Manor Opposes NYS Housing Compact; Tax Abatements for Certain Senior Citizens Passed

By Stephen E. Lipken

Pelham Manor Mayor Jennifer Monachino Lapey opened the Monday, February 27th Board meeting, announcing the passing of former Village Mayor Jay McNamara, 88; Joan Considine, 72 and “an incredible tragedy on the Palisades Parkway,” with the death of Michael Paradis, 57 who perished in a traffic accident.  Lapey noted that the family is requesting privacy.

Lapey went on to say that an agreement, a Memorandum of Understanding contract was signed between the Village and Fire Department. 

Next, Mayor Lapey mentioned NYS Governor Kathy Hochul’s Housing Compact, noting that  NYS Senator Nathalia Fernandez and Assemblywoman Amy Paulin both oppose it.  Lapey stressed that the Village is also against it and that a letter was written to Governor Hochul, declaring their opposition.

With Hochul’s goal of developing 800,000 new housing units, the Compact proposes setting a 3% “new homes” target for downstate municipalities and rezone areas within a half mile of an MTA station for Transit Oriented Development (TOD) to allow for at least 15 homes per acre (and 50 homes per acre in municipalities within 15 miles of NYC), in both cases overriding local  State Environmental Quality Review Act (SEQRA) zoning.

Representing Pelham Manor at New York Conference of Mayors, Trustee Maurice Owen-Michaane observed widespread municipality opposition to what they termed “one size fits all” housing legislation.  Trustee Michelle DeLillo added that this would result in significantly higher density and impact upon the schools and infrastructure, giving developers “as of right” to upzone and increase density without local Board oversight.

Lapey pointed out that Pelham Manor is a fully built out community with no Village-owned lots. She hoped that the Governor would withdraw it from the State Budget.

Then a Public Hearing was opened on proposed Local Law 2 of 2023, amending Chapter 191 of Village Code regarding tax abatements for certain senior citizens.  Village Manager Lindsey Luft said that it is a sliding scale deduction for senior citizens 65 and older, qualifying 10 seniors in the Village, six in Homestead and four, Non-Homestead; if adopted, on the 2024 taxes.

The Public Hearing was closed, and Local Law 2 passed.