Mamaroneck REVIEW THE
February 24, 2017 | Vol. 5, Number 8 | www.mamaroneckreview.com
Sandbox brings Building Dept. protocol under scrutiny
BRAVE THE SHAVE
By JAMES PERO Staff Writer
Next month, Molly Spillane’s will host its first St. Baldrick’s event in support of the largest private funder of cancer research grants. With a goal of shaving 40 heads and $15,000 in donations, the event will provide an opportunity for local residents to raise awareness and funds for childhood cancer cures. For story, see page 6. Photo courtesy stbaldricks.org
Shore Acres fire, investigation may lead to demolition By JAMES PERO Staff Writer Following a recent blaze on a single-family home in the village of Mamaroneck’s Shore Acres neighborhood and a subsequent investigation for possible arson, the village will push for the remaining structure’s
total demolition. The fire, which took place earlier this month at 947 Shore Acres Drive, suddenly engulfed a vacant home that has sat unoccupied for nine years. According to Village Manager Richard Slingerland, despite the home’s vacancy, evidence discovered at the scene of the
fire and apparent “activity” in the house have spurred an investigation from the Westchester County Cause and Origin team which is designed to handle instances of possible arson. “The building was completely involved, meaning there were flames throughout, which is highly unusual,” Slinger-
land said. “When the [village] Fire Department showed up, the building was completely engulfed.” In the meantime, the village Building Department will conduct an analysis of the damaged house to deem whether or not the FIRE continued on page 8
As the village of Mamaroneck Board of Trustees takes preliminary steps toward revising village zoning code to accommodate the now-controversial Westchester Sandbox Theatre, the efficacy of the village Building Department has fallen under scrutiny. Last week, the village board voted to schedule a public hearing on a resolution that would alter C-1 zoning districts villagewide to allow for “performing arts studios” and “performing arts schools” to apply for special permits. The initiative—which comes after the East Boston Post Road theater was cited with multiple building code violations and found to be non-compliant with zoning laws in December— marks a shift in an approach which would have altered the entirety of the C-1 district to allow theaters seating up to 125 people. According to Trustee Keith Waitt, a Democrat, the ideological shift from board Democrats comes as a result of concerns over how theaters would continue to negatively affect noise and traffic in surrounding neighborhoods. “The idea of having theaters in a C-1 district was not acceptable,” Waitt said. “There is no
real place to have a theater.” Mayor Norman Rosenlbum, a Republican, who initially criticized Democrats’ hesitance toward approving a change in C-1 districts, said that he will keep an open mind on upcoming changes. “I’m very much in favor of continuing a review,” Rosenblum said. Residents that live near the theater—more than a dozen of which showed up to a recent public hearing on the topic— have complained of excessive noise, parking conditions, and, as a result of attendance, safety concerns, since the issue over Sandbox boiled to the surface last month. According to village resident Meg Yergin—who lives adjacent to the theater—while complaints are just now surfacing regarding Sandbox, the conditions have been ongoing for some time. “Right now in the small stretch of [Boston] Post Road, between Sophia Street and the end of Stuart Avenue, our neighborhood contends with five popular businesses operating without a parking lot,” said Yergin, citing various storefronts in the area like Sandbox and a popular restaurant, Andrea’s 25 North. “The majority of these businesses operate into the night, disturbing our quiet neighborhood.” SANDBOX continued on page 5