VILLAGE BOARD CONSIDERS CENTRO PROJECT SPECIAL PERMIT: YOUR Input Is Needed
(August 13, 2020)
Centro Project Recap: After wisely rejecting Elk Homes' original proposal for a 26-unit, 5-story apartment building with attached two-story parking structure last year, in February 2020, the Village Board responded to pressure from Elk Homes by enacting an amendment to the Zoning Law in the block between Vanderburgh Avenue and Palmer Avenue with frontage on Chatsworth Avenue. That zoning law amendment allows a four-story building to be constructed as of right, with the possibility of adding a partial fifth floor by Special Permit TO BE GRANTED IN THE SOLE DISCRETION OF THE VILLAGE BOARD, depending on the “amenities” offered by the developer.
Centro Project Now Seeking Special Permit under Revised Zoning: Elk Homes is now requesting a Special Permit to construct a 14-unit building with four full stories and a partial fifth story with two luxury penthouses. The current proposal raises numerous concerns, including an unsafe and impractical plan to access the building's parking garage via an existing narrow one-way easement off of Wendt Avenue that raises significant traffic and safety issues.
Value of "Public Amenity" For Village in Exchange for Fifth Floor: Another major issue with respect to Elk Homes' request for a Special Permit under the new law is the requirement that the developer provide the Village a significant "Public Amenity" in exchange for being granted the right to construct the partial fifth floor.
The Village Board and Elk Homes have been in behind-the-scenes negotiations about the value of the Special Permit Public Amenity, but the Village Board has not made any details of these negotiations public. While Better Larchmont believes that five stories is still too tall, if the Board considers granting the Special Permit for a partial fifth floor, the value of the Special Permit Public Amenity to be provided by Elk Homes must be commensurate with the value of the zoning rights they are being given to construct two luxury penthouse apartments worth $3.5 to $5 million.
For more detailed discussion of these and other important issues relating to Elk Homes' current proposal, please read Better Larchmont's letter of July 16, 2020 to the Village Board and Planning Board attached here.
CALL TO ACTION: We urge our neighbors to attend the Village Board's Special Meeting Friday, August 14th at 4:30 p.m. via Zoom to tell the Board that they must not trade away Village aesthetics AND lucrative and valuable zoning rights -- i.e., the right to build two luxury penthouses that will net the developer millions of dollars -- without obtaining an independent outside consultant report on the value of those rights and the appropriate level of compensation. This issue is especially critical because granting this Special Permit will be setting the precedent for future negotiations with other developers.
Thank you!
Instructions for attending the Zoom meeting:
Date & Time: Friday, August 14, 2020 4:30 pm – 5:30 pm
This is a public hearing to consider the Special Permit application submitted by Elk Chatsworth LP to construct a mixed-use building of 4 full stories and a partial 5th story with related parking at 108-114 Chatsworth Avenue (Block 606/Lot 409) which was postponed from Monday, August 10, 2020 at 4:30 PM.
All interested parties will be heard - those who wish to speak during the public comment period will be given 3 minutes per person. Written comments may be submitted to villageclerk@villageoflarchmont.org.
INSTRUCTIONS TO ACCESS THE VIRTUAL MEETING: You must install the Zoom app on your computer, tablet or smartphone. Once you have created a Zoom account, you will be able to click this link: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/84703157202 to enter the meeting. You will then be able to see and hear the live meeting, and comment on the application. You may also access the meeting via your phone: iPhone one-tap: US: +16468769923,,84703157202# or +13017158592,,84703157202#
Telephone: Dial (for higher quality, dial a number based on your current location): US: +1 646 876 9923 or +1 301 715 8592 or +1 312 626 6799 or +1 408 638 0968 or +1 669 900 6833 or +1 253 215 8782 or +1 346 248 7799 When prompted, enter the meeting ID: 847 0315 7202.
Centro Project Recap: After wisely rejecting Elk Homes' original proposal for a 26-unit, 5-story apartment building with attached two-story parking structure last year, in February 2020, the Village Board responded to pressure from Elk Homes by enacting an amendment to the Zoning Law in the block between Vanderburgh Avenue and Palmer Avenue with frontage on Chatsworth Avenue. That zoning law amendment allows a four-story building to be constructed as of right, with the possibility of adding a partial fifth floor by Special Permit TO BE GRANTED IN THE SOLE DISCRETION OF THE VILLAGE BOARD, depending on the “amenities” offered by the developer.
Centro Project Now Seeking Special Permit under Revised Zoning: Elk Homes is now requesting a Special Permit to construct a 14-unit building with four full stories and a partial fifth story with two luxury penthouses. The current proposal raises numerous concerns, including an unsafe and impractical plan to access the building's parking garage via an existing narrow one-way easement off of Wendt Avenue that raises significant traffic and safety issues.
Value of "Public Amenity" For Village in Exchange for Fifth Floor: Another major issue with respect to Elk Homes' request for a Special Permit under the new law is the requirement that the developer provide the Village a significant "Public Amenity" in exchange for being granted the right to construct the partial fifth floor.
The Village Board and Elk Homes have been in behind-the-scenes negotiations about the value of the Special Permit Public Amenity, but the Village Board has not made any details of these negotiations public. While Better Larchmont believes that five stories is still too tall, if the Board considers granting the Special Permit for a partial fifth floor, the value of the Special Permit Public Amenity to be provided by Elk Homes must be commensurate with the value of the zoning rights they are being given to construct two luxury penthouse apartments worth $3.5 to $5 million.
For more detailed discussion of these and other important issues relating to Elk Homes' current proposal, please read Better Larchmont's letter of July 16, 2020 to the Village Board and Planning Board attached here.
CALL TO ACTION: We urge our neighbors to attend the Village Board's Special Meeting Friday, August 14th at 4:30 p.m. via Zoom to tell the Board that they must not trade away Village aesthetics AND lucrative and valuable zoning rights -- i.e., the right to build two luxury penthouses that will net the developer millions of dollars -- without obtaining an independent outside consultant report on the value of those rights and the appropriate level of compensation. This issue is especially critical because granting this Special Permit will be setting the precedent for future negotiations with other developers.
Thank you!
Instructions for attending the Zoom meeting:
Date & Time: Friday, August 14, 2020 4:30 pm – 5:30 pm
This is a public hearing to consider the Special Permit application submitted by Elk Chatsworth LP to construct a mixed-use building of 4 full stories and a partial 5th story with related parking at 108-114 Chatsworth Avenue (Block 606/Lot 409) which was postponed from Monday, August 10, 2020 at 4:30 PM.
All interested parties will be heard - those who wish to speak during the public comment period will be given 3 minutes per person. Written comments may be submitted to villageclerk@villageoflarchmont.org.
INSTRUCTIONS TO ACCESS THE VIRTUAL MEETING: You must install the Zoom app on your computer, tablet or smartphone. Once you have created a Zoom account, you will be able to click this link: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/84703157202 to enter the meeting. You will then be able to see and hear the live meeting, and comment on the application. You may also access the meeting via your phone: iPhone one-tap: US: +16468769923,,84703157202# or +13017158592,,84703157202#
Telephone: Dial (for higher quality, dial a number based on your current location): US: +1 646 876 9923 or +1 301 715 8592 or +1 312 626 6799 or +1 408 638 0968 or +1 669 900 6833 or +1 253 215 8782 or +1 346 248 7799 When prompted, enter the meeting ID: 847 0315 7202.
MAKE YOUR VOICE HEARD TO PRESERVE OUR COMMUNITY |
What is Better Larchmont?Better Larchmont is a group of over 500 local residents who love our Village and our Town. We love their small-town feel, their low-key character. We love our highly-ranked school district, its walkability, its safety, its convenience. These are all the reasons why we moved here – some of us decades ago, and many more recently – to raise our families in this special place. And we want it ensure that it remains a very special place. We are surrounded by other municipalities that are experiencing exponential development, and the Sound Shore area is becoming increasingly overbuilt and congested. We believe it is crucial for our Larchmont Village and Town of Mamaroneck elected officials to approach future development in a planned and thoughtful way that will provide for appropriate and consistent development. Uncontrolled and piece-meal development will forever alter the character of our community, negatively impacting our schools, our traffic, our quality of life – all the things which make people want to move here. We need a VISION for what ALL OF US would want our Village and Town to look like in 10, 20 or more years from now. Because without a plan, without a vision, the heart and soul of our community will be whittled away and become unrecognizable, and it will be too late to do anything about it. If you agree, please complete the adjacent form to join our community of concerned citizens. |
