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Trustees Review Draft 'Maker Zone' Overlay for M1 Industrial Area
Summary
Consultant Matt McDonough presented a draft 41‑page 'Maker Zone' overlay for the village's M1 industrial district, proposing an optional overlay of artisan and light‑production uses, development bonuses tied to public benefits, and added flood‑plain and neighbor protections; trustees agreed to further public outreach before adoption.
A consultant outlined a draft optional overlay zoning district on June 8 designed to give owners in the village's M1 industrial area the choice to develop under a new "Maker Zone" code that would allow artisan production, shared kitchens, small‑scale food production, brew pubs, arts uses and other light‑manufacturing activities while preserving existing M1 rights.
"The name of the code is the Maker Zone," said attorney Matt McDonough, who said the overlay would be added as sections 3.42.160 through 3.42.177 of the zoning code and is based on the village's 2016 vision plan and the 2023 comprehensive plan. McDonough said the overlay is optional for property owners: applicants would elect in writing to be reviewed under M1 or under the overlay when they file an application.
Trustees heard the proposed geographic boundary described as roughly the Sheldrake River on the north, Mamaroneck Avenue on the east, the Metro‑North railroad tracks on the south and Rockland Avenue on the west. The draft sets development ceilings rather than automatic entitlements: McDonough described a maximum height of 40 feet (with limited bonuses available), a maximum floor‑area ratio of 1.5 and a 50 percent lot coverage cap. He also described built‑in protections including a 30‑foot side and rear setback from abutting residential parcels, a 100‑foot setback from the Sheldrake River floodway or top of bank (whichever is greater), limits on de‑icing salt within that buffer, and full compliance with FEMA chapter 186 floodplain rules.
McDonough explained that additional density would be earned by providing a demonstrable public benefit—publicly accessible parking, enhanced green infrastructure beyond the minimum, or a stormwater fund contribution. "The planning board must make written findings on substantial evidence that the benefit is proportional to the added development," he said, and any benefit would be secured by a covenant recorded against the property.
Board members welcomed the clearer draft and urged careful public engagement before adoption. "This law captures a lot of the conversation that happened for, like, 10 years, and it's much easier to read than the last draft we had," one trustee said. Trustees discussed holding charrettes or adding a discussion item to an upcoming regular agenda rather than adopting the law over the summer; staff and consultants agreed to take additional community feedback and return with a schedule for outreach.
The consultant and trustees said the overlay does not rezone residential areas and does not change the village's M1 entitlements unless a property owner elects to use the overlay. The board agreed to continue review and public outreach; formal hearing and adoption steps were not scheduled at the work session and will be determined after further community engagement.
