Former Village of Mamaroneck Mayor Thomas Murphy, who opposed any development at Hampshire, didn’t appear to have the best interest of the community in mind when commenting on this project. Here are some of his most recent comments, posted on Facebook and sent to the community via email and text:
The decision on the part of the School Board “will not advance their goals” and is “an agreement that offers no tangible benefits and may indeed just be a Trojan Horse.”
Our position: In fact, the opportunity to acquire land adjacent to the school DOES advance the District’s goals by providing a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to fix the space problem it faces and add a new soccer field and 5 tennis courts. It would also potentially add space that will be needed to accommodate new students that will be generated by any future affordable housing developments.
“It would definitely weaken the Village’s Marine Recreation Zone law which has maintained public access to our waterfront and kept Mamaroneck the best small boat harbor in the area.”
Our position: Only about 4 acres of the club’s 106 acres sit in the Marine Recreation Zone. The portion of the Marine Recreation zone that would be impacted by the proposed condo development is a mere .32 acres. Hampshire is not a yacht club; it is not a beach club. It is a golf club. There are NO MARINE USES ON SITE. Land use attorneys would concur that amending the zoning code to permit the proposed condo plan would not impact any other property within the Marine Recreation zone.
“It would lead to the overdevelopment of our waterfront and the destruction of the best small boat harbor in the area.”
Our position: Amending the zoning on a very small portion of the Hampshire site will not set a precedent for other waterfront sites due to its unique size and uses.
“The Village takes issue with the explicit quid quo pro that Hampshire is proposing,” because “it puts pressure on the municipality into taking action that the residents oppose and the courts have denied.”
Our position: In 2019, more than 1,000 Mamaroneck residents signed a petition in favor of The Residences at Hampshire, which stood to bring the Village enormous benefits in terms of jobs, tax revenue and local commerce.