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Mamaroneck trustees adopt automatic 90‑day moratorium on land‑use approvals
Summary
The Village of Mamaroneck Board of Trustees on Feb. 10 adopted a local law creating an automatic 90‑day moratorium that triggers when the board sets a public hearing on a proposed zoning change; supporters said it preserves the status quo while critics warned it is vague and could harm investment‑backed expectations.
The Village of Mamaroneck Board of Trustees on Feb. 10 adopted a local law establishing an automatic 90‑day moratorium on land‑use approvals that would ‘spring’ when the board sets a public hearing on a proposed zoning change.
Supporters said the measure prevents developers from racing to obtain approvals before the board fully considers zoning amendments. A trustee who moved adoption argued the 90‑day period is clearly defined and would lift earlier if the board completes review sooner.
Haley Pedicano, an associate at Cutty and Feeder speaking for applicant Search for Change, urged the board to extend the public hearing and said the draft law ‘‘does not identify a substantive public purpose, a dire necessity, or an emergency situation which justifies potential infringement upon property and procedural rights.’’ She added that moratoria ‘‘must exist within a reasonable time frame and have a date certain for which it will expire.’’
Resident Glenn Tippett urged limits on repeated triggers of the moratorium for the same area, saying the measure could otherwise be re‑started ‘‘over and over again’’ as applications are filed and amended. The village attorney and staff clarified the moratorium applies only to applications inconsistent with the proposed zoning change and would not block building permits that do not require board approval.
The board closed the public hearing, moved to adopt the measure (recorded in the minutes as PLLD), and carried the motion by roll call; trustees present voted in the affirmative.
The law was presented as a tool to ‘‘maintain the status quo’’ during review of zoning amendments; the board said it plans to provide the land‑use boards with documentation showing why a moratorium is reasonable in each case. Next steps: the law takes effect per the village’s procedural schedule and the board will follow through with land‑use board reviews on specific proposals cited by speakers.
