Mamaroneck passes development moratorium

MAMARONECK - The village will freeze all large-scale development for six months.

The policy, approved by the village Board of Trustees 3-to-1 with one member absent on Monday, stops all new construction on residential buildings of three units or larger. It does not impact any applications received by the village Building Department up until March 12.

Trustee Leon Potok voted against the policy. He was unavailable for comment.

"I'm glad the majority of the board voted to examine development and its impacts on the community," said village Mayor Thomas Murphy, who first proposed the law. "We will move expeditiously in the future to engage a planner, do a study and assess our zoning laws to make the necessary changes to protect Mamaroneck from over-development."

PROPOSAL: Mamaroneck to consider residential building moratorium

NEW ZONING: Mamaroneck working to overhaul zoning and development policies

The moratorium is expected to expire sometime in October. The exact date depends on when the law is filed with the New York Department of State, which Murphy said would likely be within the next week.

The construction stoppage comes as the village embarks on two plans, at a cost of around $250,000, to overhaul its zoning and land-use policies.

Over the past few years, the village has experienced a slew of new residential and commercial developments.

Some major projects under consideration, under construction or recently completed include:

• A 21-unit residential development at the site of the former 3 Jalapenos at 690 Mamaroneck Ave., which is set to be completed in May.
• A new retail complex on Mamaroneck Avenue, featuring a North Shore Farms grocery and existing CVS, that was inked in January. Construction on the North Shore Farms started in February.
• A public hearing is underway for Hampshire Recreation's proposal to build 105 homes at the Hampshire Golf Club at 1025 Cove Road.
• A proposal was submitted in June to build nine residential units on Library Lane.
• A proposal was submitted in February to build five luxury townhouses at 355 Phillips Park Road.

Mamaroneck now joins Larchmont as another Sound Shore community to put the brakes on development.

In January 2016, Larchmont decided not to accept or review proposals to demolish homes or subdivide residential properties for six months. During that time, the village reviewed and ultimately overhauled its zoning code.