Larchmont board grants conditional renewal for Locals, bars amplified sound pending engineering plan

The Village of Larchmont Board of Trustees voted on Nov. 17 to grant a modified renewal of the special permit for the downtown venue Locals while barring live or amplified sound until an engineered mitigation plan is completed and approved by the village.

Mayor Bauer led the board through a review of the 2023 permit conditions and recent record, including police reports and a citation the village issued. "By regularly having events that were not limited to being private and pre‑ticketed despite the conditions of the special permit," the mayor said, the board had grounds to impose conditions. The mayor proposed a partial renewal to allow food service and private events but to "prohibit all live music, any amplified sound... and change the hours of events to be held from 8AM to 10PM," language the board adopted.

Maximilian Mihalik, counsel for the Sherman family and the applicant, told the board Locals had not been recorded above the village decibel thresholds and proposed construction of an approximately 13‑foot interior decoupling wall on the venue’s second floor, paid for by the owners, to reduce sound transmission. "The applicant is prepared to implement this step and hopes that it'll be considered by the neighbor as a comprehensive design solution," Mihalik said.

Neighbors and their attorney urged stricter enforcement. Helen Modch, who represents Jules Delvecchio, said Locals had violated the special permit’s conditions and submitted an acoustic engineer’s report alleging that the noise and vibrations experienced in the upstairs apartment were "excessive, and 2 to 4 times louder than the actual background condition." Modch said repeated citations and the record of complaints justified denying renewal or imposing more stringent preconditions.

Several residents described disruptive vibration and amplified sound affecting daily life. Michelle Cirillo, who gave her address to the board, said she and her young son had suffered for two years and stressed that the venue is "clearly positioned in the wrong place for an establishment that features amplified bands and DJs." Cirillo said she was not seeking to end live music generally but asked the board to prioritize residents’ quality of life.

Supporters of Locals emphasized the venue’s community contributions. Carolyn Vance and others described charity events, youth music programs and community gatherings held at Locals; musician Neil Herman called the space "the only venue in all of Westchester County that gives a venue for local musicians to play their own original songs." Multiple speakers said a failure to renew the permit would risk another dark storefront in the downtown.

Trinity Consultants’ acoustics consultant, Justin Lau, testified that measurement and analysis are scientific and that recent mitigation measures offered by Locals lacked the necessary calculation and verification. He noted that the village code’s decibel limits are outdoor standards and that the firm’s measurements showed event sound was "clearly audible" and often two to three times above ambient when measured by their methods.

After deliberation, trustees agreed on a conditional path forward: a limited permit that continues food service and private events but prohibits amplified sound or live music until the applicant retains a noise consultant and the village’s consultant can verify an engineering solution that prevents unreasonable disturbance to adjacent dwellings. The board directed the mayor and staff to draft the written permit language and fold the permit conditions into the certificate of occupancy to aid enforcement. The board approved the motion by voice vote.

The decision leaves open a path for Locals to resume amplified events if technical mitigation—such as the proposed decoupling wall and further engineering—proves effective in documented tests overseen by village consultants. The board noted the applicant may seek to demonstrate compliance and return the venue to broader event permissions once the mitigation is verified.

What happens next: The mayor asked staff to prepare the written decision for consideration at a follow‑up meeting (the board reserved time on Dec. 1) so that the formal conditions can be adopted in writing and the village can require the agreed‑upon reporting and consultant coordination.

Sources: Board deliberation and the public hearing on Nov. 17, 2025. Direct quotes and technical proposals come from statements by Mayor Bauer, Maximilian Mihalik (applicant counsel), Justin Lau (Trinity Consultants), Helen Modch (attorney for the neighbor), and public commenters including Michelle Cirillo and local business supporters.