City Council:
A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE
CITY OF MOUNT VERNON REFERRING PROPOSED
AMENDMENTS TO THE CODE OF THE CITY OF
MOUNT VERNON, EXTENDING THE EXPIRATION OF
APPROVALS FROM THE CITY’S LAND USE BOARDS
TO THE CITY CORPORATION COUNSEL, CITY
PLANNING BOARD, AND WESTCHESTER COUNTY
PLANNING BOARD, AND SCHEDULING A PUBLIC HEARING
WHEREAS, the City Council of the City of Mount Vernon proposes to amend Chapter 10 (Architectural Review Board) and Chapter 267 (Zoning) of the Code of the City of Mount Vernon to extend the expiration of approvals from the City’s Land Use Boards from two years to 30 months after the issuance of a building permit (“Code Amendment”); and
WHEREAS, although one- and two-family residential projects can typically be completed within the presently allotted two years after receiving a building permit, anticipated changes to the City’s zoning after the completion of the comprehensive plan will likely lead to more multi-family or commercial projects, which have the potential to take longer to construct; and
WHEREAS, requiring applicants to return to multiple boards for approval extensions creates additional cost and burden for applicants and adds to the workload of the City’s volunteer boards and the staff that serve them, and the City Council finds that it is necessary and desirable, as a matter of public policy, to allow applicants an additional six months (for a total of 30) to complete their construction projects and to help applicants avoid these extra costs, while still requiring construction to be completed within a reasonable timeframe; and
WHEREAS, the City Council, in conjunction with its Staff, prepared a draft “Ordinance to Amend Chapter 10 (Architectural Review Board) and Chapter 267 (Zoning) of the Code of the City of Mount Vernon to Extend the Expiration of Approvals from the City’s Land Use Boards from Two Years to 30 Months” (“Code Amendment”), a copy of which is annexed to this Resolution; and
WHEREAS, the Code Amendment is classified as a Type II Action under the New York State Environmental Quality Review Act and its implementing regulations, 6 N.Y.C.R.R. Part 617 (“SEQRA”), and no further review is required in accordance with SEQRA; and
WHEREAS, the City Council is required to refer the Code Amendment to the Corporation Counsel and Planning Board for their respective reviews and reports pursuant to Section 267-59 of the Code; and
WHEREAS, Section 267-59 of the Code requires the Corporation Counsel and the Planning Board to report its recommendations to the City Council with respect to the Code Amendment within 30 days after referral; and
WHEREAS, the City Council is also required to refer the Code Amendment to the Westchester County Planning Board pursuant to Section 267-62 of the Code, and Section 239-m of the General Municipal Law; and
WHEREAS, the City Council is desirous of scheduling a Public Hearing on the Zoning Amendment for September 10, 2025, pursuant to Section 267-60 of the Code.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, that the City Council hereby designates itself as Lead Agency for review of the Code Amendment under SEQRA; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that the City Council authorizes the City Clerk to refer the Code Amendment to the City of Mount Vernon Corporation Counsel and Planning Board for their respective reports pursuant to Section 267-59 of the Code; and be it
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that the City Council authorizes the City Clerk to refer the Code Amendment to the Westchester County Planning Board in accordance with Section 267-62 of the Code, and Section 239-m of the General Municipal Law; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that the City Council shall hold a Public Hearing on the Code Amendment on September 10, 2025, at 7:00 p.m. in City Hall, Council Chambers - Room 206, 1 Roosevelt Square N., Mount Vernon, New York, 10550, where public comment will be heard regarding the Code Amendment, and written comments on the Code Amendment are requested, and will be accepted by the City Council up to ten (10) days following the close of the Public Hearing; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that the City Clerk shall arrange to fulfill the notice requirements for the Public Hearing pursuant to Section 267-61 of the Code; and
FURTHER RESOLVED, that this Resolution shall take effect immediately.