously approved a law to curtail future residential development by 44% and prohibit any new residential buildings in several zones including stretches of Mamaroneck Ave, the marine commercial area on Boston Post Road and parts of Old White Plains Road. After several public hearings, the new law was passed at the August 28 village board meeting.
Some of the new rules:
- Buildings will be restricted to three or four stories depending on location
- Restricted development within 50 feet of the Long Island Sound or any waterway with flows into the Long Island Sound.
- Resident buildings must provide fair affordable housing units in accordance to size
The Board of Trustees was working against a deadline to pass the new law. In April 2018 the board put a freeze on all new large development plans by instituting a moratorium which was lifted on August 31.
Village Mayor Thomas Murphy commended the move to safeguard the character of the village.
“There was a time where developers came in, made their money and got out, but that’s no longer the case. This law sends a good message that the community cares about what it’s going to look in 20-40 years,” the mayor said.
“We want to keep a community where families feel comfortable to move here, have children travel on streets that are safe and have a walkable community where it still feels like a small town.”
Detailed information can be found on the Village of Mamaroneck website under Planning Department. Click here for direct links for the adopted law and FAQs.
photo: Courtesy Philips Harbor Townhomes
Good news from the Village of Mamaroneck’s Board of Trustees. I also propose a new law requiring that the design of new structures must be approved by the Village so they preserve our small-town character and charm. The Phillips Harbor Townhouses are not only remarkably ugly, pretentious, and ostentatious, but totally inappropriate facing our spectacular waterfront.
Joan, in addition to everything you commented about the Phillips Manor Townhouses….they appear to be mostly vacant!! What a waste of a beautiful location.
I’m not opposed to having Larchmont children join Mamaroneck grammar schools…it’s the LACK of classrooms to accommodate the children in the entire district. Wake up! Don’t project your beliefs into my comment. I don’t have a hidden agenda other then the schools can not provide quality education if they are busting at the seams. The Superintendent of schools expressed the same concerns.
How about including requirements for “green” building practices in all new construction or renovations?
Look what they have done and continue to do in New Rochelle they have destroyed it taken away its small town charm over crowded schools and ran stores and hone owners out its nothing but luxury housing dollar stores and Latino restaurants a disgrace i applaud u Mamaroneck
New Rochelle was been run down since the late 80s! It wasnt for Latin restaurants New Rochelle would be a ghost town! Tell you what open up a shop. In the nineties New Rochelle lived off collage bars!
What I find odd is that there is no discussion on the impact on the schools. Hommocks especially is at over capacity and this is affecting their experience not in a positive way.
I agree! They need to consider the impact on all of the schools! Last year there had been discussion about having children bused from Larchmont to schools such as Central and Mamaroneck Avenue Schools because they do not have enough classroom space. With all of the recent development in Mamaroneck, there will most certainly be a need for more classrooms. Affordable housing or not, these new apartment buildings will still impact our schools negatively.
Oh my God, busing might result in diverse, integrated schools ! What a horror for Larchmont! This is a one school district Township and we should find a way to integrate the schools. So weary of Westchester liberals who preach “no hate here” but support segregation in the schools to ostensibly protect their RE investment. Not buying it.