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Residents press board for moratorium on Melbourne Ave. construction, say subdivision worsens flooding
Summary
Multiple Melbourne Avenue residents urged trustees to impose a moratorium on new digging and construction after describing chronic basement flooding, proposed subdivision at 308 Melbourne, and concerns that new development and tree removal will worsen groundwater impacts.
Several residents of Melbourne Avenue pressed the Village of Mamaroneck Board of Trustees on April 14 for immediate action to address chronic flooding and to halt new construction they say will worsen groundwater and basement inundation.
Dr. Robert Levitan (speaker 14), who identified himself as a resident of more than 30 years, said his property at 249 Melbourne Avenue regularly requires pumping “more than 150 gallons of water per minute through a 2‑inch hose” to municipal storm drains. He said a submitted flood mitigation plan proposes installing 225 feet of linear storm drainage from a precast basin at his front property to the municipal system, and he urged trustees to enact a moratorium on new construction on Melbourne Avenue and to commit capital funds for a village‑owned storm drainage system.
Other residents — including Carlo Reca (speaker 15), Jelena Vanmier (speaker 21) and Cara Tanenbaum (speaker 17) — described perceived procedural and oversight failures in the planning/land‑use process for the 308 Melbourne subdivision, questioned whether required soil/percolation testing was completed, and warned that removing a large tree in front of the site would further degrade drainage and increase basement flooding for adjacent properties. Several speakers urged the village to retain outside expertise (an outside arborist and enhanced engineering reviews) and to consider a longer moratorium on digging and major site work in documented flood‑prone neighborhoods.
Trustees responded that the board had not approved any taxpayer expenditure for Melbourne Avenue improvements as of the meeting; the village said it would retain an outside arborist to confirm whether the tree near 308 Melbourne is an immediate threat. The board also described plans to staff and coordinate follow‑up review: the village attorney and staff will work to ensure relevant benchmarks in the larger consent/mitigation processes are monitored and to provide residents with clearer updates on next steps.
The board did not adopt a moratorium during the meeting but approved formation of a Flood Mitigation Committee (separately) to help identify community projects, educate residents about green infrastructure and advise the board — a step residents said they welcomed. Trustees asked staff to provide follow‑up and greater transparency around land‑use approvals and to consider residents’ requests for outside reviews and possible capital funding.
