By Stephen E. Lipken

Mayor Sharon Torres began the Board of Trustees of the Village of Mamaroneck on May 13 with a Flood Mitigation Report, which includes plans to remove the Center Avenue Bridge once the Waverly Avenue Bridge is completed. “The Waverly Avenue Bridge is going to have pedestrian walkways and Center Avenue Bridge blocks water coming down the river backing up into Washingtonville,” Torres stated. Completion is slated for Summer 2025.

Mayor Torres said that the Village is applying for grant money covering 80% of the project, high end possibly totaling $500,000; the Village’s share would be $100,000 or less. Projected grants in July will cover 97.5% of floodplain restoration projects for Ward Avenue and Columbus Park.

It was also stated at the meeting that $65,000 to $70,000 in American Rescue Plan Act funds are available for the Center Avenue Bridge. 

Torres also mentioned that the Village would work with any resident with a house in a Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) designated flood area, who volunteers to raze their home, with a buyback plan giving a pre-Ida appraisal of their property. Homeowners will be contacted directly. 

In other Village business, a Public Hearing was opened, amending Chapter 242 of the Zoning Code to allow additional uses to the C-1 commercial and M-1 manufacturing zoning districts, including animal hospitals and pet care facilities. Since pet care facilities must obtain a permit from Westchester County to operate, the matter was referred to the County Planning Board for approval,  held open, and adjourned to the May 28 meeting.

Concluding business encompassed a resolution authorizing a contract with PKF O’Connor Davies as Village’s Audit Firm and the closure of Mamaroneck Avenue between the I-95 overpass and Harbor Island Park for the St. Patrick’s Parade on Saturday, March 29, 2025, from 1:30 to 4:30 p.m., with Sunday, March 30 as the rain date.

Visit www.lmcmedia.org/show/village-of-mamaroneck-board-of-trustees-meeting-5-13-24/ to view the entire meeting.