Mamaroneck REVIEW THE
September 7, 2018 | Vol. 6, Number 37 | www.mamaroneckreview.com
Town agrees to draft new comprehensive plan whole new look at the character of the town and the things that impact that character.” Town of Mamaroneck offiCharacter in particular has cials have joined their neighbors been a growing area of concerns in the village by kick-starting for many Sound Shore communithe beginning stages of a unify- ties, including the village of Maing comprehensive plan to guide maroneck who is currently in the development, traffic and town middle of its own moratorium on character. large-scale residential developAccording to Town Adminis- ment—a process that has cointrator Stephen Altieri, the town cided with an update of its own is nearing a selection of a firm 2012 comprehensive plan. to help draft a comprehensive Likewise, the village of Larchplan after a request for proposals, mont has undergone a substanRFP, was sent out last month. Ac- tial revamp of many of its land cording to Altieri, the new com- use laws and regulations after prehensive plan will—in addition a residential movement lashing to assessing current conditions of out against what many viewed the town—also consolidate pre- as overdevelopment and loss of vious, more targeted planning historical character. Even after studies done in prior years. a drawn out revamp of its land “This is really an attempt to use laws, a historic home at 40 look at some other areas regard- Ocean Ave. in Larchmont—the ing land use and traffic and recre- root of the opposition movement ation facilities, and also consol- against development—still faces idate all the plans that had been possible demolition. put together,” Altieri said. The town also imposed its Among those plans are stud- own moratorium in 2016, conies of Boston Post Road, Palmer current with Larchmont’s, to take Avenue, the town’s Local Water- a look at its own land use polifront Revitalization Plan and sus- cies. The moratorium, however, tainability studies. did not actually target any specifThe town does not current- ic developments and was enacted ly have a comprehensive plan, mostly as a preemptive measure according to Altieri, but rath- to prevent teardowns. “We have er various more targeted plans some land that we want to make that they will look to fold into a sure we have the best use of it or larger umbrella. review where we can,” said SuAccording to Altieri, impe- pervisor Nancy Seligson, a Demtus for the unifying study was in ocrat. “We want to continue to part a response over residents’ preserve community character concern with various issue in and allow for incremental changthe town, including traffic, char- es that are inevitable.” acter and a growing number of According to Altieri, after the “McMansions”—larger homes town selects one of three responand lots that some residents feel dents to its call for consultants, endanger the town’s residential the process of drafting a plan feel. will likely take between eight “Land use has changed—the months to a year. phenomenon of “McMansions,” he said. “[The plan] is taking a CONTACT: james@hometwn.com
By JAMES PERO Staff Writer
Mamaroneck quarterback Tommy Dillon plows ahead for positive yardage in the Tigers’ Aug. 31 season opener against Scarsdale. Dillon threw for 335 yards ans two TDs in Mamaroneck’s 21-7 win. For story, see page 16. Photo/Mike Smith
Village readies to roll out new mobile parking app By JAMES PERO Staff Writer Modernized parking in downtown Mamaroneck is slated for a major upgrade as the village prepares to unveil options outside of the traditional coin-operated meters. A new parking app through the company ParkMobile that will allow motorists to pay for parking on their smartphones will be rolled out in two weeks, according to Trustee Leon Potok, a Democrat. “It’ll make it more convenient to park because they can use the app to pay for the meters, and they can use the app with no additional charge,” Potok said. Additionally, residents with
smart phones will be able to add time to their meters remotely and also utilize a “wallet” feature that will enable users to store parking money in the app on their phones. Along with the app, the village will also replace multi-space meters in the village’s parking lots with more user-friendly models this month, according to Potok. Although physical payment options still exist across the village in the form of coin-operated meters and multi-space meters, motorists will be able to use the app to park in any of Mamaroneck’s metered spaces. This year, the Board of Trustees voted to change metered parking rates across the village, raising the fees from 25 cents per
hour rates to 50 cents per hour. In Westchester County, the use of mobile app-powered parking payments has gained popularity with downtown business districts in White Plains, New Rochelle, Yonkers, Bronxville, Tuckahoe and Tarrytown employing their use. According to a study of industry professionals by the International Parking Institute, in 2015—the latest year for which data is available—the prevalence of mobile app parking systems grew by 47 percent. Meanwhile, according to Pew Research, 77 percent of adults in the U.S. say they own a smartphone. While the village has finalized a parking app provider, a decision on what to do with outdated
coin-operated parking meters currently stationed on Mamaroneck Avenue has yet to be finalized. “We need to roll this [app] out and then the [village] board will decide if and when to roll out new meters on Mamaroneck Avenue,” Potok said. Upgrading the village’s parking meters is an issue that has dragged on for years after backlash against the potential installation of multi-space meters on Mamaroneck Avenue first surfacedin 2015. An ad hoc parking committee and residential survey recommended single-space meters, but the village board has yet to bring that recommendation to a vote. CONTACT: james@hometwn.com