Commercial Property Owners Plead for Exemptions From Moratorium
by Harriet Kline
(April 24, 2003) At the Mamaroneck Town Board meeting on
Tuesday April 22, attorneys for two Boston Post Road property
owners
pleaded
for exemptions to the development moratorium set by the Board
in February. The Town Board, like a number of neighboring
municipalities, voted for a six month moratorium to take
an in depth, long-range look at how best to enhance the business
district within its jurisdiction.
Ronald and Melvin Getlan, current owners of the former “Cooks
property,” claimed to have worked for two years on
plans to tear down the existing property in order to build
two
structures to house two new tenants. Delay in this development
(because of the moratorium) would jeopardize his plan as
well as the commitment of the new tenants, a Commerce Bank
and Duane Reade pharmacy. The Board was quite sympathetic
to this proposed exemption but, in the end, delayed making
a decision pending more discussion and consultation with
the Board’s zoning consultant.
Contacted later, Melvin Getlan explained, “It takes
at least six months to go through all the environmental,
aesthetic and normal building department approval processes.
Construction is at least another six months. With the moratorium,
it could be another six months - or longer, if they choose
to extend it.
“How long can our tenants wait?” he asked.
A second appeal for an exemption was unanimously approved
by the Board. The owner of the Ferndale Shopping Plaza, Nick
Pepe, was granted an exemption because his plans require
only minor internal renovations to an existing (but vacant)
store. The new tenant, Ballet des Enfant, will not be changing
the outside of the existing property.
ROCKLAND AVENUE TRAFFIC ISSUES
Last October a number of Rockland Avenue residents petitioned
the Board for help in mitigating traffic issues on Rockland
Avenue, Avon Road and Mohegan. As is the usual practice,
the Board turned over these concerns to the Town Traffic
Committee. The Traffic Committee came back with recommendations
for the installation of three stop signs along Rockland Avenue
(at Crest, Woody Lane and Avon Road).
At a lengthy series of public hearings, residents debated
the pros and cons of the various proposed stop signs. One
resident, with his young son in his arms, pleaded for “anything
to help” resolve the safety hazards of the area. All
participating residents described Rockland Avenue as a narrow,
curvy and very hilly road that lacks sidewalks and is unable
to deal with the increase in traffic, speed and trucks.
Ed Clarke, one of the petitioning residents, voiced his
frustration with the Traffic Committee’s “translation” of
resident suggestions into stop sign recommendations. He again
pleaded for lowering speed limits in some areas of Rockland
Avenue and the placement of restrictions on through trucks.
Traffic Committee representative Rich Mari indicated that
the increase in the number of trucks reflect “local
deliveries and services” such as Internet purchase
deliveries, garden maintenance, and cleaning services.
At
the conclusion of much heated discussion, the Town Board
voted to install stop signs at two intersections – Rockland
and Avon and Rockland and Crest. The Board took no action
regarding the Woody Lane intersection. Supervisor O’Keefe
also promised to continue to study spped and truck traffic
on Rockland Avenue.
The creation of no parking zones at Rockland and Weaver
and at Sackett Circle (December 1 to March 30 only) was unopposed
and unanimously passed by the Board.
* * *
All authorizations and contracts proposed by Town Administrator
Altieri were unanimously approved by the Board. Mr. Altieri
also alerted the Board to an emergency repair of the East
Brookside Drive bridge. Declaration of an “emergency” by
the Board waived standard bidding procedures.
Other Board business included the scheduling of the following
public hearings: May 7 to discuss a Village Square Shopping
Center moratorium hardship application; May 7 to discuss
a Huguenot Drive no parking ordinance; May 21 to discuss
a local law relating to alternate member of the Planning
and Zoning Boards.
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