News and Events for Larchmont Residents
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From the Mayor
Dear Fellow Larchmonters,
You may have noticed the lighted garland coming down this past week…no, we didn’t forget about it. The first year we put up the festive decorations we made the decision to leave them up until Valentine’s Day – our way of fighting back the gloom of winter nights and adding a cheerful note to our downtown. We’re now preparing to
welcome spring
– ordering our planted
flower baskets
nice and early so they’ll be full and gorgeous when they go up in
mid-May
.
We’re also preparing to
welcome some new businesses
to our community, like
The Grange, Wave Hill Café, Seth Greenberg’s Just Desserts, Pop-In! Playspace & Café, Raymond Barclay’s Lamp Restoration
and
Enterprise Car Sales
,
welcome back
Write On!,
and
celebrate the anniversaries
of some of our most beloved Larchmont establishments,
Bradley’s Desserts & Café
(25 years) and
Encore Bistro Français
(20 years)!
Staying on the topic of downtown, I mentioned in December’s newsletter that the Board of Trustees would be focusing on projects and initiatives to
continue the improvements to our downtown
. Our goal is to foster an environment which
supports a vibrant retail scene, helping Larchmont thrive into the future
. Some of what we are working on will make immediate and tangible improvement, while some will bear fruit over the coming years. Here are
some of the initiatives
that have recently been passed or are in the pipeline:
•
Introducing a law to require all vacant commercial spaces to register and pay a Vacancy Fee
•
Passing legislation to require empty store windows to be covered with frosted window film only
•
Voting on legislation to clarify and broaden the Signs and Awnings law
•
Amending our Property Maintenance Code to allow for enhanced enforcement
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Implementing the Parking Study recommendations, with some benefits being to make it easier for shoppers to find on-street parking and provide revenue for improvements to the downtown.
•
Considering a zoning amendment in a portion of the Palmer commercial district (see article below for details).
An upcoming project, at the
Turtle Park Intersection
of Hall and Palmer Avenues, will also benefit the Palmer downtown by
redirecting vehicular traffic and creating pedestrian crosswalks
close to our shops, train station, and the very popular Turtle Park Playground. I couldn’t be more excited to finally address what has been a long-standing problem for those who use or live near this intersection. We expect to begin, weather permitting, in early March. Here is an engineering plan showing the new layout.
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Finally, I want to share this drone photo of
Constitution Park
. This amazing project is a
public/private partnership
between the Village and Friends of Larchmont Parks. About
80% of the cost has been donated
. Walk on by and see the progress for yourself. This previously underutilized public space is going to become
Larchmont's Village Green
and promises to be a treasured community gathering place for years to come!
Don't forget to
Spring Forward
on March 8th!
Warmly,
Mayor Lorraine Walsh
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Committee and Department Updates
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Larchmont Environmental Committee
Are you concerned about the state of our environment and interested in mitigating climate change? Come learn about the Larchmont Environmental Committee! Next meeting is March 12 at 7pm. Contact
[email protected]
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Recreation Committee
Flint Park Day Camp Registration will be on Saturday, March 7, 2020 from 9am- 12 noon at the Flint Park Playhouse. Applications and Instructions will be available one week before registration on the Village website (
villageoflarchmont.org
) or you can pick up a copy from the counter outside the Clerk's Office in Village Hall.
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Larchmont Volunteer Fire Department
The Larchmont Volunteer Fire Department is in need of fire fighters!
The Larchmont Fire Department Volunteer Application is now on line! If you are interested in becoming a future volunteer fire fighter fill in the application. Don't delay do it today. For more information, c
all Bubba Fanelli: 914-403-2387
The Annual Larchmont Fire Department Volunteer Bonfire will be on March 21, 2020 from 5pm - 8pm. The traditio
n continues! Put it in your calendar today.
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From The
Larchmont Fire Department
February is Burn Awareness Month.
The Larchmont Fire Department would like to encourage all families to use the following safety precautions when infants and toddlers are in the home:
1) Set your water heater to 120 degrees F, or just below the medium setting;
2) Use back burners and turn pot handles toward the back of the stove;
3) Keep children away from the stove while cooking - create a "no kid" zone; and
4) Never hold or carry a child with a hot drink in your hand.
By keeping these four items in mind, you are creating a safer area for everyone in your home!
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Commercial District Zoning Amendment – Status Update
By Mayor Lorraine Walsh
This Tuesday, February 25
th
, the Board of Trustees will re-open the public hearing on the commercial district zoning amendment that has been under review since April 2019. As the public hearing has been adjourned since November 18
th
to allow for revisions, I thought it would be helpful to review what has already been done and how the proposed local law has been revised in response to input from the community and consultants engaged by the Village. To read the revised local law click
here
.
At a public meeting on April 15, 2019, Elk Homes presented to the Board of Trustees a proposal for a development of their property at 108-114 Chatsworth Avenue and a petition for a zoning amendment. The proposal was for a 26-unit residential building of five stories, to stretch from Chatsworth Avenue to Wendt Avenue, which would include construction of a parking deck above the existing municipal parking lot on Wendt Avenue for Village use.
Since April…
•
The Board of Trustees, Village Planning Board, and Village Architectural Review Board have held a combined total of ten public meetings to review, discuss and receive feedback from the community on the proposed zoning amendment.
•
The Board of Trustees received guidance from our planning consultant, Pat Cleary, and engaged Frederick P. Clark Associates for a traffic report.
•
At the November 18, 2019 Public Hearing, as a result of professional input and community feedback, the Board of Trustees rejected the scope of the proposed zoning amendment and directed the Village Attorney and planning consultant to make revisions.
Currently…
•
The original proposal by Elk Homes is no longer under consideration. It is important to note that, at this time, there is no special permit application before the Board nor has a Planning Board site plan application been submitted.
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The zoning amendment has been revised by the Board of Trustees to create the opportunity for focused rehabilitation of properties within an important and particularly distressed section of the Palmer Avenue downtown.
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Two public work sessions were held in January to review and discuss the revisions.
•
The table below highlights the differences between the original and revised versions:
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What this law means…
Q.
Does this zoning apply to all properties in the commercial district?
A.
No, the law applies only to parcels within the applicable zone that meet square footage requirements.
Q.
Does this law allow any property within that zone to build a 4-story building?
A.
No, the law requires eligible parcels to apply for a Special Permit from the Board of Trustees. Applications for the Special Permit must result in “a substantial enhancement to the Village’s business district” and satisfy all the requirements for this Special Permit Use including, but not limited to, providing public amenities, building to LEED certification standards, providing its own off-street parking, and making any necessary infrastructure improvements. Projects cannot move forward until a Special Permit has been granted.
Q.
Can a project by-pass the regular Planning Board site plan process once a Special Permit has been issued?
A.
No, applicants must still go through the regular process of site plan and environmental review required by the Village zoning code.
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Larchmont Library
The public libraries in Larchmont and Mamaroneck are pleased to announce twenty-five library-sponsored events for
ONE BOOK ONE COMMUNITY 2020,
the fourth community-wide reading initiative.
The events take place throughout the month of April and are scheduled at both the Larchmont Public Library and the Mamaroneck Public Library. At twenty-five events, there are numerous opportunities for people in the community to participate.
The book selected as the centerpiece for One Book One Community 2020 –
The Masterpiece
, by Fiona Davis – serves as the jumping off place for each event.
The Masterpiece
by Fiona Davis is set primarily in Grand Central Terminal, one of the most iconic and recognized landmarks in the world.
A free comprehensive Event Guide
including detailed information about each event is now available at both libraries. Information about the events is also available on each library’s website.
One Book One Community 2020 builds on the huge success of the previous three community read initiatives in 2014, 2016 and 2018, in which over 10,000 people participated throughout Larchmont, Mamaroneck and the surrounding area each year. The libraries will be offering community-wide events aimed at bringing residents into a common dialogue that is at once thought-provoking and enlightening and that educates. The One Book One Community 2020 reading initiative for 2020 promises to be the biggest yet.
For information, contact the Larchmont Public Library at 834-2281, or the Mamaroneck Public Library at 698-1250.
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Friends of the Larchmont Public Library
Join the Friends for the 8th Annual Spelling Bee on
Sunday, March 29th at 4pm. Online registration for the Bee closes Friday, March 20. Don't miss out - visit the Friends'
website
to register! Please note that only adults may participate in the Spelling Bee.
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Stem-tastic
The STEM Alliance of Larchmont-Mamaroneck invites you to a FREE, public festival of Science, Technology, Engineering and Math on March 27th from 6pm to 9pm at Hommocks Middle School, Larchmont, NY. Learn, discover, tinker, create, build and be curious - with over 40 experiences along with dinner food, drinks and raffle prizes. Make a family night out of it! Visit the STEM Alliance
website
for ticket details and to register for the special workshops. Space is limited. For more info, visit
http://lmstemalliance.org/stem-tastic.html
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At Home on the Sound
At Home on the Sound
is a nonprofit that was founded ten years ago to ensure that older adults in Larchmont and Mamaroneck can continue to live safely and confidently in their own homes as they age. They provide transportation, social programs, and so much more to their members – adults ages 60 and up. Visit their
website
for details about joining or volunteering (or both).
Free lecture:
“Organizing a Lifetime’s Worth of Possessions”
Professional Organizer Jocelyn Kenner will present an informative workshop explaining the fundamental principles for organizing your home with specific and heartfelt attention to managing a lifetime’s worth of accumulated possessions. Free and open to everyone. Complimentary refreshments served at 3:30pm.
When:
Tuesday, February 25, 4pm – 5pm
Where: Larchmont Avenue Church, Russell Hall, 60 Forest Park Avenue, Larchmont.
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Census 2020
It is extremely important that everyone participate in the 2020 Census. Not having an accurate count of our residents can negatively impact our community
.
Residents should be receiving
an invitation to participate in the Census in the mail in mid-March.
Once the invitation arrives, you should respond for your home in one of three ways: online, by phone, or by mail. The Larchmont Library will have a kiosk set up in the Library and staff members ready to help if you need assistance.
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Village Elections
To be held for the positions of
Mayor
Trustee (2)
Wednesday, March 18
6am to 9pm
Village Center (behind the Library)
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Village Calendar
3/2
Board of Trustees Work Session
3/3
Traffic Commission Meeting
3/4
Zoning Board of Appeals Meeting
3/7
Flint Park Day Camp Registration Opens
3/8
Daylight Savings Time Begins
3/12
Parks and Trees Committee Meeting and Larchmont Environmental Committee Meeting
3/18
Village Elections and Board of Trustee Meeting
3/24
Planning Board Meeting
3/25
Architectural Review Board Meeting
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