Planning Board opposes broad inclusion of pet-care uses in C2, raises parking and drop-off concerns

The Planning Board reviewed a Board of Trustees referral proposing to allow pet-care facilities as a special-permit use in the C2 central commercial district and to change parking requirements to an employee-based standard (one space per full-time employee).

Village counsel summarized the proposal and said the intent was to align pet-care and animal-hospital special-permit standards and to adopt an employee-based parking metric. Several board members objected to applying the use broadly along Mamaroneck Avenue (C2), citing on-street congestion, regular double-parking, a nearby bus stop and likely noise and drop-off impacts that could conflict with restaurants and retail uses.

Members suggested that where public parking exists (for example near Hunters’ Tier, as discussed previously), a limited allowance could be considered, but said making the change across all C2 areas would invite problematic uses in congested street-front locations. The board also warned that a strict one-space-per-employee standard could leave no customer parking and would repeatedly place discretionary pressure on the board to require additional spaces case by case.

The board agreed to draft an advisory memo to the Trustees opposing broad inclusion of pet-care facilities in C2, recommending retention of stricter parking standards where needed, and asking the Trustees to consider targeted siting (areas with public parking) rather than a blanket change.