Village of Mamaroneck officials greenlit the opening of a new beachside bar in Harbor Island Park this summer – despite opposition from local leaders who claim the Village didn’t give the public enough opportunity to provide input.
The Mariner – which plans to offer table, bar, and walk-up service seven days per week – is set to open Memorial Day weekend. It will be the first establishment to sell alcohol in Harbor Island Park.
The Mamaroneck Village Board of Trustees approved the proposal on Jan. 26.
Among the strongest voices of opposition is Mamaroneck resident Dan Natchez, president of the Shore Acres Property Owners Association (SAPOA), who works in environmental waterfront design consulting.
He called the proposal “ill conceived” in a letter to the Mamaroneck Village Board of Trustees, which was written on behalf of SAPOA’s 224 members, adding that it “has barely been vetted in the public.”
The proposal for The Mariner shows two wings constructed out of shipping containers, one for food and one for alcohol, that form an L-shape facing the shore.
Natchez said that because the proposed location is in a Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) Zone, any proposed facility must be more than a half-story higher than the beach or adjacent ground level. He also claimed the establishment wouldn’t meet Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) standards.
Mamaroneck Superintendent of Recreation Jason Pinto, however, said The Mariner would be fully ADA accessible, adding that the Village has one beach wheelchair available. The restaurant’s proposal to the board echoes this, though specifics have not been laid out.
The Mamariner Hospitality Group, the entity that will be running the bar, did not respond to a request for comment.
Another Mamaroneck resident, Glen Tippett, expressed dismay that what began as an idea for a food truck in the park has transpired into a full-service beach bar with little public discussion.
“Trustees told me this was only an early discussion, that nothing was being decided, and there would be ‘plenty of time’ for public comment before it is approved,” he wrote in a Jan. 26 letter in The Loop. “The Trustees need to take control, take a breath and allow some public input before rushing this through.”
Village Attorney Steven Pambianchi told Village officials that because The Mariner will operate on property owned by the municipality, it shouldn’t be subject to the normal approval needed from land use boards.
Village officials say the establishment was designed to be temporary, since the Board of Trustees only granted the Mamariner Hospitality Group a one-year license for The Mariner.
“We asked for different proposals and what [Mamariner Hospitality Group] proposed was something temporary that could be removed because they only have a one-year contract,” said Village Mayor Sharon Torres. “This way, if it’s just not popular, they can take their property and move.”
Pinto, the recreation superintendent, added that the concessionaire would be responsible for leaving the beach in good condition should the Village or restaurant owners choose not to renew the license. It is unclear at this time whether a legally binding document reflects this.
In exchange for allowing the restaurant and bar to operate on Village-owned park grounds, the Village of Mamaroneck will receive 5% of gross receipts and 7% of gross receipts for Village-sponsored events, according to the agreement term sheet.
Natchez said he takes issue with the Village approving a project that would make profit for the municipality.
“The government is not in the revenue-generating business and it’s not supposed to be making money,” he said. “It’s supposed to provide services and break even.”
The Mariner’s owners say they expect to make $140,000 in the first year, which would mean turning over $25,000 to the Village.
Live music and beach access are central to The Mariner’s vision. The term sheet notes that the bar may provide live entertainment during the season, but only Thursday through Saturday nights, and no later than 10 p.m. unless a later time is approved by the Village.
The restaurant will only serve alcohol after 5 p.m., which must be consumed within 300 feet of the bar. It is unclear whether the Village will staff a lifeguard past its normal hours of 6 p.m.
“Most of us are excited to bring something different to the harbor, to allow people who don’t live on the water to experience being able to spend time out by the water, having a meal with their friends and family,” Torres said. “We think people are going to love it once it’s here.”
