Mamaroneck REVIEW THE
June 8, 2018 | Vol. 6, Number 23 | www.mamaroneckreview.com
Federal committee OKs Army Corps project By JAMES PERO Staff Writer
In an effort to put more teeth into a Westchester animal cruelty law, officials are looking at amending a database that requires animal abusers to be registered within a countywide registry system. For story, see page 6.
Westchester Sandbox Theatre moves to ‘Maker Zone’ By JAMES PERO Staff Writer Westchester Sandbox Theatre will start fresh in the village of Mamaroneck after residential backlash, building violations and zoning laws forced them to move out of its East Boston Post Road home. The Sandbox Theatre at its new location, situated on Waverly Avenue in Mamaroneck, will get back to providing children ages 5 through 17 acting classes, voice lessons and more after foregoing some of its operations due to location issues last year. According to Brenda Ferrante, a spokesperson for Sandbox, the new space—which opened its doors on May 1—will feature larger rehearsal spaces, renovated fa-
cilities and more parking than the previous location on East Boston Post Road. Additionally, Sandbox has partnered with the White Plains Performing Arts Center where students will have their own rehearsals in a 410-seat theater. The Sandbox, then located at 931 E. Boston Post Road, came under scrutiny in 2017 after an inspection by the village Building Department determined that the business was both skirting the zoning district’s allowable use and was also in violation of multiple building code regulations, including a state code citation for lack of sprinklers. While the village Board of Trustees mulled a potential resolution that would have changed village code in C-1 districts to allow for the operation of dance, music
and acting schools, ultimately that idea was tabled and Sandbox owner Dan Ferrante opted to change locations in the village. “To say the least, it was challenging during the time we were trying to fight to keep the theater,” Ferrante said. “But in the course of that challenge we ended up in a really wonderful situation where we got this rehearsal space and to join in with the Westchester Performing Arts Center.” In Mamaroneck, public backlash over the Sandbox came at a time when residents were actively pushing back against businesses that they felt were unfit for their neighborhoods. Among the businesses under scrutiny was Ralph’s Italian Ices & Ice Cream which eventually
shut down after a zoning appeal launched by residents determined that the business had been misclassified by the Building Department. Later, Ralph’s was also found to be operating with an expired health permit. In the wake of follies by the Building Department, the Board of Trustees hired a consulting firm to evaluate processes and procedures by that department. That study was concluded this year and among other recommendations, called for immediate introduction of online submissions for applicants, the discontinuation of all submissions by mail, and increased oversight and training for employees. CONTACT: james@hometwn.com
A long-considered flood mitigation project received another green light last week with the passage of a congressional funding bill that would foot the majority of the multimillion dollar cost. On Tuesday, May 28, a congressional House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure passed a large-scale flood mitigation bill, the Water Resources Development Act of 2018, which included funding for a plan to modify large swaths of the Mamaroneck and Sheldrake rivers in an effort to prevent flooding in the village of Mamaroneck. The authorization of the bill marks a pivotal step for the plan— which would be carried out by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers— and will fund other flood mitigation projects for coastal-lying municipalities across the country. According to the bill, the funding breakdown would see the federal government foot 65 percent of the total $80 million cost with state, county and village responsible for the rest. In total, the estimated contribution from the federal government would be $53 million, while slightly less than $29 million would also come from the remaining parties. The village of Mamaroneck would
have to contribute between $8 and $10 million toward the project, as it currently stands. In January, a pivotal report was completed by a chief engineer for the Army Corps, but that document has yet to be signed off on for final approval by the federal agency’s Lt. Gen. Todd Semonite. Specifically, the flood mitigation plan, which has been in the works since 2007, would deepen and widen portions of the Mamaroneck and Sheldrake rivers in addition to constructing 7,500 feet of concrete retaining wall to reduce the effects of large scale floods— the likes of which have caused millions of dollars in storm damage over the past two decades. This iteration of a flood mitigation plan marks a second-coming of a previous flood mitigation effort dating back to the 1980s when a similar proposal from the Army Corps was sidelined due to lack of support from non-federal partners. According to the Army Corps the flood mitigation plan could decrease first-floor flooding in the village’s flood plain by 86 percent, and could significantly minimize the impact of storms like those seen in 2007, which caused a total of $50 million in damage to the village. CONTACT: james@hometwn.com
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