From The Mayor: Nuts & Bolts of Village Services and Historical Facts About Yelling, Fencing & More
By Mary Marvin, Mayor, Village of Bronxville
Feb. 24, 2021: Bronxville has been energized, particularly in the last few years, with many young families and residents.
With that in mind, I thought it helpful to share some nuts and bolts as to Village services and ways to access those you may need.
Nuts & Bolts of Village Services
-Village Hall staff issue birth and death certificates as well as handicap parking placards. However, only individuals born at New York-Presbyterian/Lawrence Hospital can have birth certificates processed in the Village. If born in any of the New York City hospitals, birth certificates are available online at www.health.ny.gov/vital-records or at the office of Vital Records, 125 Worth Street, New York, New York
-Handicap parking permits may only be issued by the community to which one pays taxes. Sharing a common postal address does not meet this criteria.
-The Village does not issue marriage licenses, though weddings can be performed at Village Hall or any location within the Village boundaries by our two Judges and the Mayor. Licenses can be obtained in nearby Eastchester, Mount Vernon, or Scarsdale,
-Pet licenses are issued at the town level at Eastchester Town Hall at 40 Mill Road.
-If you notice a street light out or a pothole on your street, go to our website, www.villageofbronxville.com under the Public Works link to report it.
-The police department is the location to register house alarm permits, request patrol of your home if you are traveling, and to leave a house key to be used in emergency situations. More detailed information may be found on the Village website under Police.
Curious Historical Facts about Bronxville
The Village functioned in its first year of incorporation (1898) with no ordinances. Our very first ordinance, in 1899, protected us from public nudity, brothels, saloons, gambling, riots, and profane language, all punishable with fines from $10 - $50.
Another first-generation ordinance prohibited playing ball on Sunday; “hallooing or yelling after dark,” and gunfire “between the setting and rising sun” (apparently daytime gunfire was acceptable!).
In a bit of high aspiration thinking, fire escapes would be required on all opera houses, but churches were exempt. In 1899, houses could be built with no notice to the Village and without regard to size or placement, as it wasn’t until 1922 that our first zoning ordinance was enacted.
Legend says Village resident and television personality, Jack Paar, was responsible for our first fence ordinance. As a result of his extreme penchant for privacy, he erected a high stockade fence on his Studio Lane property without planning board notification. Very soon after, the trustees enacted height and density rules for Village fences.
The Village encompasses just over one square mile at 666 acres. It is 12 miles from midtown Manhattan and just 2 ½ miles from the Bronx border. With an average residence size of 2.8 persons, we are very much the norm in Westchester County, though the average family size of 3.45 is higher than the Westchester average.
Also on the higher end, vis a vis the Westchester County average is the number of households of residents living alone and over 65, which in our Village is 26.4% of our residents. The overwhelming majority of our Village residences (72%) were built before 1913. Currently, 60% of our residents live in single-family homes, while 40% reside in apartments, co-ops, and condominiums.
The Village has no County roads and only one State road – Route 22. As a consequence, the Village cannot repave or improve the road in our own budget. Clearly, we have always been a unique community, and Trustee William Kraft early on envisioned even greater things for us writing on Village stationery that, “in the course of time, we will have one of the finest villages along the line.”
Photo by A. Warner
Editor's note: As a public service, MyhometownBronxville publishes articles from local institutions, officeholders, and individuals. MyhometownBronxville does not fact-check statements therein, and any opinions expressed do not necessarily reflect the thinking of its staff.
Government & History Directory
Bronxville is a quaint village (one square mile) located just 16 miles north of midtown Manhattan (roughly 30 minutes on the train) and has a population of approximately 6,500. It is known as a premier community with an excellent public school (K-12) and easy access to Manhattan. Bronxville offers many amenities including an attractive business district, a hospital (Lawrence Hospital), public paddle and tennis courts, fine dining at local restaurants, two private country clubs and a community library.
While the earliest settlers of Bronxville date back to the first half of the 18th century, the history of the modern suburb of Bronxville began in 1890 when William Van Duzer Lawrence purchased a farm and commissioned the architect, William A. Bates, to design a planned community of houses for well-known artists and professionals that became a thriving art colony. This community, now called Lawrence Park, is listed on the National register of Historic Places and many of the homes still have artists’ studios. A neighborhood association within Lawrence Park called “The Hilltop Association” keeps this heritage alive with art shows and other events for neighbors.
Bronxville offers many charming neighborhoods as well as a variety of living options for residents including single family homes, town houses, cooperatives and condominiums. One of the chief benefits of living in “the village” is that your children can attend the Bronxville School.
The Bronxville postal zone (10708, known as “Bronxville PO”) includes the village of Bronxville as well as the Chester Heights section of Eastchester, parts of Tuckahoe and the Lawrence Park West, Cedar Knolls, Armour Villa and Longvale sections of Yonkers. Many of these areas have their own distinct character. For instance, the Armour Villa section has many historic homes and even has its own newsletter called “The Villa Voice” which reports on neighborhood news.
Village of Bronxville Administrative Offices
337-6500
Open 9:00am - 4pm excluding holidays and weekends
Bronxville Police Department
337-0500
Open 24 hours
Bronxville Parking Violations
337-2024
Open 9:00am - 4pm excluding holidays and weekends
Bronxville Fire Deparment
793-6400
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