Town Clarifies New "Elimination of McMansion" Law

Press Release from Stephen V. Altieri, Town Administrator

(January 9, 2003 ) On January 8, 2003, the Mamaroneck Town Board unanimously passed a law to regulate the size of homes. Known as the "Elimination of McMansions" law, it addresses the recent phenomenon of the construction of new houses and additions that are so large as to be out of proportion with other houses in their neighborhoods.

The regulation addresses the building and alteration of single and two family homes on vacant land and "teardowns" where houses are demolished and replaced by a new ones.

The "McMansion" problem has occurred in spite of current zoning regulations. The new law, by using a floor area ratio, is designed to address the problem of excessive bulk and mass. For two years members of the Town Board have grappled with a mechanism to maintain the orderly appearance of the community by prohibiting the building of houses of excessive size that appear out of character with their surroundings.

Although the new law will take effect upon its filing with the Secretary of State within the next week, there are some "grand fathering" exemptions from the law which are designed to protect those persons who already have begun the building permit application process. Anyone who already has filed building plans which violate the floor area ratio but comply with all of the requisites for a building permit, can still get a permit but must do so within the first 90 days after the law goes into effect. Thereafter, the exemption lapses and the person would have to revise the plans to comply with this law. Similarly, any person who currently has an application for a variance pending before the Board of Appeals or an application pending before the Planning Board is exempt from the law.

Supervisor, Valerie Q'Keeffe stated "this is a milestone in the Town's land-use regulations." She thanked all the council people for their thoughtful diligence in studying the complexities of architectural calculations. "It has taken us two years of deliberations to pass this law; nobody can accuse us of being precipitous. Town Administrator, Stephen Altieri, and Town Attorney, William Maker, Jr. provided outstanding professional guidance in the drafting of the law along with active participation of many residents and members of the local architectural committees." We should thank them all.

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