Moratorium

The Town of Mamaroneck, along with the Villages of Larchmont and Mamaroneck, have long been desirable communities in which to live. With the pandemic pushing more people to the suburbs, we are seeing an increase in home sales. Many new homeowners are looking to make significant changes to those houses, including replacing older houses with new construction. This raises the issue of housing character and diversity, as well as construction-related disturbances to neighbors. Town Board members have been hearing concerns from residents about the scale and bulk of new houses. We have been talking about the need to address this issue for some time and had hoped that it could have been addressed last year in the Comprehensive Planning update process. With the delay in that process due to COVID-19, we have decided to work with our planning consultants, AKRF, to fast track this issue by looking at the zoning laws, regulations and variables that affect house size and scale. While we examine this issue and look forward to possible zoning changes, we have decided to enact a temporary six-month moratorium on house teardowns.   

Town Administrator Search

The search for a new Town Administrator has moved swiftly and we hope to make an offer to a candidate in the next few weeks. I look forward to introducing the community to their first new administrator in 38 years.

Compost Giveback Day

As part of Earth Day celebrations, the Town held a Compost Giveback Day and the Annual Spring Cleanup on April 24.  Residents were invited to come to the Maxwell Avenue Recycling Center to pick up rich, natural compost made from food scrap recycling to benefit their gardens. Twenty yards of material was given away. We want to thank Sustainability Collaborative volunteers Elizabeth Poyet, Mark Kramer and Judy Caputo for helping to organize the event.

Annual Spring Cleanup

The Annual Spring Cleanup was a great success. Over 65 people participated in picking up trash and recyclable material, as well as cutting invasive and destructive vines from the wooded areas, marsh and meadow of the Hommocks Conservation Area. Parents, children, Brownies, Daisies, seniors, students, State Senator Shelley Mayer and former Town Supervisor Caroline Silverstone all helped to remove 150 pounds of trash, 150 pounds of recyclable material and some large metal and Styrofoam debris from this special natural area. Trader Joe’s and The Life Church donated snacks and water that were greatly appreciated after the hard work. Sustainability Coordinator Sue Odierna and Environmental Planner Liz Aitchison did a great job organizing and planning the event.  Please remember dogs must be leashed on all trails and natural areas in the Town.

Community Solar Press Event

The Town, along with the nonprofit organization Sustainable Westchester, held a press event on April 27 to announce the Hommocks Ice Rink Community Solar Project. As reported before, the community solar project allows residents who cannot install solar panels at their homes to participate in the benefits of solar power by subscribing to a solar project offsite. In our case, the Town rented the roof of the Hommocks Ice Rink to Sunlight General, who installed solar panels that that will create power for about 150 residents in the Town. The Town decided to offer the solar energy to low and moderate-income residents and apartment dwelling residents first so they could benefit from the ten percent discount in their electric bills and give them the chance to participate in renewable energy. Sustainable Westchester is helping the Town market the energy to residents in the Hommocks Park Apartments, Washingtonville Housing Alliance, Mamaroneck Coalition for Affordable Housing and Section 8 tenants first. Assemblyman Steve Otis joined us and spoke at the event. I hope some of you heard the report on WCBS Newsradio 880. 

Community Honorees

Congratulations to local nonprofit At Home on the Sound and local resident students Caitlyn Carpenter and Nolan James for receiving Westchester County Public Health Awards

Arbor Day Celebration and Sapling Giveaway

This Friday, April 30 at 2:00 pm, the Town will celebrate Arbor Day with a tree planting in Memorial Park and a tree give-away donated by resident Pat Haggerty and Larchmont Nurseries. Two hundred tree saplings are available for residents to increase the tree canopy of the Town. Certificates for the trees will be given out, options for trees are below and certificates can be redeemed at Larchmont Nurseries.  

Our Town Needs You!

Please consider volunteering for the Town.  TheTown is looking for qualified residents to sit on the following committees or commissions.  All adult Town residents of the unincorporated area are eligible to serve.  Please contact Supervisor Nancy Seligson by email:  supervisor@townofmamaroneckny.org with a letter of interest and a resume.

1. Coastal Zone Management Commission
2. Traffic Committee

Upcoming Town Board Meetings

• Wednesday, May 5, 2021 work session begins at 5:00 pm on Zoom, the regular session begins at 8:00 pm on Zoom and viewable on LMC Media.
• Wednesday, May 19, 2021 work session begins at 5:00 pm on Zoom, the regular session begins at 8:00 pm on Zoom and viewable on LMC Media.

The Town of Mamaroneck is committed to fostering welcoming communities and an equitable, diverse and inclusive society.