Glenwood/Glen Head Civic Spot

Oyster Bay Town Board to Consider Landmarking Maine Maid Inn

2011-11-12T20:38:00.010-05:00

The Town of Oyster Bay has scheduled a hearing for Tuesday, November 15, at 10 A.M. to consider landmarking the Maine Maid, a structure on Old Jericho Turnpike in Jericho that is more than 200 years old.

Also known as the Valentine Hicks House, the building is one of the few surviving remnants of the Quaker community that thrived on Long Island during the 18th and 19th centuries. It has been a stage coach stop, post office, and way station on the Underground Railroad. It is said that runaway slaves made their way to the property by sailing across Hempstead Harbor, landing on the eastern shore in the vicinity of the community that later came to be known as Glenwood Landing, and then traveling farther east overland through Glen Head.

Valentine Hicks was the first president of the Long Island Rail Road. For the past 50 years, his homestead was a restaurant. Frank Sinatra dined there after performing at the Westbury Music Fair. Charles Dolan regularly held meetings in a second-floor room to develop a company known as Cablevision. Grumman engineers gathered in the dining room to discuss designs for the lunar lander over lunch.

The restaurant is now closed, and the property is presently in foreclosure. The East Norwich Civic Association submitted a landmark application to the TOB Landmarks Commission, which recommended that the Town Board landmark the site.

The East Norwich Civic Association has incurred various expenses related to the application and has retained an attorney to assist in the application process. Opposition from a bank that is foreclosing on the property is anticipated. Contributions can be sent to the East Norwich Civic Association, P.O. Box 126, East Norwich, NY 11732.

The hearing will be held at Town Hall, 54 Audrey Avenue, Oyster Bay.

Hempstead Harbor Water Trail: Your Input Needed

2011-11-12T20:24:00.008-05:00

The Town of North Hempstead is conducting a survey to gather information that will be used to create a canoe and kayak trail in TNH waters (Little Neck Bay, Manhasset Bay, and Hempstead Harbor). The grant was awarded through the New York State Department of State Division of Coastal Resources and funded through the NYS Environmental Protection Fund. The consultant is Nelson, Pope and Voorhis.

To increase the likelihood that some launch sites will be established in Hempstead Harbor, especially on the eastern shore, it is important for people who live in eastern shore communities to weigh in on the matter. Click here to fill in the quick and easy survey, which is managed by the consultant using a service called Survey Monkey. You can fill out the survey even if you are not a canoer or a kayaker. If you wish, at the end of the survey, you can sign up for more information.

On several occasions over the years, Tom Halton (then a Roslyn Harbor Trustee) and the Glenwood / Glen Head Civic Association proposed a canoe and kayak put-in at the western end of Scudders Lane. Sometimes the proposal has prompted positive feedback from TNH; other times the feedback has been less than enthusiastic.

The Town of Oyster Bay has received a similar grant for a canoe and kayak trail in TOB waters (Hempstead Harbor, Oyster Bay, and Cold Spring Harbor). The civic association will pass along information as it becomes aware of developments. Meanwhile, more information about each project may be available on the Town of North Hempstead website or the Town of Oyster Bay website.

The Glen Head / Glenwood Civic Council, an organization made up of civic groups in Glen Head and Glenwood Landing, is an adviser to the Hempstead Harbor Protection Committee, an inter-municipal organization made up of the municipalities surrounding Hempstead Harbor.

Vote Running Against Appoving New Coliseum in Nassau County Special Election

2011-08-01T23:25:00.003-04:00

With votes counted in 54 percent of precincts, the vote is running against approving plans for The Hub development to fund a new coliseum and related projects in Nassau County, New York. According to the Nassau County Board of Elections, as of 11:29 P.M., 31,300 votes had been cast in favor of the proposal and 42,688 had been cast against it.

County-wide Vote Scheduled for Aug. 1 on Funding for Coliseum Redevelopment

2011-07-15T15:08:00.007-04:00

Nassau County has scheduled a special election for Monday, August 1, on a referendum to fund a a new sports and entertainment complex at the Nassau Coliseum site in the Town of Hempstead. Referred to as the Hub, the proposed development would include a sports arena that would accommodate the New York Islanders professional hockey team and a minor league baseball stadium. Should residents approve the measure, County Executive Edward Mangano has said that construction would likely begin in 2012 and the facility would open no later than 2015.

Vote at your local polling place unless you received other instructions from the Nassau County Board of Elections. Polls will be open from 6 A.M. to 9 P.M.

The referendum reads: Shall a Local Law be approved to establish “The Nassau County Hub Area Development Program” (the “Hub Program”) and to (i) authorize the expenditure of up to $400,000,000, to be bonded by the County and expended solely for the construction of projects in the Hub Area including a new Nassau Coliseum, a minor league baseball stadium, and other economic development projects, (ii) established a line on property tax bills dedicated to the payment of the debt service associated with the Hub Program, and to (iii) to establish a special revenue fund dedicated exclusively to the payment of the debt service on the bonds issued pursuant to the Hub Program?

Suspects in Glen Head / Glenwood Burglaries Arrested

2011-04-28T19:48:00.007-04:00

Nassau County Police have arrested three suspects in connection with three burglaries in the Glen Head / Glenwood Landing area in Nassau County, New York, according to Detective Lieutenant Commanding Officer Harun Begis in a letter to victims dated April 19.

In the letter, Detective Lieutenant Begis reported that there have been eight residential burglaries in the community since January. "The Nassau County Police Department has dedicated significant resources to enhance patrols in the area," he said. "We are actively pursuing every possible lead to apprehend and successfully prosecute the person(s) responsible."

Community Acts to Strengthen Security

2011-04-06T13:26:00.003-04:00

Residents of Glen Head and Glenwood Landing have responded to a recent rash of break-ins by establishing an email address and email list to keep neighbors informed about security breaches. They also are posting Nassau County Police Department Crime Stopper signs throughout the community. A reward of up to $5,000 has been established for information leading to arrests through Crime Stoppers.

Glen Head - Glenwood Business Association Replacing Avenue of Flags Brackets

2011-03-03T21:00:00.004-05:00

The Glen Head - Glenwood Business Association seeks donations to replace the failing brackets that for many years have held flags on Glen Head Road and Glenwood Road on Memorial Day, Fourth of July, and Labor Day.

The Glen Head-Glenwood Business Association, with support from Glenwood Landing American Legion Post #336, has maintained the Avenue of Flags for many years. Recently, wear and tear have taken a toll, and the brackets that hold the flags must be replaced.

To make a donation of any amount, please make a check payable to Glen Head - Glenwood Business Association 2011 American Flag Sponsorship. Please mail to or drop off at First National Bank of Long Island, 10 Glen Head Road, Glen Head, NY 11545, attention John Mulder.

Home Invasions: Best Protections

2011-03-03T20:39:00.002-05:00

North Shore High School
Parent-Teacher-Student-Association
TOWN MEETING
Home Invasions in Our Community
Representatives from the Nassau County Police, 6th Precinct
Wednesday, March 9, 2011
High School Cafeteria at 7 P.M.
Glen Head, New York
Find out how to protect yourself, your property, and your home
ALL WELCOME

Historic Glenwood Landing Cemetery Landmarked

2010-12-18T18:38:00.019-05:00

An historic cemetery in Glenwood Landing, where some 30 members of the Mott family are buried, has been landmarked by the Town of North Hempstead. The Motts settled on the eastern shore of Hempstead Harbor some four decades before the Revolutionary War in the communities now known as Glenwood Landing and Roslyn Harbor.

The application for landmark designation was submitted to the town by long-time Glenwood Landing resident Sally Sotirovich. Mrs. Sotirovich's research shows that the cemetery is the resting place of four generations of Motts.

The oldest surviving marker, above, dated 1817, is the gravestone of Robert J. Ross (photo courtesy Mrs. Sotirovich). Robert Ross was the first husband of Abigail Mott, daughter of Glorianna Coles and Revolutionary War veteran Jackson Mott. In 1776, Jackson Mott signed the Association at Cow Neck, which opposed the “oppressive acts” of the British Parliament, and fought in the Battle of Long Island as a member of the Wolver Hollow Militia. He died in 1828 and is buried at the Glenwood Landing site.

Settled in 1681, Glenwood Landing has a rich history of farming, sand mining, milling, oystering, fishing, boat building, and energy supply and production. In the late 1800s and early 1900s, the community was a popular resort destination for celebrities and others, who vacationed at Karatsonyi’s Hotel, below, and similar facilities around Hempstead Harbor (postcard courtesy Gold Coast Public Library).

The Mott Cemetery is the first historic site in Glenwood Landing to be landmarked. Mrs. Sotirovich’s research shows that the Mott family arrived in Glenwood Landing and Roslyn Harbor in 1734 from Motts Point in Port Washington. In 1751, Jacob Mott purchased the “Lower Mott Farm,” which extended from Hempstead Harbor to present-day Cody Avenue and included much of present-day Glenwood Landing.

According to Mrs. Sotirovich, the cemetery was located on the farm. The first interment appears to have been about 1802. It is probable that Jacob is buried in the cemetery, but no headstone remains. Jackson, the Revolutionary War soldier and Jacob’s son, lived on the north shore of Motts Cove in a house thought to have been built about 1700. He operated two mills, one located near the front entrance of the present-day Swan Club and one on the south side of present-day Scudders Lane opposite Vine Street.

Jackson Mott’s grandson, Stephen Mott, who also is buried in the cemetery, was the captain of the steamship Idlewild, below, which regularly sailed from Peck’s Slip, near the present-day South Street Seaport in lower Manhattan, to Glenwood Landing (photo courtesy Port Washington Public Library).

Following a hearing in June conducted by the Town of North Hempstead Historic Landmark Commission, the commission recommended landmark status for the cemetery. On September 14, the Town Board unanimously approved a resolution introduced by Councilman Thomas K. Dwyer designating the cemetery as a landmark.

The cemetery is owned by heirs of the Mott family and is not open to the public. A group of local residents is forming the Friends of Mott Cemetery to help preserve and maintain the cemetery and its gravesites. For more information, contact MottCemetery@aol.com.

Happy 216th Birthday William Cullen Bryant

2010-10-31T01:03:00.006-04:00

Saturday, Oct. 30: Friends of Cedarmere, a group incorporated this year, reports progress in partnering with Nassau County to reopen Cedarmere, a county-owned historic site and nature preserve. The group also hopes to restore the legacy of William Cullen Bryant (1794 to 1878), a poet, founder of the Republican Party, confidant of Abraham Lincoln, and editor of New York City's Evening Post for 50 years.

Cedarmere, Bryant's home on Hempstead Harbor in Roslyn Harbor, was the "it" place for the 19th century's most distinguished authors, artists, architects, and landscape designers. The Bryant Library in Roslyn and Bryant Park adjacent to the New York Public Library in Manhattan are named for the 19th century man of letters. A statue of Bryant, installed in 1911 shortly after the New York Public Library was completed, still graces the park. Many people will remember memorizing Thanatopsis, or Meditations on Death, Bryant's most famous poem, in high school—an activity that is still frequently included in the high school curriculum.

If the Friends effort is unsuccessful, Cedarmere could conceivably be sold and developed at some point in the future, and many aspects of Bryant's historic significance could slip into oblivion. The group recently met to discuss developments and plans for the future. The event included a celebration of Bryant's 216th birthday, complete with an appearance and a reading by the man himself, played by Frank Hendricks of Glen Cove, shown above cutting his birthday cake.

Cleanup To Begin on Sunoco Property in Glen Head

2010-10-24T20:20:00.005-04:00

The Town of Oyster Bay and Sunoco appear to have agreed on a price for the town to purchase the recently closed gas station on the southeast corner of Glen Head Road and Glen Cove Avenue, where another potential buyer had been considering opening a 7-Eleven. A contract has been reviewed by attorneys for the town and Sunco. An environmental review has been completed. The review found "minor" contamination. Sunoco has agreed to conduct the cleanup, which is expected to begin within the next two weeks. The process will probably take about a month and will conclude with an inspection by the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation. It appears that the town and Sunoco will not sign a contract to transfer ownership until the middle of January.

Gubernatorial Debates 2010 at Hofstra

2010-10-10T11:14:00.002-04:00

According to a press release from Hofstra University, seven candidates for Governor of New York State will appear together in a debate at Hofstra on Monday, October 18, at 7 p.m. The debate will be broadcast live by News 12 and several other cable or Internet outlets. An excerpt from the press release is below.

NEWS 12, NEWSDAY, AND HOFSTRA UNIVERSITY
PARTNER TO BRING THE FIRST GUBERNATORIAL DEBATE TO NEW YORK

News 12 Networks, Newsday, and Hofstra University have partnered to present the first New York State Gubernatorial debate on Monday, October 18 at 7:00 p.m. On television, the cable-exclusive event will air live on News 12 Long Island, News 12 Westchester, News 12 Hudson Valley, News 12 The Bronx and News 12 Brooklyn. It will also be carried on Time Warner Cable’s NY1 and YNN, providing coverage throughout the state.

The debate will be held in front of a live audience of invited guests, including community members, local leaders, and Hofstra students. All seven candidates in the race have been invited to attend, and have confirmed:

Charles Barron (Freedom Party)
Andrew Cuomo (Democratic Party)
Kristin Davis (Anti-Prohibition Party)
Howie Hawkins (Green Party)
Jimmy McMillan (Rent is too Damn High Party)
Carl Paladino (Republican Party)
Warren Redlich (Libertarian Party)

In addition to airing on cable, News 12 and Newsday, as part of their commitment to serve as leading resources of news and information in New York, are streaming the event live on www.news12.com and www.newsday.com, making the debate available to anyone with Internet access.

Scudders Pond Restoration Plan Unveiled

2010-05-07T18:49:00.008-04:00

Learn about the important quality improvements planned for Scudders Pond and the Scudders Pond Watershed at a public meeting on Wednesday, May 26, at 7 P.M. at North Shore Country Club.

The Hempstead Harbor Protection Committee has secured multiple grants to upgrade storm drains and make other improvements in and around Scudders Pond and to prepare a restoration plan. At the meeting, Cashin Associates, the consultant on the project, will present the plan and take public comments.

The Hempstead Harbor Protection Committee is an inter-municipal organization made up of the nine municipalities surrounding Hempstead Harbor. The Glenwood / Glen Head Civic Association and the United Civic Council of Glen Head and Glenwood Landing serve as technical advisors.

The project is funded by the New York State Environmental Protection Fund administered by the New York State Department of State and by the Nassau County Environmental Bond Act, with the Village of Sea Cliff administering the funding.

The meeting is hosted by North Shore Country Club, 500 Shore Road, Sea Cliff.

What's Your Vision for Muttontown Preserve?

2010-05-03T20:32:00.010-04:00

Let Nassau County know how you think Muttontown Preserve—and all the nature preserves in Nassau County, Long Island, New York—should be managed at a public planning meeting on Saturday, May 22, from 9:30 A.M. to 12:30 P.M.

Identify and explore community ideas and desires for the Muttontown Preserve Master Plan currently being drafted for the county by Saratoga Associates, a consulting firm.

According to county staff, the Muttontown plan will be used as a prototype for creating other master plans for other preserves throughout the county.

This is the second community meeting held to obtain community input for the Muttontown plan. A standing-room-only crowd turned out for the first meeting in March.

The May meeting will be held at The Hoffman Center, 6000 Northern Blvd.m East Norwich, NY 11732. RSVP.

Hempstead Harbor Highlights Water Quality Improvements in New York State

2010-04-19T20:25:00.026-04:00

NYS Department of Environmental Conservation Commissioner Pete Grannis, right, with Glen Cove Mayor Ralph Suozzi, visited Hempstead Harbor yesterday, kicking off a state-wide tour of sites that showcase the most significant environmental improvements achieved in New York State since the first Earth Day was celebrated 40 years ago.

Commissioner Grannis announced the anticipated opening of Hempstead Harbor to shellfishing, an activity that has been prohibited in Hempstead Harbor for decades owing to poor water quality. State studies show that the water is now clean enough for the ban to be lifted. If federal data confirm state findings, shellfishing soon will be permitted in certain designated areas.

Much of the improvement in water quality is due to the work of the Hempstead Harbor Protection Committee, an inter-municipal organization made up of the nine municipalities surrounding Hempstead Harbor, as well as local community groups and state agencies that serve as technical advisors.

Each municipal government—Nassau County, the towns of Oyster Bay and North Hempstead, the City of Glen Cove, and the villages of Sea Cliff, Roslyn Harbor, Roslyn, Flower Hill, and Sands Point—appoints a representative and pays modest dues to participate in the committee.

The NYS Department of State, NYS Department of Environmental Conservation, United Civic Council of Glen Head and Glenwood Landing, New York Sea Grant, Coalition to Save Hempstead Harbor, and Glenwood / Glen Head Civic Association serve on the committee as technical advisors.

Since the Hempstead Harbor Protection Committee was established 15 years ago, it has completed water quality improvement and harbor management plans and has secured nearly $3 million in grants to implement plan recommendations.

“The projects the committee undertakes—like storm drain inserts or water quality testing—may not always seem terribly exciting, but they are awfully important, ” Glenwood / Glen Head Civic Association President Patrice Benneward said.

“Progress is often painstakingly slow, but the local and state commitment to the Hempstead Harbor Protection Committee has been tenacious. We appreciate all that our state agencies and municipal governments have done and look forward to continuing to work together on many projects that continue to improve and protect Hempstead Harbor.”

Other speakers included Department of Environmental Conservation Regional Director Peter Scully, Town of Oyster Bay Supervisor John Venditto, Town of Hempstead Councilman Fred Pollack, Hempstead Harbor Protection Committee Chairperson Bill Clemency, Glen Cove Mayor Ralph Suozzi, Village of Sea Cliff Mayor Bruce Kennedy, Village of Roslyn Harbor Mayor Yvette Edidin, Carol DiPaolo of the Coalition to Save Hempstead Harbor, and Pat Aitkin of Friends of the Bay (see photos below).

The civic association has supported the Hempstead Harbor Protection Committee since the committee's early days by providing letters of support for grant applications, assisting with public outreach, and helping to set the environmental agenda. The Coalition to Save Hempstead Harbor has been testing water quality in the harbor for more than a decade in partnership with the committee, Nassau County, the Town of Oyster Bay, and the NYS Department of Environmental Conservation.

Among the activities that have contributed to the overall environmental improvement of Hempstead Harbor are an upgrade in wastewater treatment at Glen Cove, conversion of Roslyn’s wastewater treatment facility to a pump station, designation of a no-discharge zone for watercraft, closure of two incinerators and a landfill, implementation of a nitrogen limit for Long island Sound, removal of rotting barges from a nearby sand mining operation, and wetland restoration.

In addition to many grants aimed directly at water quality improvement, the municipalities on the committee have recently obtained grants to construct canoe and kayak trails in Manhasset Bay, Hempsead Harbor, Oyster Bay, and Cold Spring Harbor.

Peter Scully, Director, NYS Department of Environmental Conservation, Long Island Region, flanked by Carol DiPaolo, Coalition to Save Hempstead Harbor (right), Oyster Bay Town Councilwoman Rebecca Alesia, and Oyster Bay Supervisor John Venditto.

Bill Clemency, Deputy Mayor, Village of Flower Hill, and Chair, Hempstead Harbor Protection Committee.

Carol DiPaolo, Coalition to Save Hempstead Harbor.

Eric Swenson, Director, Hempstead Harbor Protection Committee, left, and GeesePeace founder David Feld.

Fred Pollack, Town of North Hempstead Councilman and Representative, Hempstead Harbor Protection Committee.

Sea Cliff Mayor Bruce Kennedy and Roslyn Harbor Mayor Yvette Edidin.

Pat Aitken, Director, Friends of the Bay.

Members of the Coalition to Save Hempstead Harbor, a non-profit organization made up of concerned citizens that is a technical advisor to the Hempstead Harbor Protection Committee, an inter-municipal organization made up of local government representatives.

NYS DEC Commissioner to Visit Hempstead Harbor

2010-04-15T23:23:00.004-04:00

Mark the 40th anniversary of Earth Day by celebrating the environmental improvements that have been achieved in Hempstead Harbor at a media event with New York State Department of Environmental Conservation Commissioner Pete Grannis and the Hempstead Harbor Protection Committee.

The event will begin at 1 p.m. on Sunday, April 18, at Morgan Park, Glen Cove. All those who enjoy and care about Hempstead Harbor and invited to attend.

The anticipated opening of a portion of the harbor to shellfish harvesting for the first time in more than 50 years and the important role that citizens can play in bringing about environmental improvements will be emphasized.

The Hempstead Harbor Protection Committee (HHPC) is an inter-municipal organization made up of the municipalities surrounding the harbor. HHPC has obtained grants to create harbor management and water quality improvement plans, improve conditions at Scudders Pond, and begin development of a canoe/kayak trail in Hempstead Harbor, Oyster Bay, and Cold Spring Harbor—among many other important environmental projects.

The Glenwood / Glen Head Civic Association is a technical advisor to HHPC and a strong supporter of the committee's work, as is the Coalition to Save Hempstead Harbor, a non-profit organization.

DIRECTIONS TO MORGAN PARK from Glen Cove Fire House at northern end of NYS Rt. 107: Turn right onto Brewster Street. At first light, make a left onto Mill Hill Road (take the fork going UPHILL). At the top of the hill bear left onto a street called The Place. Make the third left onto McLoughlin Street (you will see a sign for Morgan Park there). Follow McLoughlin Street almost to the end, and make a right onto Germaine Street. The entrance to the parking lot will be on the left.

Appraisals Obained for Former Sunoco Station in Glen Head

2010-03-10T06:51:00.004-05:00

Reliable sources report that discussion is underway between the Town of Oyster Bay and the owner of the lot on southeast corner of Glen Head Road and Glen Cove Avenue for town purchase of the property, that both parties have obtained appraisals, and that there is a significant difference between the two appraisal figures.

Montesano Is Glen Head's New State Assemblyman

2010-02-10T07:36:00.003-05:00

The Associated Press reports that Mike Montesano (R) won yesterday's special election in New York State Assembly District 15, which includes much of Glen Head.

According to the Associated Press, Mr. Montesano received 72 percent of the vote in the special election against Matt Ming (D). He will finish the term of Rob Walker (R), who resigned to accept a position in the administration of Nassau County Executive Ed Mangano, and will be required to run again this November.

Candidates for NYS Assembly District 15

2010-01-19T22:03:00.018-05:00

The candidates for the New York State Assembly seat in District 15 are Matt Meng (D) of East Norwich and Mike Montesano (R) of Glen Head.

A special election will be held on February 9 to fill the seat vacated by Rob Walker, who resigned to become Chief Deputy County Executive in the Mangano administration. Ed Mangano (R) was sworn in as Nassau County Executive on January 1.

The 15th Assembly District includes part of Glen Head and Glenwood Landing. Other communities in the district are Bethpage, Brookville, East Garden City, East Hills, East Meadow, East Norwich, Greenvale, Hicksville, Jericho, Lattingtown, Laurel Hollow, Levittown, Locust Valley, Matinecock, Muttontown, New Cassel, Old Brookville, Old Westbury, Oyster Bay, Oyster Bay Cove, Plainview, Salisbury, Syosset, Upper Brookville, and Westbury.

To learn whether you live in the 15th Assembly District, contact the Nassau County Board of Elections (516-571-2411) or consult the interactive map maintained by the New York State Board of Elections.

THE CANDIDATES

Mr. Ming operates The Little Garage, a BMW specialty shop, in Huntington. Mr. Montesano, an attorney, maintains an office in Glen Cove.

Both men have run for other offices: Mr. Meng for Oyster Bay Town Clerk and New York State Senate; Mr. Montesano for Nassau County Legislature

A former New York City Police Detective and Emergency Medical Technician, Mr. Montesano has been Acting Justice in the Village of Roslyn Harbor since 2003. He was a prosecuting attorney in Roslyn Harbor from 1998 to 2003, has taught law courses at the New York Institute of Technology, and received the Practitioner of the Year award from the Nassau County Criminal Court’s Bar Association.

Mr. Meng has been active in civic affairs for many years. He has been a member of the Nassau County Dept. of Parks, Recreation & Museums Advisory Board and president of the East Norwich Civic Association and served on the board of the Friends of the Bay. He helped to found and has served on the boards of the Long Island Drinking Water Coalition, United Civic Associations of North Oyster Bay, Long Island Environmental Voters Forum, and STOP Avalon Coalition.

Travel Back in Time with the Glenwood Landing Historical Society

2010-01-16T19:19:00.004-05:00

The recently formed Glenwood Landing Historical Society will hold its inaugural event on Saturday, January 23, at 7 P.M. at Glenwood Community Church, 71 Grove Street.

The evening will focus on Glenwood Landing during the late 19th and early 20th centuries. Historical photographs, postcards, articles, atlases, censuses, and other memorabilia will be displayed.

There also will be an opportunity to learn about Glenwood Landing celebrities and some of the nation's oldest sailing vessels in continuous services.

Light refreshments will be served.

Special Election to Fill Assembly Seat in Part of Glen Head

2010-01-10T07:22:00.007-05:00

Rob Walker (R) has resigned the New York State Assembly seat he first won in a special election in 2005, succeeding Assemblywoman Donna Ferrara (R).

Mr. Walker and Ms. Ferrara represented the 15th Assembly District, which includes some of Glen Head and extends northeast to Oyster Bay and southeast to Hicksville and East Meadow.

Mr. Walker resigned to join the administration of Nassau County Executive Ed Mangano as Chief Deputy County Executive. Ms. Ferrara resigned to accept an appointment to the New York State Workers' Compensation Board.

A special election to fill the 15th Assembly District vacancy left by Mr. Walker's resignation will be held on Tuesday, February 9. According to the Nassau County Board of Elections, the names that will appear on the ballot will be finalized on January 15 and available on January 16. The names will be posted here, on The Glenwood / Glen Head Civic Spot.

Whoever wins the special election will be required to run again in November, when the Assembly term normally expires.

Mr. Walker, 34, was Mr. Mangano's campaign manager. In 1996, he was a legislative intern in Mr. Mangano's office and has served as the Town of Oyster Bay’s Deputy Commissioner of Parks, helped to implement the town’s environmental bond program, and was assistant to Oyster Bay Town Supervisor John Venditto.

Before his election as County Executive in November 2009, Mr. Mangano was a Nassau County Legislator representing the 17th Legislative District, which includes Hicksville, Bethpage, and Plainedge. Mr. Walker's mother, Rose Marie Walker, replaces Mr. Mangano as Legislator in the 17th Legislative District. Mrs. Walker had served on the Oyster Bay Town Council since 2003.

TOB Considers Purchase of Glen Head Lot

2009-10-31T07:48:00.007-04:00

According to information mailed to many local residents in October, the Town of Oyster Bay (TOB) is exploring the possibility of purchasing the former Sunoco gas station property on the southeast corner of Glen Head Road and Glen Cove Avenue for use as a pocket park or village green.

Glen Head - Glenwood Civic Council President George Pombar reports that TOB has confirmed that the town is seeking an appraisal of the property and will negotiate with whomever owns the property once the appraisal is complete and a decision is made about whether to move forward with purchase. According to Mr. Pombar, TOB anticipates that the appraisal process will conclude in about a month.

TOB's interest in the property came after the Civic Council approached the town about the desirability of passive open space at this highly visible, central location.

The Sunoco Corporation put the property on the market about two years ago. Four months ago, an Old Brookville resident signed an agreement for purchase, intending to sign a lease with the 7-Eleven Corporation to open a 24-hour-a-day, 7-day-a week convenience store.

Concerned about such a use at this location, seven local civic associations (all members of the Glen Head-Glenwood Civic Council, Inc.), approached the new owner about their misgivings. The purchaser subsequently abandoned the 7-Eleven plan for an agreement with the owner of the Super Seven store on Glen Cove Avenue. This agreement envisions a convenience store that would, supposedly, close by 10 P.M. and that would include an unmanned automatic car wash.

"We have heard from many residents that a pocket park or village green would be desirable at this central, highly visible location, and we were quick to let the Supervisor know," Mr. Pombar said. “The Supervisor's office has advised us that TOB is proceeding with an appraisal of the property and will negotiate with whomever the property owner is at the time the appraisal is ready, which is expected sometime next month."

Check back for news about the future of the site as it becomes available.

Civics Comment on Glenwood Landing Power Station Permit Renewal

2009-09-28T22:12:00.005-04:00

The United Civics of Glen Head and Glenwood Landing today submitted comments to the New York State Dept. of Environmental Conservation on National Grid's application to renew its State Pollution Discharge Elimination System (SPDES) permit for the Glenwood Landing Power Station.

Other groups that submitted comments are the Citizens Campaign for the Environment, Coalition to Save Hempstead Harbor, Hempstead Harbor Protection Committee, Town of Oyster Bay, and Network for New Energy Choices.

THE CIVIC COUNCIL'S COMMENTS

The Glen Head – Glenwood Civic Council is an alliance of the six civic groups (Glen Knolls-Glen Head Estates, Glenwood-Glen Head, Harbor View, Hill Terrace, Todd Estates civic associations and the Radcliff Manor neighborhood association) active in the neighborhoods closest to the Glenwood Landing Power Station. Our member organizations are particularly interested in land use and water quality issues that impact Hempstead Harbor and nearby neighborhoods.

The Council, along with its member organizations, often works with the Coalition to Save Hempstead Harbor on matters of mutual interest and serves as technical advisor to the Hempstead Harbor Protection Committee. Collectively, we pride ourselves on our efforts to balance the many competing interests in our community from a civic-based point of view.

Our comments concerning the application to renew the SPDES permit for the Glenwood Landing Generating Station follow:

• Immediate, cost-effective steps should be taken to reduce the entrainment and impingement of marine life.

We understand that a fish return system, continuously operated traveling screens, and aggressive pump shutdowns when one or both of these systems are not operating are already in place. We believe that adding variable speed pumps to these measures could significantly reduce the toll on marine life in a cost-effective manor. We believe that variable speed pumps should be installed and brought on line as soon as possible. The installation of variable speed pumps should be accompanied by a monitoring schedule sufficient for determining the effectiveness of the pumps and the impact of their use on marine life.

We do not believe that it is appropriate to delay installation of variable speed pumps until 2013, when the Public Service Agreement (PSA) between National Grid/KeySpan and the Long Island Power Authority expires. Rather, when the PSA expires, the permit and advisability of other recommended technologies should be reevaluated based upon whatever decisions are made about the Glenwood Landing facility at that time.

• The owner of the Glenwood Landing facility and the identity of the permit holder should be clarified.

The permit, fact sheet, and application should list the actual owner of the facility. Although National Grid has acquired KeySpan, KeySpan is listed as the owner/operator in the SPDES fact sheet and is referred to again in that document. The permit requirements should pertain specifically to the operation of the Glenwood Landing facility regardless of any change in who operates it or who holds the permit. If KeySpan is somehow attached to the permit, will this have any bearing on future operation, installation of best technologies, or permitting?

• More details concerning closed-cycle cooling that are specific to the Glenwood Landing facility should be provided.

We understand that closed-cycle cooling is currently considered the most effective means of reducing the amount of water used for cooling, thereby producing a presumed 95% reduction in the entrainment and impingement of marine animals. We also understand that DEC has determined, at least for the moment, that closed-cycle cooling is not appropriate for the Glenwood Landing facility due to limited space and other considerations.

As this decision could, potentially, be a significant factor in determining whether a utility presence is maintained or expanded in Glenwood Landing in the foreseeable future, with significant impacts on the environment, quality of life in nearby neighborhoods, and tax base, we request answers to questions such as:

• How much space would a closed-cycle cooling system require for the Glenwood Landing facility operating at the current capacity (below 15%).

• How long it would take to design and install such a system?

• Could such a system be retrofitted if, in the future, the Glenwood Landing facility began operating at more than 15% capacity?

• What is the maximum distance from operating units that a closed-cycle system can efficiently be sited? Must the system be located directly on the waterfront? Could the siting of the system threaten public acquisition of the former propane storage facility on Shore Road in the Town of Oyster Bay?

• What specific local ordinances are referenced in the fact sheet relating to siting of a closed-cycle cooling system at the Glenwood Landing facility? Why are these ordinance relevant (in past conversations with this community, the utilities have expressed the view that they are not bound by local ordinances)?

• What are the local, state, and federal noise limitations for the site and what are the noise levels emitted by a closed-cycle system?

• What is the source of the water for the system and how is the water delivered?

• What are the dimensions of the cooling tanks that would be required at the Glenwood Landing facility operating at the present capacity and/or the structures that house them? What would the dimensions be if the operation of the facility were stepped up?

Any evaluation of closed-cycle cooling for the Glenwood Landing facility should include informing the community about all aspects of the system that will affect residents and resources, including the potential for increased noise levels, the size and location of any structure needed to house the system, the efficacy and/or impacts of siting the system beyond the immediate area of the specific power generation units, and the water resources and effluent requirements needed to operate the system.

If these impacts are determined to be minimal, the benefit of closed-cycle cooling (i.e., a major reduction in the mortality of marine life in Hempstead Harbor) would likely outweigh them. Assuming that the Glenwood Landing facility continues to operate after the expiration of the PSA and if, after a full assessment of the potential impacts and efficacy of closed-cycle cooling for the facility, it is determined that closed-cycle cooling is the best technology for the site, the permit should require that this technology be used in 2013.

Groundwater Contamination Confirmed at Glenwood Landing Waterfront Propane Field

2009-09-28T22:04:00.002-04:00

Research conducted independently by a Newsday reporter and the Coalition to Save Hempstead Harbor reveals that groundwater under the former propane field on the west side of Shore Road in Glenwood Landing is contaminated. The contaminant belongs to a group of chemicals called tetrachlorides (THCs), solvents that are often associated with the dry cleaning industry.

The property is located south of Tappen Beach. For the last half of the last century it housed an underground gas storage facility operated by the Long Island Lighting Company. Earlier in this decade, the gas storage facility was decommissioned, and the soil was cleaned up to residential standards.

Under the Glenwood Landing Waterfront Revitalization and Redevelopment Plan, the property was rezoned from industrial to water dependent use—a new town-wide zone created as a result of the plan.

The Glenwood / Glen Head Civic Association and Coalition to Save Hempstead Harbor proposed the site for public acquisition under the Town of Oyster Bay’s (TOB's) environmental bond act. Today the site remains in utility hands and is on both the Nassau County and TOB priority lists for land acquisition.

The present owner or owners (the Long Island Power Authority, KeySpan, National Grid, or some combination thereof) say that they are not responsible for cleaning up the groundwater contamination because the contamination was not caused by the utilities.

According to the Coalition, the New York State Dept. of Environmental Conservation says that the groundwater contamination would, or could, be capped when and if construction occurs at the site and that this approach would not be unusual.

Currently, we have no information about how much contamination is entering the harbor, what the impact might be, or what the cost of the cleanup might be. It's also not clear how, or if, the use of the property, i.e., recreational or residential, might affect the groundwater cleanup.

We also have no information about a responsible party trail or how aggressively the trail is being pursued.

These developments have been passed along to key personnel at the Town of Oyster Bay, who say the are pursuing the matter.

Tappen - Sea Cliff Beach Cleanup Scheduled for Sept. 26

2009-09-08T20:37:00.005-04:00

The Coalition to Save Hempstead Harbor invites everyone who treasures Hempstead Harbor to help clean up the Glenwood Landing - Sea Cliff shoreline on Saturday, September 26, from 9 A.M. to Noon.

Volunteers will comb Tappen and Sea Cliff beaches for debris, which will be collected and weighed before being transported to a waste facility. The data obtained will be forwarded to the Ocean Conservancy for inclusion in a massive database useful to researchers.

The effort, sponsored by the American Littoral Society and the Ocean Conservancy, is part of a worldwide event known as the International Coastal Cleanup. The Coalition has been the Beach Captain for Tappen and Sea Cliff beaches for the last 16 years.

Meet at the entrance to Tappen Beach or the concession stand at Sea Cliff Beach (rain date, Sunday, September 27). For more information, contact Barbara Karyo (759-9361) or Barbara Segal (676-3032).

Budget Hearing: Glenwood-Glen Head Garbage District 2010 Expenditures

2009-09-02T11:08:00.003-04:00

A hearing about the 2010 budget for the Glenwood-Glen Head Garbage District, a special district established by the Oyster Bay Town Board in 1927, will be held on Thursday, September 3, at 5 P.M. in the garbage district office at 977 Glen Cove Avenue in Glen Head.

Below is the public notice posted by the district:

Notice is hereby given to residents of the Glenwood-Glen Head Garbage District in the Town of Oyster Bay, County of Nassau, State of New York, that a public hearing will be held within the District at the Glenwood-Glen Head District Headquarters 977 Glen Cove Avenue, Glen Head, New York 11545, on Thursday, September 3, 2009, at 5:00 p.m. for the purpose of conducting a hearing regarding the estimate of proposed expenditures for the Glenwood-Glen Head Garbage District for the year 2010.

This hearing is called pursuant to Section 215 of Article 13 of the Town Law of the State of New York, as amended.

A copy of the estimate of proposed expenditures for the year commencing January 1, 2010 shall be available for inspection during regular business hours at the Glenwood-Glen Head Garbage District located at 977 Glen Cove Avenue, Glen Head, New York 11545.

By order of the Board of Garbage Commissioners of the Glenwood-Glen Head Garbage District.
Angelo T. Stanco, Secretary
August 20, 2009

Demonstrators Protest 24/7 Business Operation in Glen Head

2009-08-22T15:10:00.022-04:00

Despite soaring temperatures and high humidity, about 100 residents of Glen Head and Glenwood Landing gathered this morning on the sunny southeast corner of Glen Head Road and Glen Cove Avenue to "say no" to round-the-clock business operation in Glen Head.

Passersby by waved and drivers beeped as the demonstrators expressed concern about the noise, loitering, and trash often associated with 24/7 businesses. Carrying signs with the messages "No 24/7 7-11," "No One Wants 7/11 Here," and "We Will Never Patronize," the demonstrators made it clear that they believe Glen Head is an inappropriate place for convenience store businesses that stay open all night.

The site is currently owned by Sunoco. 7-Eleven has expressed strong interest in locating a convenience store on the lot. A local developer is in contract to purchase the site, reburbish it, and lease it to a tenant who would operate a 7-Eleven store. According to the developer, the 7-Eleven company would require round-the-clock operation.

To express your views to 7-Eleven, contact Joseph DePinto, President and Chief Executive Officer, and Robert Cozens, Vice President, Northeast Division, at 972-828-7011 / 7-Eleven, Inc., Post Office Box 711, Dallas, TX 75221.

"Just Say No to 24/7 Retail in Glen Head" Rally Planned

2009-08-19T19:02:00.004-04:00

Residents of Glen Head and Glenwood Landing opposed to the possibility of a round-the-clock convenience store at the southeast corner of Glen Cove Avenue and Glen Head Road plan to hold a protest rally at the site on Saturday, August 22, from 9:30 a.m. until about noon.

The organizers invite the participation of all neighbors who share their concerns about the noise, traffic, trash, and security problems that such a use would bring to Glen Head.

The site is currently owned by Sunoco. A local developer is in contract to purchase the site, refurbish it, and lease it to a tenant who would open a 7-Eleven convenience store.

Glen Head Says No to 7-Eleven

2009-08-19T11:52:00.003-04:00

The intersection at Glen Head Road and Glen Cove Avenue, known locally as the Four Corners, may soon change—and not for the better in the view of the Glen Head - Glenwood Civic Council, an organization made up of six civic groups in the neighborhoods surrounding the intersection.

At a meeting with the Civic Council’s board and community residents, George Abi Zeid, a local developer and President of GAZ Realty, confirmed he is in contract to purchase the lot on the southeast corner of the intersection, where, until recently, a Sunoco station operated. Mr. Abi Zeid said his original plan was to refurbish the site and then lease to a tenant who would operate a 7-Eleven convenience store.

“If the deal goes through, this will be the first and only 24-7 operation in Glen Head or Glenwood Landing in living memory,” said George Pombar, President of the Glen Head – Glenwood Civic Council. “It will generate congestion, noise, and security problems that will have a negative impact on both the residential community and local business.”

The lot is presently owned by the Sunoco Corporation. The 7-Eleven company has targeted the site for a retail outlet, even though there are already a 7-Eleven and a Super-7 on Glen Cove Avenue in the City of Glen Cove within a mile of the Four Corners, as well as at least six delicatessens.

The lot is zoned general business under the Oyster Bay town code. “I was shocked and dismayed to learn that the town code does not contain a provision to permit reasonable restrictions on hours of operation in a general business zone,” said Patrice Benneward, President of the Glenwood-Glen Head Civic Association. “It makes me wonder if the code discriminates between quiet neighborhoods like Glen Head and major thoroughfares like Jericho Turnpike,” she said. “If it doesn’t, it certainly should.”

Residents have reacted loudly and passionately to the potential of a around-the-clock operation in Glen Head, circulating petitions that state signers will boycott all 7-Elevens if a 7-Eleven opens at the Four Corners. “We have enough trouble with trash and loitering when businesses close by10 PM. What is it going to be like if we have a 24/7 operation?” asked Glen Head resident John Dussel. “It’s the last thing we need here.”

Mr. Abi Zeid said he does not want to antagonize his neighbors and is prepared to walk away from the deal. “However, since 7-Eleven views the site as highly desirable, it’s likely that other parties interested in operating a 7-Eleven will materialize if Mr. Abi Zeid withdraws.”

Letters to 7-Eleven CEO Joseph DePinto and regional VP Joseph Cozens expressing Glen Head resident concerns have not been answered.

Community Meeting about Sunoco Property in Glen Head

2009-08-10T21:21:00.007-04:00

THE LOCATION OF THE MEETING HAS BEEN CHANGED TO THE NORTH SHORE HIGH SCHOOL CAFETERIA

The Glen Head - Glenwood Civic Council will hold a community meeting on Tuesday, August 18, at 8 P.M. in the auditorium at North Shore High School.

The meeting will focus on the Sunoco property on the southeast corner of Glen Head Road and Glen Cove Avenue, where a local developer is in contract to purchase the lot and refurbish it to lease to an occupant who would operate a 7-Eleven convenience store.

Civic representatives have met with the developer and the Town of Oyster Bay, contacted Sunoco and 7-Eleven, and expressed opposition to 24/7 operation in Glen Head. Civic group representatives will report on these activities, provide brief updates on other issues they have been following, and solicit community input.

The 7-Eleven company has identified the Sunoco property as a priority location. The company requires its stores to operate 24/7 and sells more cold beer than any other U.S. convenience retailer. The lot is zoned general business, which permits 24-hour operation.

The Glen Head-Glenwood Civic Council, Inc., is made up of the Glen Knolls-Glen Head Estates, Glenwood/Glen Head, Harbor Hill, Hill Terrace and Todd Estates civic associations and the Radcliff Manor Neighborhood Association.

7-Eleven May Open on Sunoco Property in Glen Head

2009-08-09T19:51:00.012-04:00

The 7-Eleven company, a subsidiary of the Japanese-based firm Seven & I Holdings Company, is interested in opening a 7-Eleven store on the Sunoco property at the southeast corner of Glen Head Road and Glen Cove Avenue.

7-Eleven requires its stores to operate 24 hours a day, 365 days a year; the company sells more cold beer than any other U.S. convenience retailer; and Christmas and other holidays are the company's biggest sales days. Based on collective living memory, this would be the first 24-hour operation in central Glen Head. The parcel is zoned general business. The town code contains no restrictions regarding hours of operation under the general business zone.

There are more than 36,300 7-Eleven stores worldwide. 7-Eleven became a subsidiary of Seven & I Holdings Company in 2007. That same year, the parent company announced it would add 1,000 7-Eleven stores in the U.S. and has been delivering on that policy ever since.

The Glen Head - Glenwood United Civic Council has contacted the Town of Oyster Bay, Sunoco and 7-Eleven and met with the developer currently in contract to purchase and renovate the site. A petition opposing a 7-Eleven is circulating.

If you oppose 24/7 operation in Glen Head and do not want the traffic, new hang-out, and interference with local business that a 7-Eleven store would bring, let the 7-Eleven company know.

Joseph DePinto, President and Chief Executive Officer, and Robert Cozens, Vice President, Northeast Division, can be contacted at 972-828-7011 / 7-Eleven, Inc., Post Office Box 711, Dallas, TX 75221.

Site Plan Approved for Glenwood Landing Waterfront Apartments

2009-08-09T18:26:00.005-04:00

On Tuesday, August 4, the North Hempstead Town Board unanimously approved the site plan proposed by Glen Harbor Partners for a waterfront condominium apartment complex on Hempstead Harbor in Glenwood Landing south of the Power Station.

However, an amendment to the resolution of approval proposed by Councilman Fred Pollack and approved by the board stipulates that public access and open space issues remain open.

The United Civic Council, on behalf of the six civic groups in the neighborhoods closest to the site, submitted a lengthy list of comments, questions, and concerns relative to site plan review and requested a response in writing and a follow up meeting. Many issues remain unresolved. Among them, a flood evacuation plan for the vehicles of apartment complex residents.

The Coalition to Save Hempstead Harbor also presented a lengthy list of concerns and comments.

Public Access and Open Space

The Glen Head - Glenwood United Civic Council requested that details regarding public access and open space be clearly outlined in a legally enforceable document, such as an easement or right of way, that runs with the land.

In response to the civic council's request for a wider waterfront boardwalk, the applicant agreed to locate benches in bump outs along the the public 10-foot-wide walkway shown on the site plan. The Coalition to Save Hempstead Harbor pointed out that the setback between the boardwalk and the bulkhead is unclear.

The applicant said the walkway would provide access at both the northern and southern ends of the boardwalk, there would be no gate, three public parking spaces would be located near the southern side of the boardwalk, and the complex's homeowner association would be responsible for ongoing maintenance.

The applicant said that a parcel on the east side of Shore Road will be "dedicated" to the town after cleanup. Presumably, the parcel will remain open space. There has been no public discussion about how or when the parcel will be landscaped, whether access will be provided, the activities that may or may not be permitted, or how access will be provided.

The civic council also requested that the town construct a canoe/kayak launch at the western end of Scudders Lane as soon as possible. A Hempstead Harbor Blueway Trail is a priority in the Hempstead Harbor Management Plan. The Glenwood / Glen Head Civic Association originally submitted the request for a non-motorized water trail in 2003 with Tom Halton, then a Roslyn Harbor Trustee, through the Environmental Legacy Fund, the town's environmental bond act.

The civic council also requested that the landscaping plan be revised to include more native flowering perennials attractive to birds and butterflies, including an area between the pool and patio and the boardwalk that is currently shown as a lawn.

Sewer Line

The applicant said that Glen Harbor Partners had obtained letters from Nassau County and the Village of Sea Cliff regarding acceptance of a sewer line to be constructed along Shore Road and through Sea Cliff, terminating at the treatment plant in Glen Cove. The town had previously said that all approvals are continent upon the sewer line.

In July, the Glenwood / Glen Head Civic Association met with Nassau County Legislator Diane Yatauro and representatives from the Dept. of Public Works regarding the sewer line. The county agreed to assess whether hookups for homes near the apartment complex might be feasible.

The applicant also said that the bulkhead would replaced, HVAC equipment would be located on the ground rather than the roof, and the elevator shafts would be located in a clock tower in the center of the roof.

Helpful Comments on Glen Cove Waterfront Proposal from Coalition to Save Hempstead Harbor

2009-06-20T14:05:00.010-04:00

The sample letter below, from the Coalition to Save Hempstead Harbor, expresses the view that the waterfront development project proposed for Glen Cove Creek is unsuitable in its present form, largely because the scale of the project is too large.

The Coalition invites people who agree with this sentiment to use the letter as a template for expressing their positions to the the City of Glen Cove. The invitation could not be more timely. A public hearing on the Draft Environmental Impact Statement (DEIS) for the project is scheduled for June 25 at 8 P.M. at City Hall, Main Chambers, 9 Glen Street. Written comments will be accepted until July 10. Comments may be submitted to Lois Stemcowsky, Planning Board Secretary, City Hall, 9 Glen Street, 3rd Floor, Glen Cove, NY 11542 (516-676-4448).

See The Glenwood / Glen Head Civic Spot posting Hearing Set for Draft Environmental Impact Statement on Glen Cove Creek Development, June 20, for more links relevant to the project proposed for the Glen Cove waterfront.

================

Sample Letter prepaed by the Coalition to Save Hempstead Harbor:

I am opposed to the RXR Glen Isle mixed-use waterfront development project proposed for the north side of Glen Cove Creek for the following reasons:

• The density of the development is out of character with our community.

• The 12-story buildings will destroy treasured view corridors.

• The 12-story buildings are out of character with any development along our harbor shoreline.

• The 12-story buildings will set a precedent for other development in Glen Cove.

• The additional traffic generated by the development will choke local roadways.

• Construction and the density of the development have the potential to adversely affect fish and bird habitats for areas adjacent to the development.

• Lighting and noise will adversely affect our quality of life.

• The proposed development will create overwhelming demands on fire and police protection, emergency services, schools, and other services.

Whatever is built along the waterfront should be scaled down from the current proposal to protect the local environment and preserve our quality of life and our coastal landscape.

Hearing Set for Draft Environmental Impact Statement on Glen Cove Creek Development

2009-06-20T10:57:00.013-04:00

The City of Glen Cove has accepted the Draft Environmental Impact Statement (DEIS) submitted by RXR Glen Isle Partners, LLC, for the proposed waterfront development project on Glen Cove Creek.

The traffic study portion of the DEIS included the intersection at Glen Cove Avenue and Glen Head / Glenwood roads. It found a traffic impact at this and other locations that impact Glen Head and Glenwood Landing and suggests possible mitigation measures.

A public hearing is scheduled for June 25 at 8 P.M. at City Hall, Main Chambers, 9 Glen Street. Written comments on the Draft Environmental Impact Statement are requested and will be accepted until July 10. Comments may be submitted to Lois Stemcowsky, Planning Board Secretary, City Hall, 9 Glen Street, 3rd Floor, Glen Cove, NY 11542 (516-676-4448).

The scope for the DEIS, which outlines the topics that must be addressed in the DEIS, and the Glen Cove Master Plan also are available online.

Site Plan Review Set for Apartments on Glenwood Landing Waterfront

2009-06-20T09:48:00.011-04:00

The public hearing for site plan review of the waterfront apartment complex proposed for Shore Road in Glenwood Landing south of the Glenwood Landing Power Plant is scheduled for Tuesday, August 4, at
7:30 P.M. at North Hempstead Town Hall, 220 Plandome Road, Manhasset (516-869-6311).

Members of the Town Board also function as planning board members, that is, the Town Board functions as the Planning Board. Hearing dates are set by resolution. Once a date is set, it can change without notice. Site plan review usually occurs on the same evenings as Town Board meetings and is usually at the top of the agenda.

The Glenwood / Glen Head Civic Association and others who commented during the Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) process were informed that many items of concern were appropriate topics for discussion during site plan review rather than EIS review. Public participation at this stage of the process is extremely important. Plan to attend the hearing and send your written comments to the Town Board/Planning Board.

The site plan submitted by the developer, Glen Harbor Partners, is available at the Gold Coast Public Library. Several postings about the proposed apartment complex can be found here at the Civic Spot (perform a search using terms such as "apartments" and "Glen Harbor").

Progress Made on Public-Private Partnership for Cedarmere

2009-04-25T23:45:00.016-04:00

At a meeting earlier this month, Nassau County Parks Commissioner Jose Lopez and other county personnel informed the ad hoc Friends of Cedarmere steering committee that repairs and basic garden maintenance will continue at Cedarmere for the foreseeable future, but there are no plans to reopen the facility this year.

Located on Bryant Avenue in Roslyn Harbor, Cedarmere is the historic home of William Cullen Bryant (1794 to 1878), one of the most influential public figures of the 19th century. The statue of Bryant, above, was sculpted by Herbert Adams (1848 to 1945). It was installed in Bryant Park outside the main branch of the New York Public Library in 1911, when the library was completed.

At the meeting with the steering committee, the county agreed to work with the committee in forming a friends group and provided some basic budget information needed for a business plan. The steering committee reported on the meeting with the county at a public meeting for Cedarmere supporters held at Trinity Church on April 25.

The next step is for the friends group to incorporate and present a preliminary business plan to the county. Meanwhile, tax deductible contributions to the Friends of Cedarmere can be made through the Roslyn Landmark Society. Make checks payable to Roslyn Landmark Society and specify Friends of Cedarmere on the check.

Volunteers are needed. Expertise in business, law, grant writing, horticulture, and web design is particularly needed. The Friends of Cedarmere steering committee can be emailed at wcbryant@optonline.net.

“Anybody who was anybody in the 19^th century was entertained at Cedarmere,” Paul Baserman said. A pianist and member of the steering committee, Mr. Baserman produced two recitals at Cedarmere last year. “Bryant is this area’s only direct link with Abraham Lincoln, and the gardens of the estate are jewels.”

Bryant's great granddaughter donated Cedarmere to the county in 1975. The facility opened to the public in 1994. Since then it has been publicly accessible on a limited basis (see Friends of Cedarmere to Meet, April 18; Save Cedarmere: Contact Nassau County Representatives, March 28; Important Local, Publicly Owned Historic Site in Jeopardy, March 9).

Bryant Avenue and Roslyn’s Bryant Memorial Library are named for Bryant. He is buried in Roslyn in the cemetery located on the north side of Northern Boulevard just east of the Long Island Rail Road trestle.

Friends of Cedarmere to MeetApril 25, 2009

2009-04-18T17:52:00.005-04:00

The Friends of Cedarmere steering committee seeks community input for a business plan that will keep open the historic home of William Cullen Bryant. A meeting is scheduled for Saturday, April 25, 2009, at 10:30 A.M. at Trinity Episocopal Church Parish Hall in Roslyn. The committee also will report on an April 15 meeting between the steering committee and Nassau County.

Located on Bryant Avenue in Roslyn Harbor, Cedarmere is a public property overlooking Hempstead Harbor owned by Nassau County (see Save Cedarmere: Contact Nassau County Representatives, March 28, 2009, and Important Local, Publicly Owned Historic Site in Jeopardy, March 9, 2009). The site was once the home of William Cullen Bryant (1794–1878), one of the most important literary figures of the Romantic Movement. Although the facility has been used for some public programs during the last two decades, it has been underutilized and recently appeared destined for closure when the county began dismantling exhibits and removing artifacts.

The friends group is forming to ensure that the site remains open and accessible to the public. The group also plans to promote programs that reintroduce and update Bryant's legacy and that better utilize Cedarmere, where Bryant lived for half a century and hosted many of the most important authors, painters, politicians, building architects, and landscape architects of the period. According to the committee, Cedarmere will remain a viable public testament to this important national legacy only with sustained community vigilance and support.

Trinity Episcopal Church is located on Northern Boulevard just east of the Roslyn Viaduct.

=======

Thanatopsis (below), one of Bryant’s earliest and most famous poems, has been memorized by generations of high school students, including this writer when a student at North Shore High School. According to the Wikipedia entry for the poem, Bryant wrote most of the lines in his late teens. The title, from the Greek thanos (death) and opsis (sight), sometimes is translated as Meditation upon Death.

THANATOPSIS

O him who in the love of Nature holds

Communion with her visible forms, she speaks

A various language; for his gayer hours

She has a voice of gladness, and a smile

And eloquence of beauty, and she glides

Into his darker musings, with a mild

And healing sympathy, that steals away

Their sharpness, ere he is aware. When thoughts

Of the last bitter hour come like a blight

Over thy spirit, and sad images

Of the stern agony, and shroud, and pall,

And breathless darkness, and the narrow house,

Make thee to shudder and grow sick at heart;

Go forth, under the open sky, and list

To Nature's teachings, while from all around

Earth and her waters, and the depths of air

Comes a still voice. Yet a few days, and thee

The all-beholding sun shall see no more

In all his course; nor yet in the cold ground,

Where thy pale form was laid with many tears,

Nor in the embrace of ocean, shall exist

Thy image. Earth, that nourish'd thee, shall claim

Thy growth, to be resolved to earth again,

And, lost each human trace, surrendering up

Thine individual being, shalt thou go

To mix for ever with the elements,

To be a brother to the insensible rock,

And to the sluggish clod, which the rude swain

Turns with his share, and treads upon. The oak

Shall send his roots abroad, and pierce thy mould.

Yet not to thine eternal resting-place

Shalt thou retire alone, nor couldst thou wish

Couch more magnificent. Thou shalt lie down

With patriarchs of the infant world--with kings,

The powerful of the earth--the wise, the good,

Fair forms, and hoary seers of ages past,

All in one mighty sepulchre. The hills

Rock-ribb'd and ancient as the sun, the vales

Stretching in pensive quietness between;

The venerable woods; rivers that move

In majesty, and the complaining brooks

That make the meadows green; and, pour'd round all,

Old Ocean's grey and melancholy waste,

Are but the solemn decorations all

Of the great tomb of man. The golden sun,

The planets, all the infinite host of heaven,

Are shining on the sad abodes of death,

Through the still lapse of ages. All that tread

The globe are but a handful to the tribes

That slumber in its bosom. Take the wings

Of morning, pierce the Barcan wilderness,

Or lose thyself in the continuous woods

Where rolls the Oregon and hears no sound

Save his own dashings--yet the dead are there:

And millions in those solitudes, since first

The flight of years began, have laid them down

In their last sleep--the dead reign there alone.

So shalt thou rest: and what if thou withdraw

In silence from the living, and no friend

Take note of thy departure? All that breathe

Will share thy destiny. The gay will laugh

When thou art gone, the solemn brood of care

Plod on, and each one as before will chase

His favourite phantom; yet all these shall leave

Their mirth and their employments, and shall come

And make their bed with thee. As the long train

Of ages glides away, the sons of men,

The youth in life's green spring, and he who goes

In the full strength of years, matron and maid,

The speechless babe, and the gray-headed man

Shall one by one be gathered to thy side

By those who in their turn shall follow them.

So live, that when thy summons comes to join

The innumerable caravan which moves

To that mysterious realm where each shall take

His chamber in the silent halls of death,

Thou go not, like the quarry-slave at night,

Scourged by his dungeon; but, sustain'd and soothed

By an unfaltering trust, approach thy grave,

Like one who wraps the drapery of his couch

About him, and lies down to pleasant dreams.

Save Cedarmere: Contact Nassau County Representatives

2009-03-28T18:08:00.012-04:00

Cedarmere, once the home of the influential 19th century Romantic poet, journalist, and man of letters William Cullen Bryant and now a historic site owned by Nassau County, appears to be threatened with permanent closure (see Important Local, Publicly Owned Historic Site in Jeopardy, March 9, 2009).

And there is no need: If properly managed, the site is likely to produce a reasonable income stream, and a Friends group is forming to explore the possibility of a partnership with the county. The ad hoc Friends group can be reached at wcbryant@optonline.net.

The Glenwood / Glen Head Civic Association urges neighbors to contact County Executive Tom Suozzi, Legislator Wane Wink, Majority Leader Diane Yatauro, and Minority Leader Peter Schmitt, who can be reached through the Nassau County website or at 1550 Franklin Avenue, NY 11501, to ensure that these and other elected officials know that Cedarmere has a constituency.

A suggested letter is below.

If the site is not properly maintained and does not reopen in a timely fashion, it could revert back to Bryant's heirs. Grants totaling several hundred thousand dollars already have been secured for much of the needed repair and maintenance of the facility.

Located on Bryant Avenue in Roslyn Harbor about a mile north of the Bryant Memorial Library in Roslyn, Cedarmere has great historic significance. Bryant (1794 to 1878) helped to shape the Romantic Movement and wielded a great deal of political influence for most of the 19th century. Indeed, the man and his works are still included in most high school curricula. Recitals, weddings, film and photo shoots, educational events, and other activities have been held at the site in recent years.

- - - - - - - - - - - - -

Dear Elected Official:

I am contacting you to request assurance that Cedarmere, the historic, county-owned museum property in Roslyn Harbor, is properly maintained and reopened in a timely fashion and that the dismantling of exhibits and the removal of priceless artifacts stop pending an explanation of why these items are being removed and when they will be returned to the site.

An ad hoc Friends group recently formed to explore the possibility of a formal partnership with the county to jointly operate the waterfront facility located on Hempstead Harbor. The group is committed to helping the site reach its full potential. I urge you to support such a partnership.

Cedarmere is a rare surviving jewel of the Romantic Movement. As the home of William Cullen Bryant, it was a gathering place for the most influential public figures of the 19th century. Bryant, himself, was a poet, editor of the New York Evening Post (now the New York Post) for more than 50 years, and friend and confidant of Abraham Lincoln. The library in Roslyn and Bryant Avenue, as well as the park on the west side of the main branch of the New York Public Library, are named for him. Today, Bryant and his works are included in many high school liberal arts curricula, including the curricula at Roslyn and North Shore high schools.

Bryant’s heirs donated Cedarmere to the county in 1975, along with $100,000 of seed money and the stipulation that the estate be open to the public and used for educational purposes. The facility finally opened in 1994. Since then Cedarmere has hosted school groups, art classes, recitals, weddings, commercial still photography and film shoots, and other events. With proper management, these activities could grow and produce a reasonable income stream. English, history, and art departments in the Roslyn and North Shore school districts are interested in utilizing the site. Other districts throughout Long Island are likely to share this desire when informed about the treasures Cedarmere holds.

Over the years, the furnace and plumbing in the main house have been replaced, the gardens have been largely restored, exhibits have been created, and some restoration work has been completed. At present, $500,000 is allocated through the hotel tax, Environmental Bond Act, and grants to repair the roof of the main house and continue other restoration projects. There is need for an additional investment of perhaps $500,000. The ad hoc Friends group is prepared to help raise these funds and help market and staff the site. In addition, Benjamin Moore has offered to donate paint.

It appears that the county has put all maintenance and restoration projects at Cedarmere on hold. If Cedarmere is not properly maintained and reopened in a timely fashion it could revert to Bryant’s heirs. This development would be a serious disservice to present and future generations. One cannot help but wonder how the county can justify spending Environmental Bond Act money for new acquisitions—as important and desirable as these acquisitions may be—when Cedarmere and so many other significant cultural sites already dependant on proper county stewardship need attention.

Please support the restoration, proper maintenance, and reopening of this important local and national landmark. Thank you for your consideration.

Glen Cove Master Plan Available On Line

2009-03-28T18:02:00.002-04:00

The City of Glen Cove will hold a public meeting on Monday, March 30, about the city’s draft master plan and draft generic environmental impact statement (DGEIS). Written comments will be accepted until April 13 and should be addressed to Mayor Ralph V. Suozzi at City Hall, 9 Glen Street, Glen Cove, NY 11542, or rsuozzi@cityofglencoveny.org. The documents are posted on the City of Glen Cove website.

Glenwood Waterfront: Apartment Site Plan Submitted

2009-03-28T17:58:00.001-04:00

The Coalition to Save Hempstead Harbor reports that Glen Harbor Partners recently submitted a site plan to the Town of North Hempstead (TNH) for the condominium apartments the company has proposed for the site located south of the Glenwood Landing Power Station on the west side of Shore Road at the western terminus of Scudders Lane (a parcel across the road also is involved). TNH may schedule a site plan meeting as early as April. Information will be posted as it becomes available. A search of this site for previously posted items will retrieve background information about the application, which included rezoning (complete) and an environmental impact statement with public scoping (complete).

North Shore Country Club Considers Selling

2009-03-28T17:36:00.004-04:00

North Shore County Club appears to be seeking a developer to build homes on part—or even all—of the 158-acre golf course property. The main entrance of the club is located on Shore Road. The property spans the Village of Sea Cliff and the hamlets of Glenwood Landing and Glen Head in the Town of Oyster Bay (TOB) and is about equally divided between the two municipalities. TOB rezoned the Glenwood/Glen Head portion of the parcel from quarter-acre residential use to half-acre residential use based on a recommendation in the Glenwood Landing Waterfront Revitalization and Redevelopment Plan completed in 2002. Zoning in the Sea Cliff portion also is half-acre residential.

The property contains may natural features and some structures worthy of preservation. During the waterfront planning process, the public and members of the task force expressed concern about the catastrophic consequences the potential subdivision of the club would produce. The Coalition to Save Hempstead Harbor (CSHH) nominated the property for open space acquisition under the town’s Save Environmental Assets (SEA) bond fund and recently wrote to TOB to restate the request. The Village of Sea Cliff is considering a building moratorium to study possible preservation methods.

The potential development of the club raises concern about the effectiveness of ongoing stormwater improvements at Scudders Pond. Located on the outskirts of the club, the pond collects and filters stormwater runoff before the runoff is discharged into Hempstead Harbor. Proper treatment of the runoff is critical for maintaining and improving water quality in the harbor. Years of highly commendable inter-municipal planning has resulted in several million dollars of grant awards for critical stormwater improvement projects that are or soon will be underway. Development of the club would impact these efforts.

Please consider contacting TOB Supervisor John Venditto, the Town Council, and the SEA Fund III Committee to express concern about the possible development of North Shore Country Club and to request that the town purchase and preserve the property. Town personnel can be emailed through the TOB website or reached via U.S. Mail at Town of Oyster Bay, 54 Audrey Avenue, Oyster Bay, NY 11771-1592. A suggested letter is included below.

Sea Cliff Mayor Eileen Kreib can be reached at P.O. Box 340, Sea Cliff, NY 11579, or e-mailed at villagesc@aol.com; Bruce Kennedy will be sworn in as mayor in April. Contributions to CSHH (516-801-6792) can be sent to P.O. Box 159, Sea Cliff, NY 11579.

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Supervisor John Venditto, Town Board Members, SEA Fund Committee Members:

I am contacting you express my concern about reports that the North Shore Country Club, a 158-acre parcel that spans the Village of Sea Cliff and the hamlets of Glenwood Landing and Glen Head, may be seeking to develop the property under its current zoning (half-acre residential).

Development of this site would have a catastrophic impact on this community, including the school district, the Scudders Pond watershed, and Hempstead Harbor. In addition, the property contains several buildings and many natural features worthy of preservation. The public, as well as members of the Glenwood Landing Waterfront Revitalization and Redevelopment Plan advisory committee, overwhelmingly expressed such concerns during the planning process held in connection with formulating the waterfront plan.

I urge you to purchase the property for preservation as recreational and/or open space. In addition, please re-post the GWL Waterfront Plan on the town website.

Thank you.

Important Local, Publicly Owned Historic Site in Jeopardy

2009-03-09T01:02:00.012-04:00

Nassau County has disassembled exhibits and removed priceless artifacts from Cedarmere, the estate of William Cullen Bryant (1794 to 1878) in Roslyn Harbor.

A decision to close the facility appears to have been made separate from and before other closures were announced affecting other County facilities due to the current fiscal crises.

As of this writing, the County’s long-term plans for Cedarmere are unclear. A Friends group is forming to explore the possibility of a public-private partnership to help keep the facility open. Contact information will be posted here when it is available.

Please consider informing County Executive Tom Suozzi, Legislator Wayne Wink, Majority Leader Diane Yatauro, and Minority Leader Peter Schmitt that this important historic property has a strong constituency. Email messages can be sent through the Nassau County website.

Bryant’s heirs donated the estate to the county in 1975 with the stipulation that the property be open to the public and used for educational purposes. In recent years, the facility has been used for growing numbers of school groups, art classes, recitals, weddings, and other events. If the facility is not reopened in a timely fashion, the property could revert back to the heirs.

Bryant was a driving force of the Romantic Movement, editor of the New York Post for half a century, and a confidant of Abraham Lincoln. His estate was a gathering place for the 19th century’s most notable authors, architects, painters, and musicians.

Roslyn’s Bryant Library and Bryant Park, adjacent to the main branch of the New York City Public Library, are named for him. Several hundred thousand dollars from various grant sources have been awarded to continue needed maintenance.

Glen Head and Glenwood Civics Revive Civic Council

2008-11-23T19:22:00.004-05:00

Civic groups in Glen Head and Glenwood Landing have officially united under the umbrella of the United Civic Council of Glen Head and Glenwood Landing, a group incorporated in 1978 that has been dormant for nearly three decades.

The civic groups involved are the Glenwood / Glen Head Civic Association, the Todd Estates Civic Association, the Hill Terrance Civic Association, the Harbor View Civic Association, the Glen Knolls - Glen Head Civic Association, and the Radcliff Manor neighborhood association.

The Council encourages people from all areas of Glen Head and Glenwood Landing to join an existing civic group or form a group of their own.

In recent years, area civics have often joined forces and spoken with one voice on issues of mutual concern. The revitalization of the United Civics Council will strengthen these efforts.

North Hempstead BZA Approves Variances for Apartment Building on Glenwood Landing Waterfront

2008-07-19T21:13:00.002-04:00

The Civic Association has received an unconfirmed report that the Town of North Hempstead Board of Zoning Appeals this week approved variances for the apartment building proposed by Glen Harbor Partners for the Glenwood Landing Waterfront south of the Glenwood Landing Power Station. The move clears the way for site plan review by the Town of North Hempstead Planning Board. Public participation will be vital in the site plan review process and can help shape the appearance of the building, the landscaping, and promised public esplanade.

No Athletic Field for Tappen Beach

2008-07-19T20:54:00.003-04:00

July 15, 2008: The Coalition to Save Hempstead Harbor reports in the email message below that the Town of Oyster Bay (TOB) has announced that an athletic field will not be installed at Tappen Beach. The Civic Association hopes that TOB will reconvene the Glenwood Landing Waterfront Steering Committee and hold meetings to gather community input about people's vision for Tappen Beach with a view toward updating or creating a new Tappen Beach Plan.

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There will be no artificial-turf field at Tappen Beach! That was the good news today at the TOBAY board meeting! Following about two hours of public hearings, Supervisor John Venditto opened the meeting up for public comment, and when the issue of the Tappen Beach artificial-turf field proposal came up, he stated that the plan has been stopped and that he had made a mistake and miscalculated the public sentiment over the project, and he admitted to being bombarded with calls and e-mails opposing the project.

You all made this happen--everyone who took time to write or call the supervisor's office, write letters to the editor, and sign the petition. (We had nearly 700 signatures on the petition that was circulated to halt the artificial-turf-field proposal.!) This is a victory for the community not only in ensuring that public health and environment will be protected, our quality of life preserved, and our treasured beach park protected from a use that is not in harmony with coastal activities, but also for our faith in the public process. The voices of individuals count, and together we can make a difference in events that shape the future!

We could leave it at that and say we're done, but we're not. First, please take time to write to Supervisor Venditto and thank him for listening to the community. (It took him long enough, but he knows that he made a mistake and that the town's public information system is flawed.) Then tell him you are still concerned about the potential health hazards that artificial turf poses to the town's children and environment and that you encourage the town to initiate a townwide moratorium on construction of artificial turf fields until all the information is in from the appropriate health and environmental agencies--see that attached document that was submitted to Supervisor Venditto and the town council this morning. (The Coalition to Save Hempstead Harbor has never been a NIMBY organization; we don't want to shift the problem to another community.)

And there's this last request. The Coalition is used to operating a shoestring, but the string has become quite thin these days. In addition to all the support you have offered, we need your financial support as well to be able to keep things going so that when the need arises, we will be ready to act. We have downsized our operation, but we still have rent to pay and internet, phone, mail expenses, etc. We have obtained grant money to fund our water program, but we do not have sufficient funds to cover our activist activities. We have not asked for membership dues in a long while, but we are asking now. If you can afford $25 or more, we would greatly appreciate that or any amount you are comfortable donating. Please make checks payable to the Coalition to Save Hempstead Harbor and send them to P.O. Box 159, Sea Cliff, NY 11579. Also, please include your mailing address so that we can acknowledge your contribution as required for tax purposes.

Best regards,
Carol DiPaolo
Programs Director

Civic Letter to the Editor re Proposed Athletic Field at Tappen Beach

2008-07-19T20:41:00.003-04:00

June 6, 2008: Letter to the Editor, Glen Cove Record Pilot

Looking for Answers to Tappen Beach Changes

There is perhaps no more significant natural resource in Glenwood Landing and Glen Head than the Glenwood Landing Waterfront. The Glenwood / Glen Head Civic Association believes that the installation of an artificial turf athletic field at Tappen Beach is a major change in, and intensification of, use for that resource. We believe that such a change requires public input in an open forum that provides all residents with the same information and the same opportunity to comment. Such a forum also would require the town to respond to the various concerns expressed by residents.

Having heard vague rumors that another athletic field might be in the works for Tappen and having had no luck in confirming the rumor through normal channels, I attended a Town Board meeting last June and waited until midnight to request information during the public comment period. Several weeks later, the Parks Department contacted me and a meeting was arranged.

At that meeting, I asked many questions including but not limited to: Is there a plan for the design, construction, management, and continued maintenance of the field? How does the plan address such concerns as the impact of an athletic field on view corridors, mature trees, the picnic area and other green space, and recently installed improvements, such as the play area? How will the field be integrated into the park? Will there be lights? If so, how bright, how tall, how late will they be on, and what will the electric bill be? Will the field be like the one recently installed at Center Island or the one at John Burns? Will there be fences? If so, how many and how tall? Will tarps be placed on the fences? Will there be bleachers? What will the hours of operation be? Will players who do not belong to clubs be accommodated and if so, how? Who will maintain the artificial turf? Is artificial turf safe for children and the environment? How many teams and how many clubs use fields in the area? Few answers were provided.

I said the situation highlighted the need to update the plan for Tappen Beach and that no major changes to the beach should be made until such a process is completed with plenty of public input. I said the plan should include three scenarios: a vision for the park if the utility lots are acquired; a vision for the park if the utility lots are not acquired; and a list of projects that can be implemented while the disposition of the utility lots is resolved. I also said that a recreational needs assessment for the community should be conducted, a suggestion made in the Glenwood Landing Waterfront Redevelopment and Revitalization Plan.

The Town established a strong precedent for public participation in its northwestern hamlets by preparing and adopting the GWL Waterfront Plan. While we are certain that the athletic field project is well motivated and that an athletic field of some type may be needed, the procedure that has been used to advance the project undermines this precedent. I know of no public meetings or agendas that included an artificial turf athletic field at Tappen Beach. Although I certainly could have missed one, I sure have been keeping my eyes peeled. Furthermore, private meetings between the Parks Department and various user groups do not constitute an open, public process.

This Civic Association is committed to balancing the competing needs and interests of the community, recognizes the role of compromise, and has the track record to prove it. We contend that the athletic field that the Parks Department seems so intent on installing cannot result in balance because of the flawed method by which the project is being advanced. We urge the Town to reconsider the matter pending updating of the Tappen Beach plan; a needs assessment; and a town-conducted, community-wide informational mailing and public meeting held in Glen Head.

Comments and correspondence from the Civic Association about the possibility of an artificial turf athletic field at Tappen Beach can be viewed at www.GlenwoodGlenHeadCivic.BlogSpot.com.

Patrice Benneward, President, Glenwood/Glen Head Civic Association

Meeting to Highlight Practical Ways Community Character Is Being Preserved in Hamlet of Oyster Bay

2008-05-31T09:00:00.004-04:00

Come the meeting below to learn about positive measures to preserve community character that have been implemented in the unincorporated hamlet of Oyster Bay that could be applied in Glenwood Landing and Glen Head.

Save the Jewel By the Bay in cooperation with
The Town of Oyster Bay
A COMMUNITY MEETING for the

HAMLET OF OYSTER BAY

In 2005, this community called for a moratorium to protect the Hamlet of Oyster Bay Residential Community from the demolition of homes, the subdivision of residential properties, the building of over-sized homes on sub-standard lots, and the cutting down of mature trees within this historic community. Since that time, much has been accomplished through the spirit of cooperation between the Town of Oyster Bay, Save the Jewel By the Bay, and Hamlet residents.

Come and hear about the legislative changes that have resulted from the moratorium, including:

· the creation of new Zoning Laws unique to our Hamlet
· the new Town-wide Tree Preservation Ordinance
· an update on where we are now
· a look at what is being considered for the future

Hofstra University will also present an Historical Perspective of Oyster Bay

Date: Monday, June 16, 2008
Place: The First Presbyterian Church
60 East Main Street, Oyster Bay, NY
Time: 7:30 p.m.
Bring: Family, friends, and neighbors

Glenwood Landing and Glen Head Open Space Acquisitions Proposed at Oyster Bay SEA Fund Meeting

2008-03-08T08:44:00.012-05:00

The Glenwood / Glen Head Civic Association appeared at the Town of Oyster Bay's Save Environmental Assets (SEA) meeting at Town Hall on Tuesday, March 4, to support two acquisitions in Glenwood Landing (GWL) and Glen Head.

The first is the propane field on Shore Road, which has made every town and county open space bond priority list. The second is a lot on the southwest corner of Glenwood Road and Glen Cove Avenue where a building was recently razed. Five area civics submitted a proposal for acquisition of this lot in a letter to the town dated January 8.

The Coalition to Save Hempstead Harbor also appeared at the meeting and offered support for both of these acquisitions.

The propane field has been fully remediated. It is directly on Hempstead Harbor. Its acquisition would create a spectacular GWL Waterfront Greenway that would connect with Tappen Beach. The town has received a small state grant to help offset the cost of the purchase. The NYS Open Space Plan specifically states that establishing a GWL Waterfront Greenway is a state priority, as does the town’s own GWL Waterfront Revitalization Plan.

The town stated that it has approached National Grid with a formal proposal for acquisition of the propane field and is awaiting a response.

It was our impression that, under the town’s first SEA fund round, the propane field was not acquired because much of the funds were needed for the very worthwhile Underhill purchase, which the Civic Association actively supported. It was our impression that, under the second round, the propane field was not purchased because it was not perceived as threatened—an attitude that may have been misguided given the recent sale of KeySpan to Nation Grid. We can only hope that National Grid will be receptive to a deal.

At the meeting, the Civic Association pointed out that the community tolerated the installation of two new generators several years ago largely out of hope, born out of many informal conversations with involved parties, that the propane field would soon enter the public domain. It seemed like a reasonable compromise: a few new generators across the street from the water in exchange for prime waterfront access directly on Hempstead Harbor. But the community has now been waiting more than six years for reclamation of Glenwood Landing’s industrial waterfront to move forward.

The second property is a vacant lot in central Glen Head on the southwest corner of Glen Cove Avenue and Glenwood Road, where a building was recently razed. In a joint letter, civic associations in Todd Estates, Hill Terrace, Harbor View, and Glen Knolls/Glen Head Estates and the Glenwood / Glen Head Civic Association suggested that the town explore acquiring this property under the SEA fund for use as a village green. The civic associations said that they believe village greens are important for attracting businesses, maintaining property values, and creating vibrant, pleasant communities that can compete with neighboring incorporated villages.

The Glenwood / Glen Head Civic Association also requested that the town provide a comprehensive updated report of all SEA fund activities to date.

During the last several years, the Glenwood / Glen Head Civic Association has distributed more than 10,000 flyers supporting the town and county open space bonds and has appeared before the town board and county legislature to support several acquisitions, including the Underhill property in Jericho.

North Hempstead Zoning Board Takes Up Proposal for Waterfront Apartment Complex in Glenwood Landing

2008-03-08T08:27:00.005-05:00

The Town of North Hempstead (TNH) Board of Zoning Appeals (BZA) will resume deliberations on the Glen Harbor Partners proposal for a condominium apartment complex on waterfront property on Hempstead Harbor in Glenwood Landing south of the Glenwood Landing Power Station on Wednesday, April 2, at 1 p.m.

The meeting will be held at North Hempstead Town Hall, 210 Plandome Road, Manhasset 11030. BZA agendas are subject to change. Contact the BZA to confirm: 869-7667.

Please express your views, whether again or for the first time, about this proposal and appropriate uses for the parcel. Your presence at the hearing, as well as phone calls and written messages, will let TNH know that the residents of Glen Head and Glenwood Landing take great interest in Hempstead Harbor and the Glenwood Landing Waterfront and may improve this proposal or result in a different use for the parcel.

North Hempstead Grants Extension on Glenwood Landing Waterfront Rezoning

2007-11-23T08:59:00.000-05:00

Manhasset, November 20—At a Town Board meeting held tonight, the North Hempstead Town Board voted to extend for one year a zoning change from industrial to multi-family residential on property located on the Glenwood Landing Waterfront south of the Glenwood Landing Power Station.

The vote was six to one in favor of the extension, with Councilman Fred Pollack dissenting. Before voting against the extension, Councilman Pollack said that he thought the zoning change represented bad public policy for waterfront property.

Before voting in favor of the extension, Supervisor Jon Kaiman said that no alternative use for the property had been proposed and that the threat to public health and marine water quality from contamination at the site was substantial.

The zoning change was triggered by an application from Glen Harbor Partners to build a condominium apartment building on the site. Glen Harbor Partners would clean up the contamination as part of the project.

The Town Board originally granted the zoning change on November 14, 2006, with the stipulation that the site be cleaned up and ground broken within one year. That vote was five to two in favor of the change, with Councilmen Fred Pollack and Wayne Wink dissenting. Mr. Wink, who was elected to the county legislature last year, no longer sits on the town board.

Several alternatives suggested

Because the site is located directly on Hempstead Harbor and because the Town of North Hempstead already owns a portion of the property, the Glenwood / Glen Head Civic Association formally proposed that the town purchase the privately owned portion of the site under the town's Environmental Legacy Fund. The Coalition for Hempstead Harbor proposed the site for acquisition under another public funding mechanism: the Nassau County environmental bond. That application included a letter of support from the Civic Association. The site has not been included on the TNH or county acquisition lists.

At several standing-room-only hearings, many residents expressed the desire for the site to be reclaimed and managed as public open space. There was general concensus from residents that nothing should be done with the property until funds could be found for such acqusition. A few residents also suggested that the the possibility of active industrial use was preferable to the proposed multi-family residential plan.

Another suggestion was the creation of a special intermunicipal district to manage the site. Town of Oyster Bay Supervisor John Venditto said he would be willing to discuss the idea if the Town of North Hempstead took the lead since the property is within North Hempstead.

Many residents from the TNH and TOB portions of Glenwood Landing, as well as from surrounding communities, said they would be willing to pay to clean up and maintain the site as open space.

The Civic Association and others also suggested that a waterfront zone created by the Town of North Hemptead a few years ago might be a more appropriate classification for the site. Although the code specifies that the zone is for larger parcels, the Civic Association is unaware of any practical or legal reason that would preclude applying the waterfront zone to the Glenwood Landing site.

Contamination concerns

According to the NYS Dept. of Environmental Conservation, the contamination at the site is contained and does not represent an immediate threat to public health or to marine water quality.

Water testing data at the Glenwood Landing outfall (located between Powerhouse Park and the Power Station) suggest that the most significant threat to water quality in Hempstead Harbor is so-called nonpoint source pollution (contaminated stormwater runoff, including bacteria).

Thoroughness of EIS debated

The Town Board considered the zoning change after accepting an Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) submitted by the applicant at the direction of the town. At a hearing held in connection with the EIS, the Glenwood / Glen Head Civic Association, Town of Oyster Bay, and Coalition to Save Hempstead Harbor stated that the document was inadequate and requested that North Hempstead reject it.

The Hempstead Harbor Protection Committee, an inter-municipal organization made up of the of municipalities surrounding Hempstead Harbor, also suggested areas where the EIS could be strengthened.

Next steps

The plan that Glen Harbor Partner proposes requires several variances, including one to permit a four-story building. At a Zoning Board of Appeals hearing last year, the ZBA indicated that a variance for four stories would be unprecedented and suggested that the applicant present a different plan. Glen Harbor Partners submitted documents this past October. A December hearing is antiticpated.

The town line runs through Glenwood Landing. The vast majority of Glenwood Landing residents live on the Oyster Bay side. The North Hempstead portion of Glenwood Landing is not contiguous with any other unincorporated area in the North Hempstead.

At the Tuesday hearing, the town confirmed that the site is being used to receive materials destined for the Roslyn viaduct reconstruction. A resident requested information on the amount of money that is being paid for this use and the names of the recipients. She suggested that these funds be designated to help the town acquire the privately owned parcel and to clean up the site.

Statement concerning the extension of the change in zone made by the Glenwood / Glen Head Civic Association:

Since the summary of agenda item 31 contains virtually no identifying information, I arrive tonight guessing that resolution you are considering for action pertains to the rezoning of the waterfront property in Glenwood Landing on which Glen Harbor Partners proposes construction of a condominium apartment building.

Last year when the board granted the zoning change, the board wisely made the change contingent upon the site being cleaned up and ground broken within a year.

As I hope you will recall, on more than one occasion, this room was packed with people opposed to the rezone and on at least two occasions the room remained packed for many hours while people waited for the item to be called.

I must tell you that in the last year community interest in the project—and opposition to it, at least in its present form—has not waned.

Considering the interest that the people in Glenwood Landing and surrounding communities have shown in the matter, I would think that the town would recognize that the public is entitled to both better notice that action is contemplated and to be heard.

I therefore ask that you postpone voting on this resolution and that you schedule an opportunity for the community to comment on the pros and cons of an extension. On the other hand, if you voted tonight against the extension, you would make many people in Glenwood Landing and the surrounding community happy.

I also would like to thank Glen Harbor Partners for providing the civic association with the most recent plan submitted to the ZBA. I am, however, disappointed to note that the plan seems to differ little from the previous one and does not appear to have been substantively revised based on the ZBA’s comments.

I also have the impression that over the last year discussions have occurred between the town and the applicant. I am disappointed that in that time there has been virtually no outreach to the community. The civic associations would very much like to sit down together with the applicant and representatives of the town to discuss various elements of the plan and how at least some community concerns might be mitigated.

Zoning Change on Glenwood Landing Waterfront Up For Extension

2007-11-18T13:13:00.000-05:00

On Tuesday, November 20, the North Hempstead Town Board is scheduled to vote on a resolution that would extend a zoning change from industrial to multi-family residential on waterfront property south of the Glenwood Landing Power Station.

The meeting begins at 7:30 p.m. at Town Hall. Call TNH at 869-7646 to confirm. The zoning change would permit construction of an apartment building by Glen Harbor Parters. The project includes land that once housed Harbor Fuel as well as a town-owned parcel.

The zoning change was originally granted November 14, 2006, with the stipulation that the site had to be cleaned up and ground broken within a year.

A portion of the property has recently been used for delivery of materials destined for the Roslyn viaduct project.

Please attend the board meeting to to support the following:
• the community is entitled to notice that an extension is being considered;
• the community is entitled to be heard on the matter;
• action should NOT be taken until a public hearing on the extension has been conducted.

If you cannot attend the hearing, please contact Supervisor Jon Kaiman (869-7700) and Councilpersons Robert Troiano (869-7799), Thomas Dwyer (869-7696), Angelo Ferrara (869-7716), Lee R. Seeman (869-7692), Fred Pollack (869-7698). Email addresses and FAX numbers are posted on the TNH website (www.northhempstead.com).

Glen Harbor Partners has submitted revised plans to the Zoning Board of Appeals. A December ZBA hearing on the variance application is anticipated. It will be important for as many people as possible to attend.

Town Environmental Commission to Review Developer's Proposal for East Side of Motts Cove Road

2007-10-06T13:21:00.000-04:00

Reported in the October edition of News from the Hill, the newsletter of the Hill Terrace Civic Association:

UPDATE ON COUNTRY CLUB DEVELOPERS, LLC, PROPOSED SUBDIVISION, MOTTS COVE ROAD

The letters you wrote in August to Patricia Baranello, Chairwoman, Town of Oyster Bay, Zoning Board of Appeals, (ZBA), (with a copy to Neil Bergin, Commissioner of Environmental Resources, Town of Oyster Bay), resulted in over 200 letters being received, with most of them being in opposition to the proposed subdivision. This, according to James McCaffrey, Executive Secretary, Zoning Board of Appeals. At their August meeting, the Zoning Board of Appeals issued a “Reserved Decision” on the petition by Country Club Developers for a variance to permit flag lots at their proposed development. The ZBA referred the developers application to TEQR; TOBAY’s Environmental Quality Review Division, of it’s Department of Environmental Resources, for review. It is anticipated that this will require at least two months to complete before it is returned to the ZBA for action.

Glenwood / Glen Head Civic Comments on Flag Lot Variances for Motts Cove Rd

2007-07-30T00:27:00.000-04:00

Thursday, July 26: The Town of Oyster Bay Zoning Board of Appeals held a variance hearing for flag lots on a 6-unit subdivison on the east side of Motts Cove Road. The property straddles Glen Head and Roslyn Harbor. Five lots would be in Glen Head; one would be in Roslyn Harbor. The application was last on the agenda and was called around midnight. The Glenwood / Glen Head Civic Association's remarks, made in concert with the Hill Terrace Civic Association, are below:

Good evening. My name is Patrice Benneward. I am the president of the GW/GH Civic Association. The civic association believes that this proposal requires a positive declaration under SEQRA based on the physical characteristics and location of the parcel, the density requested, the parcel’s proximity to two small state- and federal-listed wetlands across the street, and the potential impact on wildlife.

As I hope you have observed firsthand, the site is located in an area that receives a tremendous amount of runoff. Much of this runoff is destined for Hempstead Harbor, a state and federally protected water body. Numerous county, village, and town storm drains are in the vicinity. There also is a water district pumping facility. The impact of the proposal on the harbor and on this infrastructure needs to be thoroughly understood and addressed.

The parcel is sloped, densely wooded, and contains two small ponds. If the proposal is accepted as is and at the requested density, the result will destroy virtually all of these characteristics. The ponds will be gone, the site will be stripped of virtually all vegetation, and the slopes will be significantly recontoured. The implications of so great an alteration need to be thoroughly understood and addressed, particularly in light of the state’s emphasis on proper stormwater controls. The Planning Dept. has prepared a map of slopes in Glenwood Landing and lower Glen Head that documents steep slopes on the subject parcel. I am submitting a copy of that map for your review.

The town’s own recent study of land use in Glenwood Landing and Glen Head has documented two small state- and federally- listed wetlands across the street in Roslyn Harbor. I am submitting a map prepared by the Planning Dept. showing these wetlands. The wetlands are surrounded by other valuable water features and slopes in an area where three more new homes are planned. The impact of altering the subject parcel on these features and the three additional homes soon to be constructed need to be thoroughly understood and addressed.

Peregrine falcons and red tailed hawks are frequently seen in the vicinity. The potential impact of this proposal on their nesting and feeding behaviors needs to be thoroughly understood and addressed.

Finally, development of the parcel will require relocation of the golf club’s maintenance road to a position much closer to Hill Terrace than the current maintenance road. The impact and details of such a relocation need to be thoroughly understood and addressed, particularly since the new location will be much closer to many more property owners than at the present location.

For these reasons, we believe that the only responsible route to an informed decision on this application is a full SEQRA-mandated Environmental Impact Statement with public scoping. I underscore the importance of public scoping.

I would like to add that virtually all of the conditions I have mentioned pertinent to SEQRA review could and should have been known to the applicant before he purchased the property or submitted this application.

There also is a great deal of concern about some of the construction practices that have recently been employed in the neighborhood, both in general and by this applicant in particular.

A moment ago I mentioned that the site contains two ponds. Well, there were two ponds until an attempt was made to fill one of them in. At least one stop work order was issued in connection with this activity, but not before a considerable amount of damage was done. I am happy to report that the pond is gradually restoring itself and has made considerable progress toward this end. I respectfully submit that this application should NOT move forward until the applicant restores the pond to its previous condition. Such flagrant disregard for the procedures and regulations mandated by town and village codes MUST NOT be tolerated by this board or any other board in any jurisdiction.

In addition, as you know, the applicant is currently building six homes on a sloped, one-acre site nearby. Unfortunately, no attempt appears to have been made to preserve or accommodate the natural slope of that parcel; virtually every tree and bush has been removed from the site; and construction-related stormwater controls have been less than exemplary. In addition, the project is taking a long time to complete, subjecting nearby property owners to dust, mud, noise, and a view of a portable bathroom. Another temporary concern is inadequate security, of particular importance because of the proximity of Glenwood Landing school and the large number of children who live nearby. The permanent end result is entirely too many homes for the site and a detrimental change in the leafy, gardenlike atmosphere of the community.

In light of these concerns, we question the wisdom of issuing any variances, site plan approvals, or building permits to this applicant until he proves he plans to employ best management practices and unless the town is willing to follow through with vigorous monitoring and enforcement. I have contacted the Planning Dept. to ask that any warnings, concerns relating to possible code violations, or actual code violations issued to the applicant on this or any other project in the Town of Oyster Bay or the Village of Roslyn Harbor be incorporated into the record of this hearing and I ask you to be certain that this occurs.

Finally, because this parcel spans two jurisdictions, I urge you to reach out to the Village of Roslyn Harbor on this application and to communicate and coordinate with the village in every possible way in order to achieve an outcome that will be acceptable to both communities.

Thank you for your attention and careful consideration of this application.

Athletic Field Proposed for Tappen Draws Community Comment at Oyster Bay Town Board Meeting

2007-06-29T10:20:00.001-04:00

Tuesday, June 26—Several community groups today addressed the Oyster Bay Town Board about the possibility of a new athletic field at Tappen Beach. The statement made by the civic association follows:

Good evening. My name is Patrice Benneward. I am speaking to you on behalf of the Glenwood / Glen Head Civic Association. I am here because, although I have no details, I have heard through the grapevine that you may be considering installing a second athletic field at Tappen Beach.

First, our organization wants to thank you for considering an additional athletic field in the Glenwood / Glen Head area, as well as for several recent improvements at Tappen Beach—including a gazebo, playgrounds, benches, landscaping, and repair of the boat launch.

All of these initiatives are very much appreciated. The civic association does have some concerns, though, about locating another athletic field at the beach. While these concerns may not be insurmountable, we do feel that they present some serious challenges.

I served on the steering committee that created the Glenwood Landing Waterfront Redevelopment and Revitalization Plan. I believe the plan noted that a study examining the recreational needs of the area would be useful. I suggest that it is important to conduct such a study now, both to get a better grip on the demand for specific types of activities and to survey the possible locations for facilities that could address these needs.

I also think that the addition of an athletic field at the beach represents a major change in use and that such a project requires considerable public input and a formal public hearing.

Our organization, for example, has concerns about the impact of an additional athletic field on view corridors, the picnic and play areas, mature trees, the sitting area north of the pool, and parking. Public input and a formal hearing would provide a forum for these concerns—as well as the concerns of others—to be taken into consideration.

We also wonder whether the new facility would be open to all residents or just to members of particular clubs or groups. It seems to us that a public discussion about the pros and cons of each approach is necessary before moving forward one way or the other.

Our organization is also a strong supporter of planning. We advocate an updated comprehensive plan for Tappen Beach as a means of avoiding piecemeal development; ensuring that we get the most bang for the buck; and guaranteeing that improvements remain viable over the long term. We suggest that the time is ripe for such a plan and urge that it be created now—and with ample public participation.

I also would like to mention that the civic association is a strong supporter of the Hempstead Harbor Protection Committee (HHPC). A representative of the civic association has attended almost every HHPC meeting for the last decade. To the best of my knowledge, HHPC has not been informed that this project may be in the works and, in fact, often seems to be left out of the loop on many projects that impact the harbor. In my view, it would be a real advance if, as a matter of policy, all departments were made aware that they should bring HHPC into the loop on all matters that affect the harbor.

Finally, for a very long time and as I believe you are all aware, this community has been patiently waiting for the utility properties adjacent to Tappen Beach to be brought into the public domain. When the back-up generators were installed across the street, all parties assured us, albeit informally, that the propane field would, in all likelihood, be purchased by the town and the wetland lot would be donated to the town.

Since then, the propane field has made both the county and town bond act lists, and the town has even received grants to put toward the acquisition of the property and the initial planning. Yet, as far as I know, we are not any closer to acquiring either lot today than we were five or six years ago. In fact, the pending sale of KeySpan may actually be jeopardizing the exchange. It is essential that the town acquire these properties as quickly as possible and, yet again, I urge you to pursue them very aggressively.

On a personal note, although I have been actively involved in local waterfront issues for some time now, I have not mentioned my own personal desires regarding uses at Tappen Beach—and believe me I do have them—in any forum to date. This is because I have felt it would be premature in the absence of a community platform open to all. I have taken it for granted that once the utility properties were acquired such a forum would be forthcoming. However, as the purchase of the properties seems to be taking so long and only seems to become more questionable, I think it is perhaps important to begin planning for the future of the lands that are in the public domain now in an open forum that balances the competing recreational desires of all residents.

Thank you for your attention and interest in the Glenwood Landing Waterfront.

New Athletic Field at Tappen Beach?

2007-06-25T14:06:00.001-04:00

The Town of Oyster Bay is apparently considering installing an artificial turf athletic field at Tappen Beach. As of this writing, how installation of such a field might affect view corridors and existing amenities—such as the picnic area, playgrounds, gazebo, roller hockey ring, trees, marina, sitting area north of the pool, and parking lot—is unknown to the Glenwood / Glen Head Civic Association.

Whether the field would be available to all residents or just to members of certain clubs also is unknown. The Glenwood / Glen Head Civic Association recognizes there may be a need for more athletic fields in the area. However, we believe a study is needed to assess this potential need and the possible locations for such fields.

We believe that the installation of an athletic field at Tappen Beach is a major change in use that requires public input and a formal hearing. We also believe that a new comprehensive plan for Tappen Beach that has been fully vetted by the public is a necessary precursor to such a change. Because the possible acquisition of the utility properties affects the ability to plan, we believe that the town should aggressively pursue acquisition of the these properties despite the pending sale of KeySpan.

In all cases, the Glenwood / Glen Head Civic Association is committed to maintaining and maximizing view corridors and to passive uses at Tappen Beach. We also believe that amenities at Tappen Beach should be open to all residents, regardless of whether or not they belong to a particular club.

TOB ZBA Hearing on Motts Cove Rd Subdivision Rescheduled

2007-06-05T21:23:00.000-04:00

The Town of Oyster Bay Zoning Board of Appeals hearing for a subdivision proposed for the east side of Motts Cove Road just south of the footbridge has apparently been rescheduled for Thursday, July 26.

The parcel straddles Glen Head and Roslyn Harbor. Five lots are proposed for the Glen Head portion; one is proposed for the Roslyn Harbor portion. The parcel is sloped and irregularly shaped and contains water features.

TOB recently held a hearing on code amendments that could, potentially, reduce the number of lots permitted on the parcel. Among the most relevant is an amendment concerning steep slopes and wetlands (see Study Addresses Community Character in Glenwood Landing and Glen Head, April 6; Civic Documents Architectural Styles of Glen Head & Glenwood Landing Homes, April 2.

At a recent Town Board hearing on the amendments, John Chase, the attorney for the subdivision applicant, argued that Glen Head and Glenwood Landing should be exempted from such amendments. According to Mr. Chase, his client's land is the last parcel available for development in the area, steep slope protections have nothing to do with environmental concerns and everything to do with density in relatively densely populated areas, and a reduction in the number of lots would bankrupt his client.

Mr. Chase said that these so-called facts should exempt his client—and all of Glen Head and Glenwood Landing—from the code changes being considered. The Civic Association disagrees with Mr. Chase on all points and so stated at the Town Board hearing.

Most incorporated villages surrounding Glen Head and Glenwood Landing have adopted similar measures as those being reviewed in TOB, making it imperative that Glen Head and Glenwood Landing follow suite to avoid becoming an even more appealing target for spot developers interested in the quickest and easiest buck possible.

For more information about the ZBA hearing, contact TOB (624-6232) and see Civic Spot postings Zoning Hearing Scheduled for Subdivision on Motts Cove Road in Glen Head, April 16; Adjournment Requested for Motts Cove Variance Hearing, April 24. Agenda changes are common, so be sure to check with TOB if you plan to attend the hearing. You may also write to the ZBA at 54 Audrey Avenue, Oyster Bay, NY 11771.

Memorial Day Fireworks in Hempstead Harbor

2007-05-25T19:46:00.000-04:00

Look up and west Saturday evening, May 26, for Memorial Day Weekend Fireworks from Hempstead Harbor and Bar Beach parks. Concert begins at 6 p.m. Produced by Town of North Hempstead.

TNH ZBA Hearing Continued on Glenwood Landing Waterfront Condo Application

2007-05-17T23:07:00.000-04:00

Wednesday, May 16—The Town of North Hempstead (TNH) Zoning Board of Appeals ZBA) has continued the hearing on the Glen Harbor Partners application for a four-story condominium apartment building on the Glenwood Landing Waterfront.

Glen Harbor Partners has applied for four variances: three are height variances, and one variance would permit a building with four stories. The variances would clear the way for site plan review of a proposed 60-unit condominium apartment building next to the Glenwood Landing Power Station.

The property was once the home of Harbor Fuel. Some of the property is owned by TNH and would be sold to Glen Harbor Partners if the variances are granted and the site plan is approved.

ZBA Chairman David Mammina told Glen Harbor Partners that the ZBA could vote on the application today or the hearing could be continued to give the applicant time to produce a plan for a lower building with no more than three stories.

Glen Harbor Partners opted for the continuance. The ZBA requested that Glen Harbor provide the civic association with any plan it submits. An attorney for Glen Harbor told Civic Association Secretary Karen Greene that a plan or a letter would be produced within three weeks.

Six residents of Glenwood Landing and Glen Head spent the entire day at North Hempstead Town Hall waiting to comment on the application. All objected to the height and footprint of the building. The hearing started at 9:30 a.m. The Glen Harbor Partners application was the sixth and last item on the agenda. It was called at about 3 p.m.

Below is the text of a letter written and circulated by the civic association. The text forms the basis of the civic association’s testimony:

May 16, 2007: Appeal #18237 - Glen Harbor Partners, LLc/Town of North Hempstead , variance 70-68.A, to permit the construction of a 60 residential condominium units, exceeding the permitted number of stories and height; W/side of Shore Road & Intervale Rd., Glenwood Landing, Sec. 20, Blk. K, Lot 9, & Sec. 20 Bk. Q, Lots 45, 46, 47, R-M District.

Mr. Mammina and members of the board:

Thank you for the opportunity to speak to you this morning. My name is Patrice Benneward. I am president of the Glenwood / Glen Head Civic Association. As you may know, Glenwood Landing perceives itself as one community, and our civic association spans both sides of the town line. I am speaking to you today on behalf of my own civic association as well as five other civic associations or neighborhood groups representing all of the neighborhoods closest to the site under review. They are Hill Terrace, Radcliff Manor, Todd Estates, Harbor View, and Glen Knolls, as well as Glenwood Landing and “lower” Glen Heand.

The civic association has been following this application since it was submitted and has participated in every hearing that has been held. At each of these hearings we have expressed serious concerns about the scale, height, and footprint of the proposed building; the project’s impact on our community, and its impact on Hempstead Harbor.

Unfortunately, we do not believe that our concerns have been adequately addressed. We think the EIS is sketchy at best and are disappointed and not a little shocked that the town board chose to accept it without the improvements requested by us and other groups, including the Coalition to Save Hempstead Harbor, the Hempstead Harbor Protection Committee, and the Town of Oyster Bay. We certainly appreciated the no votes of Wayne Wink and Fred Pollack.

Today I appear before you to express our objection to the height and story variances the applicant requests. During the environmental review and rezoning process, the applicant repeatedly stated that the building would not require height variances. Now we find that the building does require these variances. I respectfully submit that the hardship claimed is entirely self imposed and that, therefore, the variances requested should not be granted.

In your deliberations, please weigh heavily that the height and roofline of the proposed building, and the mechanicals that may be on the roof, are extremely important to this community, particularly the neighborhood known as Rams Hill, where all the TNH residents of Glenwood Landing reside

As I imagine you have observed, the Rams Hill neighborhood is located on a hill overlooking Hempstead Harbor. There is currently a sweeping view of the harbor from the road and from the first floors of the homes on Rams Hill. Although some industrial properties are in the foreground of this view, the harbor is still quite visible.

At previous hearings, the applicant has stated that after the proposed building is constructed, the harbor may still be visible from the second floor of these homes. The application before you states that the view of the harbor will not be altered. These two statements are contradictory. The unnerving possibility of a rooftop water tower also has been mentioned from time to time. And there has been no discussion of whether mechanicals will be situated on the roof and, if so, how they will be disguised.

It is our contention that view corridors represent an important public benefit and that the view corridor of Hempstead Harbor from Rams Hill must be preserved. We have already lost the view corridor from the Roslyn viaduct. We do not wish to repeat so tragic and lasting a public loss in our community.

During previous reviews, it also was stated that a variance for parking beneath the building would be required. However, we understand that the town recently passed an ordinance permitting under building parking. We regret, therefore, that we no longer have the opportunity to register a comment about this troubling aspect of the proposal.

However, in your deliberations, I urge you to at least consider the folly of parking so many vehicles in a new residential enclave so close to the water in so isolated a location. How and where will these vehicles be evacuated in the case of flooding? Any resident can tell you that flooding in this vicinity is hardly uncommon. How will the gasoline and motor oil from these vehicles affect water quality in Hempstead Harbor after a flood?

In addition, it seems unrealistic to locate residential property so close to several active generators.

Please be aware that sentiment in this community is overwhelmingly opposed to a project of this scale in Glenwood Landing, particularly on waterfront property that the vast majority of people believe should be preserved as open space. There was standing room only at the two rezoning hearings held for the project. We were the last item on the agenda and people waited till 11 p.m. to be called. No one spoke in favor on the project. Many people said they would consider paying to keep the town-owned land in the public domain, to bring the rest of the property into public ownership, to clean up the property, and to reclaim it as parkland. Yet the costs and logistics of doing so have not been explored.

I have seldom seen this type of unity on any issue. My sense is that you would be hard pressed to find anyone in Glenwood Landing or Glen Head who thinks this project is a good idea. Certainly, the people on Rams Hill, who are TNH residents, are virtually 100% united in their opposition to the project.

I think it also is important for you to weigh heavily that neither the TNH or the TOB portion of Glenwood Landing has apartment buildings, other than a few small-scale structures that can only be described as quaint. This apartment building will, in fact, more than double the population in the TNH portion of Glenwood Landing, which is the oldest portion of the hamlet—a significant impact if ever there was one. The height, footprint, and scale of the building is completely out of character. This community is, in fact, so small that it does not have mail delivery. We must actually go to the post office to pick up our mail. Homes are also modest in size. A single unit in the proposed building is larger than many of the single-family homes in GWL.

Note, too, that GWL is completely isolated from every other community in TNH, a fact that has permitted the hamlet to preserve a unique character. Therefore, what may be good for Port Washington or New Hyde Park is not necessarily good for Glenwood Landing. In fact, as much as we like and admire communities in other parts of the town, we would prefer not to be remade in their image. I urge you to be guided by this sentiment as you interpret and apply the town code.

The applicant has stated that the portion of the property on east side of Shore Road will be dedicated to the town. Although there are some aspects of the proposal that are appealing (such as privately funded cleanup of contaminated public and private land, and public access to a waterfront walkway), please be advised that the loss of public waterfront land in exchange for parcel that is steep, irregularly shaped, on a sharp curve, and not on the waterfront can hardly be considered a particularly good bargain for the people of Glenwood Landing or the people in the town as a whole. This also is the second time in roughly a decade that the town has divested itself of publicly owned waterfront land in Glenwood Landing. One such transaction is more than enough.

Furthermore, no details of the public walkway have been specified. What materials will be used in construction, how wide will the walkway be, how will it be maintained, what will the hours of access be, how much parking will there be for visitors? In addition, renderings show a lawn between the building hardscape and the walkway. Lawns have little wildlife value and are an unwelcome source of nutrient loading into nearby waterways.

Therefore, we believe that the area between the building hardscape and the walkway should be managed for wildlife. Furthermore, we believe that all of the outdoor property beyond the footprint of the building and its hardscape should be managed through a conservation easement held by a nonprofit organization such as the North Shore Land Alliance, which has expressed interested in such an arrangement. None of these issues has been resolved.

Finally, the issue of the sewer line remains unresolved. There are several underused parcels along Shore Road. How many times will Shore Road be opened for a sewer line given the amount of underused property there? Would a sewer line that permits hookups for certain areas in Glenwood Landing improve water quality in the harbor? The town has wisely, if somewhat belatedly joined forces with TOB and other nearby municipalities to apply for a grant to conduct a sewer feasibility study that may answer some of these questions.

Most importantly, will Glen Cove accept the sewer line? We understand that the applicant recently had a meeting with Glen Cove at which the mayor stated that the sewer has capacity. We, too, recently had a meeting with the mayor, who assured as that the city’s acceptance of the sewer line was not a done deal. The mayor told us that the applicant has said that if Glen Cove does not accept the line, Port Washington will. This sounds like strong arm tactics to us. It is also the first time that we know of that Port Washington has been mention as a possible route.

The entire EIS is based on a sewer line to Glen Cove, and we do not believe that a possible hookup to Port Washington has been investigated with any thoroughness at all.

For all of these reasons, we believe this application should be denied, or, at the very least, we believe the ZBA should delay action until the costs and logistics of keeping the town-owned portion of this property in the public domain, bringing the privately owned portion of the property into the public domain, and reclaiming and managing the entire parcel as fully remediated open space are fully explored; a sewer feasibility study is completed and the question of whether Glen Cove accepts the line is resolved; questions about the roof line and related issues are settled; and a conservation easement for all of the land surrounding the building is established.

Thank you for your consideration.

Glenwood / Glen Head Civic Comments on Lundy Environmental Impact Statement

2007-04-27T14:37:00.000-04:00

The Glenwood / Glen Head Civic Assocation today filed the comments below in response to the Draft Environmental Impact Statement for the Lundy Property. The Oyster Bay Town Board heard the application to rezone the property on March 27.

To: Aldona Lawson, TOB TEQR Division, 150 Miller Place, Syosset, NY 11791

Fr: Patrice Benneward, President, Glenwood / Glen Head Civic Association, PO Box 23, Glenwood Landing, NY 11547

Re: MARCH 27 HEARING – Z-3-04 To consider the application of DUMOND ENTERPRISES, LLC, contract vendee, and TRANSTECHNOLOGY, CORPORATION, fee owner, for a Change of Zone, from an “LI” District (Light Industry) and “R1-7” District (One-Family Residence) to an “RMF-16” District (Multi-Family Residence) and “R1-7” District (One-Family Residence), to allow the development of 15 new single-family residences and 41 new townhouse units, which would replace an existing 112,135 square foot one-story industrial building on property located at One Robert Lane, Glen Head, New York. (M.D. 2/13/07 #22).

---------------

I understand that the hearing on the above application may be closed but that comments on the Draft Environmental Impact Statement may be submitted through today. The civic association wishes to add the comments below to the comments made at the hearing by Karen Greene.

• Traffic: Turning right or left onto Glen Head Road from Dumond Place is difficult due to poor visibility. In addition, when traveling eastbound on Glen Head Road, making a left turn onto Dumond Place (as well as onto other side streets in the vicinity) can backup traffic to Glen Cove Avenue. The problem is frequently exacerbated by trains at the Glen Head Station. The proposed subdivision cannot help but worsen these conditions. We believe these traffic issues require more thorough study and that they must be effectively mitigated if the subdivision moves forward, particularly since the only way to enter or leave the subdivision would apparently be via Dumond Place.

• Sewer Line: We question the wisdom of approving a privately financed sewer line without examining the sewer needs of the properties in the surrounding area. We think the public interest would best be served by examining whether hooking up specific areas in the vicinity of the proposed line would improve groundwater quality or water quality in Hempstead Harbor, as well as whether such hookups would help to mitigate any flooding that may occur on some properties. If such an evaluation determines that sewering specific areas would be beneficial, we think the public interest would best be served if the engineering specifications of the sewer line were rethought and mechanisms for funding such hookups were fully explored. We are under the impression that the proposed subdivision and sewer line are in the Hempstead Harbor drainage basin and that at least a portion of the sewer line runs through the special groundwater protection area. But even if this were not the case, we believe the concerns we have outlined relative to sewering would remain valid. Note that a sewer feasibility study is underway in Glenwood Landing, prompted at least in part by a privately funded sewer line that may be constructed along the Glenwood Landing Waterfront.

• Open Space: The density of the proposed subdivision is far greater than in any other subdivision in Glen Head, perhaps with two exceptions. As the area approaches build out, open space has become increasingly important to the public good. We think the community interest requires that the site plan include a generous amount of public open space, as well as private open space that is visible to the public. We urge that at least one single family building and one multi-family building be dropped from the plan with no corresponding increase in lot coverage. We urge open space to be maximized in areas visible to the public, such as front- and side-yard setbacks, particularly at corners. We urge the inclusion in the site plan of public green spaces and the use of creative and innovative architectural, design, and planning techniques that promote a walkable neighborhood ambiance and that minimize the bulk of buildings and the features (such as garage doors) that frequently detract from the perception of open space.

Finally, we thank the Town of Oyster Bay for requiring an environmental review and appreciate the opportunity to comment.

Variance Hearing for Motts Cove Road Subdivision Rescheduled

2007-04-25T22:13:00.000-04:00

The Town of Oyster Bay Zoning Board of Appeals hearing on an application for variances to permit a six-unit subdivision on the east side of Motts Cove Road in Glen Head on the Oyster Bay - Roslyn Harbor line (see previous postings) has been rescheduled for Thursday, June 7.

Adjournment Requested for Motts Cove Variance Hearing

2007-04-24T15:02:00.000-04:00

The Glenwood / Glen Head Civic Association and Todd Estate Civic Association have requested an adjournment for the Town of Oyster Bay Zoning Board of Appeals Hearing on a six-lot subdivision proposed for the east side of Motts Cove Road on property sold to a developer by Engineers Country Club.

Five of the requested lots are in Glen Head; one lot is in Roslyn Harbor. The hearing is currently scheduled for Thursday evening, April 26. A neighboring property owner also has requested an adjournment.

The parcel appears to be characterized by a number of features that complicate the application: It spans two jurisdictions permitting two different lot sizes, it is irregularly shaped, it is steeply and irregularly sloped, and it contains two ponds. The civic associations and nearby property owners would like the opportunity to learn more about these matters before the hearing.

We also understand that the two ponds on the property were recently disturbed by activity for which no permits had been issued and that at least one stop work order was issued. Furthermore, many people who frequently travel on Motts Cove Road have commented that the amount of silt escaping from the property has increased dramatically in recent months. This would appear to be inconsistent with the state’s current emphasis on increased stormwater controls. We would like the opportunity to investigate these matters as well.

In addition, the access road shown on the application appears to be uncomfortably close to the neighboring property, which contains a mature garden with many specimen trees, as well as one of the oldest and most beautifully restored homes in Roslyn Harbor. In addition, the use of the right of way would change dramatically, from a little used service drive to an active, full-fledge road. We would like the opportunity to evaluate the impact of these changes on the adjacent property.

Finally, we were puzzled when we learned that the application was originally filed with the county planning commission. We would like the opportunity to contact the county to determine whether the application was accepted; what direction, if any, was given to the applicant; and whether, in the county’s view, a positive declaration and full environmental review with public scoping may be appropriate and what jurisdiction might become the lead agency.

Variance Hearing Set for Glenwood Landing Waterfront Condo Application

2007-04-21T13:38:00.000-04:00

The Town of North Hempstead Zoning Board of Appeals (ZBA) application by Glen Harbor Partners for variances to permit a condominium apartment building on the Glenwood Landing Waterfront is on the ZBA agenda for Wednesday, May 16, at 9:30 a.m.

According to the ZBA application, three height-related variances are needed to build the project as proposed: a one-story variance to permit a four-story structure; a two-foot, four-inch height variance for all of the structure except the elevator builkhead; and a six-foot, one-inch variance for the elevator builkhead on the street side of the building.

Last fall, when the town board heard the application to rezone the property from industrial use to multi-family residential use, the board noted that a variance would be need to permit ground-level parking under the building. Subsequently, the town passed a regulation permitting underground parking. Thus, a variance for parking beneath the building is no longer necessary.

At that time, the height of the building appeared to be within the height permited by town code; the need for a variance to permit four stories was identified. For more information, contact TNH Planning / ZBA at 869-7755.

Developer Requests May 16 Zoning Variance Hearing for Glenwood Landing Waterfront Apartments

2007-04-17T19:20:00.000-04:00

Glen Harbor Partners has requested a hearing date of Wednesday, May 16, for its application to the Town of North Hempstead Zoning Board of Appeals (ZBA) for variances in connection with the apartment building proposed for the Glenwood Landing Waterfront south of the Glenwood Landing Power Station.

According to the ZBA application, three height-related variances are needed to build the project as proposed: a one-story variance to permit a four-story structure; a two-foot, four-inch height variance for all of the structure except the elevator builkhead; and a six-foot, one-inch variance for the elevator builkhead on the street side of the building.

Last fall, when the town board heard the application to rezone the property from industrial use to multi-family residential use, the board noted that a variance would be need to permit ground-level parking under the building. Subsequently, the town passed a regulation permitting underground parking. Thus, a variance for parking beneath the building is no longer necessary.

At that time, the height of the building appeared to be within the height permited by town code; the need for a variance to permit four stories was identified.

Zoning Hearing Scheduled for Subdivision on Motts Cove Road in Glen Head

2007-04-16T17:01:00.000-04:00

Engineers Country Club has sold property along the east side of Motts Cove Road in Roslyn Harbor and Glen Head to a developer who plans a residential subdivision. The Glen Head portion of the property is in the Town of Oyster Bay (TOB). The following hearings are on the TOB Zoning Board of Appeals (ZBA) calendar for Thursday, April 26, at 7 p.m.

The notices describe all the lots as flags and state that each one has either too little frontage or too little rear yard setback, which would seem to indicated that at least two variances are being requested for each lot. There also is a pond on the parcel, and one wonders what provisions have been made for its protection. For more information, contact the TOB ZBA at 624-6232

• HEARING NO. 19: APPEAL NO. 07-211, GLEN HEAD COUNTRY CLUB DEVELOPERS, LLC: Variance to erect a one-family dwelling, on a sub-divided flag lot, having less rear yard setback than required by Ordinance. (Parcel 1) E/s/o Motts Cove Rd., 409.84 ft. S/o Washington Ave., Glen Head, NY SEC. 20 BLK. F LOT p/o 1076 ZONE R1-7

• HEARING NO. 20: APPEAL NO. 07-212, GLEN HEAD COUNTRY CLUB DEVELOPERS, LLC: Variance to erect a one-family dwelling, on a sub-divided flag lot, having reduced frontage. (Parcel 2) N/s/o Private Right-of-Way, 47 ft. E/o Motts Cove Rd., Glen Head, NY SEC. 20 BLK. F LOT p/o 1076A ZONE R1-7

• HEARING NO. 21: APPEAL NO. 07-213, GLEN HEAD COUNTRY CLUB DEVELOPERS, LLC: Variance to erect a one-family dwelling, on a sub-divided flag lot, having reduced frontage. (Parcel 3) N/s/o Private Right-of-Way, 86.38 ft. E/o Motts Cove Rd., Glen Head, NY SEC. 20 BLK. F LOT 1076B ZONE R1-7

• HEARING NO. 22: APPEAL NO. 07-214, GLEN HEAD COUNTRY CLUB DEVELOPERS, LLC: Variance to erect a one-family dwelling, on a sub-divided flag lot, having reduced frontage. (Parcel 4) N/s/o Private Right-of-Way, 165.42 ft. E/o Motts Cove Rd., Glen Head, NY SEC. 20 BLK. F LOT 36C ZONE R1-7

• HEARING NO. 23: APPEAL NO. 07-215, GLEN HEAD COUNTRY CLUB DEVELOPERS, LLC: Variance to erect a one-family dwelling, on a sub-divided flag lot, having reduced frontage. (Parcel 5) N/s/o Private Right-of-Way, 241.44 ft. E/o Motts Cove Rd., Glen Head, NY SEC. 20 BLK. F LOT 36C ZONE R1-7

Community Meeting on Scudders Pond Restoration

2007-04-16T16:46:00.000-04:00

If you live in Glenwood Landing, watch your mailbox for an invitation to attend a community meeting about the state of Scudders Pond and the major restoration projects that are about to begin there. The meeting is scheduled for Wednesday, April 25, at Sea Cliff Village Hall at 7:30 p.m.

The invitation has been extended by the Hempstead Harbor Protection Committee (HHPC), the Village of Sea Cliff, and the NYS Dept. of State / Division of Coastal Resources. HHPC will be mailing an invitation to all Glenwood Landing residents. Glen Head and Roslyn Harbor residents, indeed all interested parties, are also welcome.

Nearly a million dollars have been obtained to begin major improvements to the pond and its sub-watershed. The public meeting will review the problems uncovered and the various recommendations to restore the health of this important drainage area.

Press release issued by HHPC

The Hempstead Harbor Protection Committee (“HHPC”) announced today the completion of a two-year study on Sea Cliff’s Scudder’s Pond and the scheduling of a public meeting to discuss the results and the recommended improvements. The public meeting will take place on Wednesday, April 25th at 7:30 p.m. at Sea Cliff Village Hall (corner of Sea Cliff and Summit Avenues) in Sea Cliff.

As a result of the study and through a unique inter-municipal effort, nearly a million dollars’ worth of recommended improvements will be implemented and more are anticipated. These improvements are funded largely through grants.

Though small, Sea Cliff’s historic Scudder’s Pond has a big impact on water quality and wildlife in nearby Hempstead Harbor. However age has taken its toll. Fortunately, as a result of a two-year study recently completed by the Hempstead Harbor Protection Committee (“HHPC”), the pond is about to see some major improvements.

According to Sea Cliff Mayor Eileen Krieb, “This small pond is invaluable to our village. It not only protects our harbor from stormwater runoff but has been loved by locals for over 100 years for ice skating and wildlife watching. The pond has given us a lot over the years. It deserves some loving attention”.

Since it was last dredged in 1980, the two-acre pond's natural filtering ability has been significantly impaired as it has filled with silt and sediment. A small weir separating it from another pond upstream has deteriorated, allowing more sediment to reach the pond and fill it in. Invasive plants have taken over large areas in and around the pond. This vegetation not only obscures the public’s view, but chokes out native plants and deprives certain animals of their habitats.

To address these issues, HHPC hired two firms, EEA of Stony Brook and Cameron Engineering & Associates of Woodbury to review conditions in the pond and its subwatershed (the area that drains into the pond) and to prepare recommendations for improvements and cost estimates for implementing these improvements. This study, funded in part by an Environmental Protection Fund grant from the New York State Department of State, is now complete and several of its recommendations have been funded.

The public meeting will explain the results of the study and the anticipated improvements.

“We not only want to restore the pond but also implement measures to help prevent it from filling in again” said William Clemency, Chair of the HHPC which represents the nine municipalities that surround Hempstead Harbor. He explained that one of the recommendations is the installation of a state-of-the-art storm drain system called a “swirl separator” to remove sediment before it can reach the pond. This will be one of the first of the recommendations that will be carried out.
The Hempstead Harbor Protection Committee (“HHPC”) announced today the completion of a two-year study on Sea Cliff’s Scudder’s Pond and the scheduling of a public meeting to discuss the results and the recommended improvements. The public meeting will take place on Wednesday, April 25th at 7:30 p.m. at Sea Cliff Village Hall (corner of Sea Cliff and Summit Avenues) in Sea Cliff.

As a result of the study and through a unique inter-municipal effort, nearly a million dollars’ worth of recommended improvements will be implemented and more are anticipated. These improvements are funded largely through grants.

Though small, Sea Cliff’s historic Scudder’s Pond has a big impact on water quality and wildlife in nearby Hempstead Harbor. However age has taken its toll. Fortunately, as a result of a two-year study recently completed by the Hempstead Harbor Protection Committee (“HHPC”), the pond is about to see some major improvements.

According to HHPC Director Eric Swenson, “New York State and Nassau County have recognized the importance of these efforts by earmarking $ 821,000 from two New York State Environmental Protection Fund grants and from the first Nassau County Environmental Bond Act”. In addition, the Village of Sea Cliff has committed itself to providing $145,000 in matching funds. Additional funding has been nominated for the county’s second Environmental Bond Act.

These funds will be used for a number of improvements including the removal of sediment and invasive plants from the pond; the installation of a swirl separator; reinforcing channel banks leading from the swirl separator to the pond; creating natural treatment wetlands; replacing a deteriorated weir and planting native vegetation in place of the invasive plants.

Patrice Benneward, President of the Glenwood / Glen Head Civic Association stated that “this is an excellent example of many levels of government working with citizens to benefit the community”.

The Hempstead Harbor Protection Committee is an inter-municipal committee, formed in 1995 to work cooperatively on improving the water quality of Hempstead Harbor. It is comprised of the County of Nassau, the Towns of Oyster Bay and North Hempstead, the City of Glen Cove, and the Villages of Sea Cliff, Roslyn Harbor, Roslyn, Flower Hill and Sands Point. Since its inception, the HHPC has obtained 22 grants totaling more than $1.3 million for the betterment of the harbor and its watershed.

Glen Harbor Partners Files Application for Glenwood Landing Building Permits

2007-04-14T15:47:00.000-04:00

Glen Harbor Partners has filed an application for building permits in connection with a 60-unit condominium apartment building proposed for the west side of Shore Road in the Town of North Hempstead (TNH) portion of Glenwood Landing just south of the Glenwood Landing Power Station.

The application was filed with the TNH Building Department on March 28. In many cases, Building Department review can take several months. In this case, the review appears to have been completed in two days. Following standard procedure, the Building Department denied the application because the project requires one or more variances.

The property includes two lots owned by TNH that will be sold to the developer. The entire parcel was rezoned from industrial use to multi-family residential use last fall after several hearings that drew large numbers of residents, most of whom objected to an apartment complex on the waterfront.

Based on plans presented at that time, the project requires two variances: one for ground-level parking beneath the building and one for the number of floors in the building. The proposed height of the building shown during the rezoning processes complied with the requirments specified in the zoning code for multi-family residential use.

The next step will likley be a hearing before the TNH Zoning Board of Appeals (ZBA), possibly in mid-May. The TNH ZBA usually meets during the day.

According to TNH and to the applicant, the project is contingent upon a sewer line to Glen Cove. Last fall, after a meeting with the Glenwood / Glen Head Civic Association and No GWL Condos, Glen Cove Mayor Ralph Suozzi notified TNH that a sewer line would not be considered until Glen Cove had completed various studies of its own, a process that could take some time. Mayor Suozzi said that when those studies were completed, if sewer lines were accepted, areas with demonstrated need based on comprhensive study would be given preference.

No such study has been completed in Glenwood Landing. However, last fall, the Hempstead Harbor Protection Committee, an inter-municipal organization made of of the nine municipalities surrounding Hempstead Harobr, applied for a grant to fund a sewer feasibility study for Glenwood Landing with the support of the Glenwood / Glen Head Civic Association. Whether Mayor Suozzi's position on the sewer line has changed is unknown.

At the rezoning hearing, the applicant also said that the project would include a waterfront walkway with public access at the northern and southern entrances.

The Glenwood / Glen Head Civic Association maintains that vacant waterfront property is too valuable a recreational resource to be developed for any use other than open space—particularly in this case since the parcel includes two publically-owned lots that TNH plans to sell to the developer. In fact, several years ago, the civic association filed an application under the first TNH bond act requesting that the town purchase the privately owned portion of the parcel, combine it with the town-owned land, and manage the area as open space. The suggestion did not make the town's approved list of purchases.

In fact, over the last decade, TNH has systematically divested itself of publically owned land in Glenwood Landing. The three houses on the west side of Shore Road just north of the Swan Club are built on land that the TNH chose to sell. That sale, which caught the community off guard at the time, prompted many people to pay more attention to activities in that area and is, in fact, one of several alarming trends that prompted formation of the civic association.

Many residents of the TNH and Town of Oyster Bay portions of Glenwood Landing, Glen Head, Sea Cliff, and Roslyn Harbor have said they are willing to pay to clean up the site and to create and maintain a park. However, for unknown reasons, TNH has not been willing to explore this option or the mechanisms by which it might be achieved.

Should the project proceed, the civic association is committed to achieving the maximum amount of open space possible, particularly on the west side of Shore Road (the project also includes a small, virtually unbuildable parcel on the east side of Shore Road). The civic association applauds the inclusion of a waterfront esplanade with northern and southern access points. However, we are concerned about the quality of the materials that would be used to construct the esplanade, the hours of access, and short-term and long-term maintenance. Furthermore, we believe it is essential that all the land between the walkway and the building be managed for wildlife. Finally, we feel strongly that the only way to guarantee that these practices continue indefinitely is for them to be clearly specified in a conservation easement held by a nonprofit conservation organization. The North Shore Land Alliance, a Long Island group formed for this purpose, has manifested a strong interest in doing so.

With regard to the sewer line, we are concerned about the number of times that Shore Road may be opened to build sewer lines given the availablity of other vacant lots in the area, particularly the Shore Realty property just south of the proposed Glen Harbor project. We also think it imprudent to build a privately funded sewer line to service one development with no possibility of servicing other properties, especially if hooking up other properties would significantly improve water quality in Hempstead Harbor.

Glenwood Landing and Glen Head Turnout Low in Special Election for Nassau County Legislator

2007-04-06T18:50:00.000-04:00

According to the Nassau County Board of Elections, overall turnout in the special election for Nassau County Legislator in District 11 was 7%.

Nassau County Board of Elections statistics show that turnout in Glenwood Landing, which is all in District 11, and the District 11 portion of Glen Head was even lower.

Of 3,197 registered voters in Glenwood Landing and the District 11 portion of Glen Head, 40 people voted—a turnout of 1.25%, compared to 9.86% in Port Washington, 4.56% in Roslyn, and 1.43% in Roslyn Harbor.

Study Addresses Community Character in Glenwood Landing and Glen Head

2007-04-06T11:57:00.000-04:00

Acknowledging the unique architectural, environmental, and topographical reseources in Glen Head and Glenwood Landing, the Town of Oyster Bay (TOB) is conducting a zoning and planning study to map various land use and topographical features in the residential neighborhoods of Glen Head and Glenwood Landing west of the railroad tracks.

The Glenwood / Glen Head Civic Association, Todd Estates Civic Association, and other neighborhood groups are participating in the study and reaching out to interested neighbors (see postings of April 2 and March 12). The Glenwood / Glen Head Civic Association has taken some 150 photos of neighborhood features, including homes, wet spots, and slopes, to document the characteristics of the study area.

“The residential neighborhoods of both Glen Head and Glenwood Landing have unique architectural, environmental, and topographical resources that have attracted people to the area for years,” TOB Supervisor John Vendiotto is quoted as saying in an April 5 article about the study published in the Glen Cove Record Pilot. “Unfortunately, residents in these neighborhoods have seen an alarming trend toward knockdowns, McMansions and boxlike structures that are built to maximize every square foot of buildable property."

According to the Glen Cove Record Pilot item, the study will map the area and the data will be evaluated by the town's planner, who will then prepare planning and zoning recommendations to review with residents.

Civic Documents Architectural Styles of Glen Head & Glenwood Landing Homes

2007-04-02T08:40:00.000-04:00

The Glenwood / Glen Head Civic Association has assembled and submitted to the Town of Oyster Bay (TOB) a portfolio of some 150 photographs showing the architectural variety of the homes in Glen Head and Glenwood Landing.

At the request of the United Civic Associations of Glen Head and Glenwood Landing, a group made up of the Glenwood / Glen Head Civic Association, the Todd Estates Civic Association, Hill Terrace Civic Association, and representatives from the Plymouth Drive, Harbor View, and Radcliff Manor neighborhoods, TOB is conducting a zoning and planning study focusing on the residential districts in Glen Head and Glenwood Landing west of the railroad tracks (see March 12 posting, Land Use Research Underway in Glenwood Landing and Glen Head).

TOB has hired Frederick P. Clark, a planning firm that frequently works for the town, to conduct the study and asked the civic association to assemble the Glenwood / Glen Head photographic portfolio as a means of limiting cost.

The study ties in with land use measures that TOB recently adopted in Oyster Bay hamlet, many of which will soon be rolled out town wide if approved after appropriate public hearings. The main purpose of the measures is to curb three recent construction trends: knockdowns, so-called “MacMansions,” and boxlike structures built to minimum setback lines.

Some of the measures also are aimed at reducing runoff from construction sites and at protecting steep slopes. New York State has mandated that local municipalities adopt so-called “minimum stormwater control measures” by 2008.

Thus far, Frederick P. Clark has created three draft maps of the study area: an aerial view, steep slopes and wet areas, and lot size. The firm is currently working on a fourth map that will illustrate lot frontages.

The measures the town is considering are accepted by planning professionals as tools for helping to maintain the character, history, and architectural resources of residential neighborhoods. They include a tool new to TOB called the maximum permitted gross floor area requirement (FAR) and a reduction in an existing tool regulating the maximum inclined plane permitted for rooflines (known as height / setback ratios).

Both of these tools have been adopted in many nearby communities. The hope is that, taken together, they will encourage additions, renovations, and new construction to be more consistent with the scale of existing homes and inspire architects and builders to produce more creative, sensitive designs.

Structures built where these tools exist often tend to be less imposing and to exhibit more architectural details than those built in areas where such tools do not exist. The research being conducted by Frederick P. Clark may reveal details peculiar to certain Glenwood Landing and Glen Head neighborhoods that will help zoning, planning, and building code officials more effectively implement FAR, height/setback ratios, and other planning tools.

Lundy Hearing Closed, Comments Still Accepted on Environmental Impact Statement

2007-03-31T12:30:00.000-04:00

The Town of Oyster Bay (TOB) hearing on the application to rezone the old Lundy site on the south side of Glen Head Road just west of the railroad tracks near Dumond Place in Glen Head has been closed. The applicant seeks a change in zone from industrial use to residential use.

Comments on the Draft Environmental Impact Statement (DEIS) filed in connection with the property will be accepted until April 27. A copy of the DEIS should be available at the Gold Coast Library.

The TOB hearing held earlier this week lasted until after midnight, with a wide range of opinions expressed. The Glenwood / Glen Head Civic Association stressed the importance of setting aside open space in any site plan filed in connection with the site and emphasized the need to address traffic congestion and visibility at the corner of Dumond Place and Glen Head Road should the zoning change be granted and the project proposed for the site be constructed.

The Todd Estates Civic Association has taken the lead on the application, as Todd Estates borders the north side of the property. After much discussion and outreach, the Todd Estates Civic Association has expressed the view that residential development with the lowest density achievable is preferable to maintaining the current zoning and facing the possibility of a new industrial development.

The applicant proposes 15 single-family homes in an R1-7 District and 41 new townhouse units in a Multi-Family Residential District. Waste would be transported to the sewage treatment plant in Glen Cove via a private sewer line.

Wink Wins District 11 Seat in Nassau County Legislature

2007-03-29T08:18:00.000-04:00

Wayne Wink (D) now represents all of Glenwood Landing and Roslyn Harbor, parts of Glen Head and Sea Cliff, and several other communities to the south and west in Nassau County Legislative District 11.

Mr. Wink defeated Republican challenger Louis Chisari in the special election held Tuesday, March 27. The seat was previously held by Craig Johnson (D), who was recently elected to the NYS Senate.

With the election, the Democrats hold 10 seats in the Nassau County Legislature and the Republicans hold nine seats.

Wink and Chisari Respond to Questions from Glenwood / Glen Head Civic

2007-03-26T17:50:00.000-04:00

On Tuesday, the Glenwood / Glen Head Civic Association submitted questions to Wayne Wink (D, I, WF) and Louis Chisari (R, C), the two candidates seeking to represent Nassau County Legislative District 11 in the special election secheduled for Tuesday, March 27.

Mr. Chisari and Mr. Wink have submitted their responses, which are posted below exactly as they were received. As has been noted in many previous postings, all of Glenwood Landing and Roslyn Harbor and part of Glen Head and Sea Cliff make up the northeasternmost portion of Nassau County Legislative District 11.

Be sure to vote. This election determines which party takes the majority in the Nassau County Legislature. Make your opinion known. Local elections turn on a dime. Your vote, whatever it is, counts—and it is no secret that turnout is often appallingly low.

Our right to vote has been won by people who have died, been injured, or been maimed over generations to protect this democracy. Vote! It is the patriotic thing to do! Besides, did you know that if you don't vote, your license to complain expires—and you have to zip it up and wait until November to renew?

1) What is the most important single contribution you hope to make as a county legislator?

Chisari: First, to stop any and all property tax increases and second improve county services that the current County Executive and Legislature has cut while expanding their staffs.

Wink: It is no secret that our tax burden is too high; one way to alleviate that is to eliminate duplication of services between our towns and villages and the County, and to better coordinate other services. As a county legislator, I'll be working on a number of these consolidation projects, such as the transfer of certain county parks and roads from the county to the Town of North Hempstead.Transfers such as these allow the Town to maintain better these local parks and roads, while allowing the County to reallocate existing resources to sites in need of attention.

I also have a track record of working across party lines, as a consensus-builder. In a narrowly divided Legislature, my ability to work with other members of both political parties is going to be important to the taxpayers, citizens, and residents of the 11th LD and the rest of Nassau County.

2) What differences and similarities do you perceive among the communities in District 11, and how might these factors impact your service to those communities?

Chisari: The biggest similarity is the issue of property taxes, the County through the Legislature and the County Executive are oppressively taxing all communities in District 11 to the point that the people can no longer afford. Furthermore, each community is different with their own special needs, which as a County Legislator it would be my obligation to list and address each of those special needs.

Wink: While there are communities of significant affluence in the 11th District, the district also includes people of much lesser means. In the end, we all deserve the same things: clean air, clean water, a better and brighter future for our children, security for our own retirement. The reduction of waste and duplication across different levels of government is not only less expensive for everyone (lower taxes) and less confusing, it benefits all of our communities and encourages growth of the local economy.

3) What is your view of the county's role on the Hempstead Harbor Protection Committee and the Manhasset Bay Protection Committee, and how would you advance the water quality improvement efforts of these inter-municipal organizations?

Chisari: I would led and effort by the County to secure more Federal and State grants to help further fund the projects.

Wink: This kind of coordination is exactly what I have been talking about throughout my campaign, and part of the reason I chose to kick off my campaign at Bar Beach. The towns have historically taken the lead in this regard, but there is a larger role for the county to play here. There was a time when the county tested the water quality of Hempstead Harbor and other bodies of water throughout the county on a regular basis. I would work to ensure the county could provide that kind of assistance and support to further the vital goals of the Hempstead Harbor Protection Committee.

4) How can the decay of the historic structures and gardens under county jurisdiction be reversed, and what would you do to encourage historic preservation in general?

Chisari: This is one area I feel very strongly about. I believe that preserving the County's historic sites is extremely important. First, the County must secure Federal and State grants that are available for this effort and second, stop the County Executive from cutting the staffs of these sites so he can hire political operatives for his personal staff as he has done in the pass with the full blessing of the Democratically control Legislature.

Wink: Long Island's heritage are a resource for the people of all New York. Their preservation and maintenance are important not only for our local sense of history, but to encourage tourism and indeed attract new residents to Nassau County. It is important that the county commit to the maintenance and improvement of these historic structures, whether through the county's capital plan or by applying for state and federal grants. I have developed close relationships with many of our elected leaders in Albany and Washington, and will work with them wherever possible to secure the resources we need to reverse these deplorable trends.

5) What is your policy on open space, and how would you protect open space in Glenwood Landing and Glen Head?

Chisari: I believe at this juncture in the County's development we must preserve the little open space that is left. The County must either fund an open space acquiring program or secure federal and state grants to fund such a project.

Wink: It would be shortsighted to develop every single inch of space, whether for new homes, new businesses, or even traditional parks. When it comes to our environment, we too often forget that each generation is here not as owners, but as stewards for the generations to come. That is why, wherever appropriate, we seek to redevelop existing sites, rather than squander the limited open space we have in the area. The Town of North Hempstead and Nassau County both have environmental bonds act monies in place to purchase either open space or the development rights of open space throughout the county. I would look to these monies to preserve pristine open space wherever possible in the Glenwood Landing/Glen Head area.

6) What role can the county play in reducing traffic congestion and sprawl, both countywide and in Glen Head and Glenwood Landing in particular?

Chisari: No answer provided.

Wink: To our west, New York City has the most extensive public transportation system in the world. In Nassau, we must work harder to reduce our reliance on the automobile and improve public transit. Development of new office parks and new housing might, for example, include investment in that infrastructure. I would seek to encourage the development of mass transportation and traffic reducing initiatives by the use of Industrial Development Agency bonds for new, and where possible, existing businesses throughout the county. We must find ways to encourage more people to use the bus, and the train, rather than driving.

7) What would you do to ensure that payments in lieu of taxes (PILOTs) and/or taxes on utility properties in Glenwood Landing are paid and not reduced?

Chisari: This is more an issue for the State Legislature than for the County Legislature as for the payments. The PILOTs are agreements that the utility has with either, the state or county and/or the local municipality. As for the amounts they are contractual and if they are reduced it is agreed upon by the parties involved. As a County Legislator I would make sure that the any amount owed under a PILOT will not be reduced and I would insure the utility pays the amount it originally agreed upon.

Wink: I would work to ensure that existing PILOT agreements be enforced and honored by all the parties to the agreements.

8) What is the county's most significant public safety and disaster vulnerability, and how would you address it?

Chisari: No answer provided.

Wink: The most likely disaster scenario in Nassau County would likely be hurricanes or Nor'easters, which have the potential to flood low-lying areas and cause devastating erosion to our shorelines. The county, as well as all levels of government, must prepare for the unavoidable consequences of weather-related by establishing a support infrastructure for the provision of life-saving and emergency shelter facilities known as Points of Distribution (PODs). The quicker PODs can spring into action to ensure that residents are treated, clothed and sheltered in emergency situations, the more likely it is that lives can be saved and our homes protected.

9) What measures would you introduce to make county government more efficient and more accessible to the public?

Chisari: First, I believe that County government is very accessible to the public, but I feel that a Public Advocates Office charged with helping the citizens of the county navigate the municipal system is needed. Second, to make County government more efficient one party rule must end. In the last six years county government has cut the staffs of the Buildings Dept., Parks Dept. and Highway Dept., but the staffs of the County Executive and County Legislature has grown. I agree with the Governor waste must be sought out and stopped.

Wink: Throughout this campaign, and my whole career, I have been working towards consolidating services. There are many public services that are better managed locally, and things that are best handled by the county or even the state. Whatever those services are, it is important that we have transparency. People need to know WHAT government is doing, HOW it is doing it, and WHOM to contact when they need something. It's the only way the system works for ALL of its citizens. The maze of overlapping government entities often serves to conceal and frustrate the public, calling into question the very foundation of government accountability.

10) Are you willing to work in a bi-partisan manner, and what will you do to encourage bi-partisan cooperation among your colleagues?

Chisari: Yes, absolutely, but the thing I will never work bi-partisan on is any issue that would result in any type tax or county fee increase. I feel there will always be a better solution then raising taxes of county charged fees.

Wink: I have not only been willing to work in a bi-partisan manner, but I have always worked to encourage such cooperation. In the end, we all want the same things; our philosophical and partisan differences are about the best way to achieve those goals. I have never been one who wants the "issue" to linger as a weapon for some future campaign. I want to be known for real results that help the people of District 11 and all Nassau County live better lives.

Chisari, Wink in News 12 Long Island Debate

2007-03-22T21:11:00.000-04:00

According to Cablevision's News 12 Long Island assignment desk, a debate between Louis Chisari (R, C) and Wayne Wink (D, I, WF) will air on News 12 Long Island tonight at 11:30 p.m.; Saturday at 8:30 a.m., 11:30 a.m., 1:30 p.m., and 4:30 p.m.; and Sunday at 6 a.m., 10 p.m., 1:30 p.m., and 3:30 p.m. The debate may turn up at other times, as well.

Mr. Wink and Mr. Chisari are competing for a seat in District 11 in the Nassau County Legislature. The balance of power in the county is at stake, as the party composition of the legislature is tied at nine Republican seats and nine Democratic seats.

As has been posted many times on the Glenwood / Glen Head Civic Spot in recent days, all of Glenwood Landing and Roslyn Harbor and part of Sea Cliff and Glen Head are in District 11.

The election is scheduled for Tuesday, March 27, from 6 a.m. to 9 p.m. Vote at your usual polling place, and look for a mailing from the Nassau County Board of Elections notifying you of the election if you are in District 11. For more information, consult previous postings below, including questions the civic association submitted to the candidates and the answers the candidates provided.

Hearing to Rezone Lundy Property in Glen Head Set for March 27

2007-03-22T19:49:00.000-04:00

The following hearing is the first item on the Town of Oyster Bay Agenda for the Town Board Meeting on Tuesday, March 27, at 7 p.m.

"HEARING – Z-3-04 To consider the application of DUMOND ENTERPRISES, LLC, contract vendee, and TRANSTECHNOLOGY, CORPORATION, fee owner, for a Change of Zone, from an “LI” District (Light Industry) and “R1-7” District (One-Family Residence) to an “RMF-16” District (Multi-Family Residence) and “R1-7” District (One-Family Residence), to allow the development of 15 new single-family residences and 41 new townhouse units, which would replace an existing 112,135 square foot one-story industrial building on property located at One Robert Lane, Glen Head, New York. (M.D. 2/13/07 #22)."

This property is located in central Glen Head on the south side of Glen Head Road (see the following 2006 postings: August 28, Unavailability of Sewer Line May Affect Developments Proposed for Glen Head & the Glenwood Landing Waterfront; March 24, Lundy Site: Closer to Cleaner Soil).

The south side of the property borders Todd Estates. The east side of the property borders the railroad tracks. To reach the property from Glen Head Road turn south onto Dumond Place one block west of the railroad tracks.

The Todd Estates Civic Association has taken the lead on following the application.

Wink, Chisari Debate Issues Affecting Nassau County, Glen Head, Glenwood Landing

2007-03-22T09:15:00.000-04:00

Candidates for the District 11 seat in the Nassau County Legislature appeared last night at Meet the Candidates Night sponsored by the Port Washington-Manhasset League of Women Voters at the Port Washington Library. District 11 includes all of Glenwood Landing and Roslyn Harbor and parts of Glen Head and Sea Cliff (see previous postings for more information).

The candidates, Louis Chisari (R,C) and Wayne Wink (D, I, WF), agreed that District 11 voters have a historic opportunity to affect the direction the county takes at this juncture because, with the departure of District 11 Legislator Craig Johnson (D) to the NYS Senate, the legislature is evenly divided between Republicans and Democrats.

The March 27 election will determine which party takes the majority.

Mr. Chisari, who was a prosecutor in the Nassau County District Attorney 's Office, said that under no circumstances would he ever raise taxes or fees for services. He pointed to increased property taxes and increased golf fees as unacceptable. He said he would attempt to hold the line on costs by seeking savings in the executive office and the legislature. He said that these two branches of county government probably have too many people on staff. He said he would not seek savings in the budgets of the departments that deliver services.

Mr. Wink said that sharing and consolidating services can help hold the line on taxes. He said that the Town of North Hempstead, where he currently serves as a councilman, has entered into inter-municipal agreements that make the town sign shop available to incorporated villages. He said that Hempstead Harbor Park, a county facility adjacent to Bar Beach, a town facility, will soon be transferred to town jurisdiction.

Mr. Wink said these arrangements will save money because the town sign shop can provide services at a lower cost than the open market and because the beaches will now be maintained by one staff instead of two. He said the county will redeploy Hempstead Harbor Park staff to other county facilities where they are needed.

Mr. Chisari said he is an independent thinker and that Mr. Wink would vote in lockstep with the “tax and spend” policies of the Democrats.

Mr. Wink said he maintains an independent voice and pointed to his vote to deny the Glen Harbor application in Glenwood Landing for a change in zone from industrial use to multi-residential use as an example. “I was one of two votes against,” Mr. Wink said. “Five of my colleagues, including the one Republican on the town board, voted in favor.”

Mr. Wink said that the Republicans in the county legislature virtually always vote as a block and rarely, if ever, break rank. He said that the Republicans do not encourage debate. He said the Democrats might be appear to be “messy,” but at least they permit discussion.

Glenwood / Glen Head Civic Asks—The Candidates Respond

2007-03-21T22:21:00.000-04:00

Candidates for Nassau County Legislative District 11 to Appear at League of Women Voters Meeting in Port Washington

2007-03-21T10:04:00.000-04:00

The candidates for County Legislature in Nassau County Legislative District 11 will appear at the Port Washington Library tonight, Wednesday, March 21, at 8 p.m. The meeting is sponsored by the Port Washington-Manhasset League of Women Voters and will be held in the Lapham Meeting Room.

The Port Washington Library (883-4400) is located at One Library Drive, just off Main Street in Port Washington.

Glenwood / Glen Head Civic Submits Questions to Special Election Candidates in Nassau County Legislative District 11

2007-03-20T19:13:00.000-04:00

The Glenwood / Glen Head Civic Association has submitted the questions below to Louis Chisari (R, C) and Wayne Wink (D, I, WF), the two candidates who are seeking to represent Nassau County Legislative District 11 in the special election secheduled for Tuesday, March 27. We look forward to receiving reponses from both candidates and plan to post their answers. For more information about the special election, consult previous postings.

1) What is the most important single contribution you hope to make as a county legislator?

2) What differences and similarities do you perceive among the communities in District 11, and how might these factors impact your service to those communities?

3) What is your view of the county’s role on the Hempstead Harbor Protection Committee and the Manhasset Bay Protection Committee, and how would you advance the water quality improvement efforts of these inter-municipal organizations?

4) How can the decay of the historic structures and gardens under county jurisdiction be reversed, and what would you do to encourage historic preservation in general?

5) What is your policy on open space, and how would you protect open space in Glenwood Landing and Glen Head?

6) What role can the county play in reducing traffic congestion and sprawl, both countywide and in Glen Head and Glenwood Landing in particular?

7) What would you do to ensure that payments in lieu of taxes (PILOTs) and/or taxes on utility properties in Glenwood Landing are paid and not reduced?

8) What is the county’s most significant public safety and disaster vulnerability, and how would you address it?

9) What measures would you introduce to make county government more efficient and more accessible to the public?

10) Are you willing to work in a bi-partisan manner, and what will you do to encourage bi-partisan cooperation among your colleagues?

Conservation League Endorses Wink

2007-03-19T18:31:00.000-04:00

The New York League of Conservation Voters has endorsed Wayne Wink (D, I, WF) in the special election to fill the vacant seat in the county legislature. The other candidate is Louis Chisari (R, C). The vacancy is in District 11. All of Glenwood Landing and Roslyn Harbor and portions of Glen Head and Sea Cliff are in District 11.

The election will be held on Tuesday, March 27. Vote at your usual polling place. More information about the candidates and the special election can be found below in several previous postings.

To find out if your are in District 11 and where to vote, contact the Nassau County Board of Elections (571-2411)). The Board of Elections says it plans a mailing to households in District 11 notifying them about the election.

The election will decide which party holds the majority in the Nassau County Legislature, which is currently tied at 9 Republican seats and 9 Democratic seats.

For details about the NY League of Conservation Voter's endorsement of Mr. Wink, visit the league's website website.

Mr. Wink, who currently is a councilman on the North Hempstead Town Board, voted to deny the Glen Harbor application for a change of zone from industial use to multi-family residential use for the property on Shore Road in Glenwood Landing just south of the Glenwood Landing Power Station. The board ruled in favor of the applicant by a vote of 2 against, 5 in favor. At the time, Mr. Wink said he voted against the application because too many unanswered questions remained.

Glenwood / Glen Head Civic Supports Coalition to Save Hempstead Harbor's County Open Space Bond Nominations

2007-03-18T23:25:00.000-04:00

The Glenwood / Glen Head Civic Association has lent its support to a Nassau County Open Space Bond application submitted to the county by the Coalition to Save Hempstead Harbor. The application nominates several properties around Hempstead Harbor for open space acquisition, including the fully remediated propane field in Glenwood Landing. The propane field was recommend and accepted for acquisition under the first county bond act, but money was not appropriated to move forward with purchase.

For some reason, the county has required that properties accepted for acquistion under its last open space bond act but not purchased be renominated under the second bond. The propane field also has been accepted for acquisition under both of the Town of Oyster Bay's open space bonds, and TOB has received a state grant to direct to funding and reclamation of the property. Thus, several funding sources are in place. The holdup is anybody's guess. We understand that TOB also may have refiled an application for public acquisition of the propane field under the current county bond act.

Acquisition of the propane field and other Glenwood Landing waterfront properties would be consistent with the Glenwood Landing Waterfront Revitalization and Redevelopment Plane, the Water Quality Improvement Plan for Hempstead Harbor, and the Hempstead Harbor Management Plan. In addition, establishing a Glenwood Landing Waterfront Greenway is a specific priority cited in the New York State Open Space Plan, thanks largely to the efforts of the civic association and the support of the Coalition to Save Hempstead Harbor and the Hempstead Harbor Protection Committee.

Text of Coalition to Save Hempstead Harbor's nomination letter

The Coalition to Save Hempstead Harbor is pleased to have an opportunity to nominate four waterfront parcels of land along Hempstead Harbor for open-space acquisition and support the nominations for two other waterfront parcels. The acquisition of these parcels would be the most aggressive and significant action taken to date to help improve the water quality of Hempstead Harbor, improve and preserve the local habitat for marine life, birds, and other wildlife, and enhance the quality of life for over 46,000 residents who live in the communities immediately surrounding Hempstead Harbor, including Sands Point, Flower Hill, Roslyn, Roslyn Harbor, Glenwood Landing, Glen Head, Sea Cliff, and Glen Cove, as well as for thousands more in adjacent communities and beyond who work around Hempstead Harbor or use the harbor as a recreational resource.

Our nominations are for the Shore Realty property at Mott's Cove, the adjacent Glen Harbor property (formerly the Harbor Fuel site (aka HinFin property) south of the KeySpan plant on the southeast shore of Hempstead Harbor, the Gladsky property (marine salvage and marina) north of the KeySpan plant, and the Sea Isle property on the south side of Glen Cove Creek and adjacent to Brewer's Marina. The applications along with maps and photos for these sites are attached. We also support the applications for acquisition of the BITI, LLC property adjacent to the creek in Roslyn (referenced in our January 8, 2007, letter to you) and the KeySpan property (the two parcels adjacent to the Tappen Beach Park, nominated by the Town of Oyster Bay). Nominations for all six above-referenced properties are also supported by the Glenwood/Glen Head Civic Association (Patrice Benneward, President).

Several of these properties are threatened with imminent residential development. The irony is that as the ecosystem and habitat for Hempstead Harbor continue to improve, the development pressures increase. If development is allowed to proceed along the waterfront at a scale similar to that of the Bryant Landing development in Roslyn, for example, all that the stakeholders around Hempstead Harbor have worked long and hard to improve and preserve will be threatened with degradation once again–not from industrial assaults, but from overly dense residential development, which could have equally adverse impacts. (The once bucolic lower harbor now ends in a jarring view of large multistoried buildings that are in extreme contrast to the historic homes that dot the shore of Roslyn Harbor, including the William Cullen Bryant Estate at Cedarmere. The view corridor that once existed from the Roslyn Viaduct looking north to the harbor and Long Island Sound as you travel westbound is nearly obliterated.)

We fear that increased impervious land areas around the harbor and increased emissions from increased traffic will also increase storm-water runoff problems and compromise the harbor's water quality and habitat as well as change the human habitat from suburban–with critical recreational resources– to unchecked sprawl that is out of line with the municipal local waterfront redevelopment plans or shoreline studies that have been undertaken around the harbor (including the Hempstead Harbor Water Quality Improvement Plan, the Hempstead Harbor Management Plan, and the Glenwood Landing Waterfront Redevelopment and Revitalization Plan). This is also out of line with the county's new Healthy Nassau initiative.

In addition, local waterfront development projects have failed to adequately plan for building in flood zones in the past and do not address the future vagaries of climate change, global warming, and rising sea levels (see The New York Times, Real Estate, section 11, "The Real Riddle of Changing Weather: How Safe Is My Home," March 11, 2007). As the previously cited article states, the designation of a 100-year flood zone means "a flood has a 26 percent chance of occurring in any 30-year period." This combined with estimates of a 5-inch rise in sea level by 2030 can spell economic as well as environmental disaster for irresponsibly developed areas along the waterfront. (Also note that Allstate Insurance Company has pulled out of the Long Island residential market for new policies due to concerns about the risk of climate change on coastal properties.)

Our goal, simply put, is to preserve as much of the Hempstead Harbor waterfront as possible for open space or low impact use. We feel that this will be most in line with the desires of the stakeholders around the harbor, which has been designated by the New York State Coastal Management Plan as a significant coastal fish and wildlife habitat and cited by Audubon as a critical flyway for migratory birds. This action would also parallel efforts to create stewardship sites around Long Island Sound (Hempstead Harbor is one of the stewardship sites selected under the newly enacted Long Island Sound Stewardship Act). Further, by preserving these waterfront parcels, we can move forward with every harbor community's efforts to create a harborwide trailway, a soft shoreline, and wetlands restoration, which can all help to mitigate the damage from storm surge and flooding. (Note that the Town of North Hempstead has already made a significant investment in beach plantings, land acquisition, and the waterfront trail on the west shore of the harbor.) Also, establishing a Glenwood Landing Waterfront Greenway is a designated priority in the New York State Open Space Plan.

We would be happy to provide additional information on these parcels at a later date as you begin your examination of open-space nominations. If necessary, we would also be happy to elicit additional formal support by community members and groups for the above nominations.

Majority Seat in Nassau County Legislature Up for Grabs in Special Election March 27

2007-03-18T15:03:00.000-04:00

Voters in Glenwood Landing, portions of Glen Head and Sea Cliff, and the rest of Nassau County Legislative District 11 hold the key to which party takes the majority in the county legislature (see previous postings, including VOTE March 27 in Special Election to Select Nassau County Legislator Representing Glenwood Landing and Western Glen Head, March 15; Musical Chairs Upstate Affect Glenwood Landing & Glen Head, February 18).

The number of Republican and Democratic seats in the Nassau County Legislature is currently tied at nine since Craig Johnson (D), who represented District 11, was elected to the NYS Senate in a special election earlier this winter.

Wayne Wink of Roslyn is the Democratic candidate. Louis Chisari of Garden City Park is the Republican candidate. Mr. Wink also is endorsed by the Working Family and Independent parties. Mr. Chisari also is endorsed by the Conservative Party. Both candidates are attorneys.

VOTE March 27 in Special Election to Select Nassau County Legislator Representing Glenwood Landing and Western Glen Head

2007-03-15T20:12:00.000-04:00

A special election is scheduled for the 11th Nassau County Legislative District, which includes Glenwood Landing and western Glen Head, on March 27 (see Civic Spot posting Musical Chairs Upstate Affect Glenwood Landing & Glen Head, February 18).

Wayne Wink of Roslyn is the Democratic candidate. Louis Chisari of New Hyde Park is the Republican candidate. Mr. Wink also is endorsed by the Working Family and Independent parties. Mr. Chisari also is endorsed by the Conservative Party. Both candidates are attorneys.

Mr. Chisari, 38, ran unsuccessfully for North Hempstead town clerk two years ago and for State Assembly last year.

Mr. Wink, 40, currently serves on the North Hempstead Town Council. He was an aide to the late Barbara Johnson when she was a North Hempstead Town Board member and a county legislator representing the 11th District. Mr. Wink voted no on the Glen Harbor application for a change of zone from industrial to multi-family residential, saying that there were still too many unresolved issues to grant the request.

Glenwood Landing and western Glen Head are the Nassau County 11th Legislative District's northeasternmost communities. A special election is necessary to fill the county seat vacated by Democrat Craig Johnson, who recently won another special election to fill the New York State Senate seat vacated by Republican Michael Balboni, the state's recently appointed homeland security chief.

According to the Nassau County Board of Elections, voting will take place at your usual polling place. To find out if you are in the 11th Legislative District and to confirm where to vote, contact the Board of Elections (571-2411). A map of Nassau County Legislative District 11 is posted on the county website. The Board of Elections said it plans a mailing notifying registered 11th District voters about the election and telling them where to vote.

In search of Nassau County Legislative District 11

According to the Board of Elections, Nassau County's 11th District includes all of Glenwood Landing and Roslyn Harbor and part of Sea Cliff, as well as all or portions of Albertson, East Hills, Flower Hill, Garden City Park, Herricks, Manorhaven, Plandome Manor, Port Washington, Port Washington North, Roslyn, Roslyn Estates, Roslyn Heights, Sands Point, and Searingtown.

Glen Head is not listed, although the western portion of Glen Head does appear to be in the district and legislative aides have confirmed that it is. In any case, District 11 voters, you know who you are!

Before the advent of zip codes, Glenwood Landing extended east, into portions of what are now known as Glen Head. This may, possibly and at least partly, account for why Glen Head does not appear on the Board of Elections list of District 11 communities. Of course, it may also be because it is difficult even for professionals to keep track of so many election and special districts, especially in areas such as Glen Head and Glenwood Landing, which seem to be so often divided by so many weirdly drawn lines.

The Nassau County Republican Committee refers to Mr. Chisari as "an attorney from New Hyde Park." The October 21, 2005 edition of the Great Neck Record states that Mr. Chisari has been a resident of Garden City Park for almost his entire life." Although the Nassau County Board of Elections lists Garden City Park as being partly in District 11, New Hyde Park does not appear on the list.

Considering how difficult it often is for ordinary citizens to keep track of election districts and to get any information at all about candidates in local elections, it would be helpful if the Republican Committee would refer to Mr. Chisari's proper residence, which is, presumably, in District 11 and is, presumably, in Garden City Park.

A brief history of Nassau County Legislative Distrct 11

The Nassau County Legislature and all original legislative district boundaries were established in 1993, replacing the Board of Supervisors. The original district boundaries were redrawn in 2003. Originally, Glen Head and Glenwood Landing, Sea Cliff, Glen Cove, and Locust Valley were included in one cohesive district. Glenwood Landing and Glen Head's previous legislative representatives include Democrat Brian Muellers and Republican John Canning.

Barbara Johnson, Mr. Johnson's mother and predecessor in the 11th district, never represented Glenwood Landing or Glen Head, as she died while in office in 2000, before the new district line was drawn. Mr. Johnson first won his county seat in a special election shortly after his mother's untimely passing.

Land Use Research Underway in Glenwood Landing and Glen Head

2007-03-12T23:38:00.000-04:00

In response to requests from the United Civic Associations of Glen Head and Glenwood Landing, a group made up of the Glenwood / Glen Head Civic Association, the Todd Estates Civic Association, Hill Terrace Civic Association, and representatives from the Plymouth Drive, Harbor View, and Radcliff Manor neighborhoods, the Town of Oyster Bay (TOB) is conducting a zoning and planning study focusing on the residential districts in Glen Head and Glenwood Landing west of the railroad tracks.

The study ties in with land use measures that TOB recently adopted in Oyster Bay hamlet, many of which will soon be rolled out town wide if approved after appropriate public hearings. The main purpose of the measures is to curb three recent construction trends: knockdowns, so-called “MacMansions,” and boxlike structures built to minimum setback lines.

Some of the measures also are aimed at reducing runoff from construction sites and at protecting steep slopes. New York State has mandated that local municipalities adopt so-called “minimum stormwater control measures” by 2008.

The Glenwood / Glen Head Civic Association has been working to encourage these types of measures for many years. Last month, TOB hired Frederick P. Clark Associates, a consulting firm that handles much of TOB’s land use work, to conduct the Glenwood / Glen Head study. Thus far, three draft maps have been created: an aerial view of the study area, steep slopes and wet areas, and lot size.

Frederick P. Clark is currently working on a fourth map that will illustrate lot frontages. To minimize the cost of the study, TOB has asked the civic associations to submit digital photos of selected homes throughout the study area. About 150 photos illustrating the wide diversity of housing styles in the study area have been taken so far.

The measures the town is considering are accepted by planning professionals as tools for helping to maintain the character, history, and architectural resources of residential neighborhoods. They include a tool new to TOB called the maximum permitted gross floor area requirement (FAR) and a reduction in an existing tool regulating the maximum inclined plane permitted for rooflines (known as height / setback ratios).

Both of these tools have been adopted in many nearby communities. The hope is that, taken together, they will encourage additions, renovations, and new construction to be more consistent with the scale of existing homes and inspire architects and builders to produce more creative, sensitive designs.

Structures built where these tools exist often tend to be less imposing and to exhibit more architectural details than those built in areas where such tools do not exist. The research being conducted by Frederick P. Clark may reveal details peculiar to certain Glenwood Landing and Glen Head neighborhoods that will help zoning, planning, and building code officials more effectively implement FAR, height/setback ratios, and other planning tools.

More than one professional planner has said that several recent subdivisions in Glenwood Landing and Glen Head might well have been prevented or at least modified if such tools had been available during the permitting and review process.

More information about the study will be posted as it becomes available.

Vote at Usual Location for March 27 Special Election

2007-02-26T15:09:00.000-05:00

According to the Nassau County Board of Elections, voting times and locations for the special election to elect a county legislator for the 11th Legislative District will be from 6 a.m. to 9 p.m. on Tuesday, March 27, at your usual polling place (see below for additional postings on this topic).

The county's 11th Legislative District includes all of Glenwood Landing and the portion of Glen Head west of Glen Cove Avenue. Residents in these areas usually vote at either the Community Center on Glen Head Road or at Glenwood Landing School.

The 11th legislative district also includes a small portion of Sea Cliff, as well as all or portions of Sands Point, Port Washington, Port Washington North, Baxter Estates, Manorhaven, Flower Hill, Roslyn Harbor, Roslyn, Roslyn Estates, East Hills, Roslyn Heights, Albertson, and Garden City Park.

The Board of Elections says it plans to confirm voting times and locations by mail. The Board of Elections can be contacted at 571-2411.

Glenwood / Glen Head Civic Concerned About Traffic Impact of Glen Cove Creek Development on Shore Road

2007-02-24T19:32:00.000-05:00

The following letter concerning the Glen Isle development proposed for Glen Cove Creek has been sent to Thomas Scott, Chairman of the Glen Cove Planning Board, Glen Cove City Hall, 9 Glen Street, Glen Cove 11542, with a copy to Mayor Ralph Suozzi:

We are writing to you to express concern about the scale and scope of the Glen Isle project. The civic association is particularly concerned about traffic impacts, especially on Shore Road in Sea Cliff and Glenwood Landing and on Glenwood Road and Bryant Avenue in Roslyn Harbor and Roslyn.

This route is a well known “cut-through” linking Glen Cove with Northern Boulevard, the Willis Avenue entrance to the LIE, the Roslyn Road entrance to Northern State, and local destination points such as Manhasset, Port Washington, and Mineola. Anyone who frequents the area can testify to the vast increase in the number of vehicles using this route in recent years. As a result of this increase, driving times have become unpredictable. Furthermore, trips that once took no more than 10- to 15- minutes now frequently take 45 minutes or more.

You don’t need an engineering degree to have noted the change or to realize that the intensive development planned in Glen Cove will increase the amount of traffic on the Shore Road-Glenwood Road-Roslyn Road route. Yet, it does not appear that the Preliminary Environmental Impact Statement adequately addresses this concern, if it does so at all.

Because Glen Cove Avenue and Glenwood Road in Glenwood Landing provide access to the Shore Road-Bryant Avenue-Roslyn Road route and are frequently employed when the already overloaded Glen Cove Road-Northern Boulevard intersection backs up, we also are concerned about the impact of the Glen Isle project on these thoroughfares.

We think that the EIS must contain a realistic plan for addressing the many mutual traffic needs of Locust Valley, Glen Cove, Glenwood Landing, Glen Head, Roslyn Harbor, and Roslyn. We also think it must take into consideration cumulative impacts, including the new developments that are currently under review in nearby communities and the amount of open space remaining for development.

In addition, we believe that the height and footprint of the Glen Isle project will significantly impair view corridors from vantage points on both land and water. We consider view corridors to be a important public benefit. We think that the EIS must address ways to minimize the building height and footprint and how view corridors can be maximized.

We apologize for waiting so long to register formal comments and trust that these issues will be addressed.

Who Will Represent Glenwood Landing in the County Legislature--Cast Your Vote To Help Decide

2007-02-24T07:59:00.000-05:00

Louis Chisari of New Hyde Park is the Republican candidate running for the Nassau County Legislature in the 11th District according to a posting on the Newsday weblog Spin Cycle. Wayne Wink of Roslyn is the Democratic candidate (see Civic Spot posting Musical Chairs Upstate Affect Glenwood Landing & Glen Head, February 18).

Glenwood Landing is the 11th District's northernmost community. A special election is necessary to fill the county seat vacated by Democrat Craig Johnson, who recently won another special election to fill the New York State Senate seat vacated by Republican Michael Balboni, the state's recently appointed homeland security chief.

The 11th District election is scheduled for Tuesday, March 27. As of this posting, the time and location for voting do not appear to have been announced. To find out if you are in the 11th Legislative District, call the Nassau County Board of Elections (571-2411) or check the map on the county website.

Mr. Wink currently serves on the North Hempstead Town Council. A Newsday article published on February 21 reported that both candidates are attorneys. Mr. Wink, 40, was an aide to Mr. Johnson's late mother, Barbara, when she was a North Hempsetad town board member and a county legislator representing the 11th district. Mr. Chisari, 38, ran unsuccessfully for North Hempstead town clerk two years ago and for State Assembly last year.

According to the Spin Cycle posting, Mr. Wink is endorsed by the Independence and Working Families Parties, and Mr. Chisari is endorsed by the Conservative Party.

Mr. Johnson's Senate district does not include Glenwood Landing or Glen Head, which are represented by Republican Carl Marcellino. Similarly, Mr. Wink's town council district does not include the Town of North Hempstead portion of Glenwood Landing, which is represented by Democrat Tom Dwyer.

Musical Chairs Upstate Affect Glenwood Landing & Glen Head

2007-02-18T19:17:00.000-05:00

County Executive Tom Suozzi has called a special election for March 27 to fill Craig Johnson's county legislative seat. Mr. Johnson represented Nassau County Legislative District 11, which includes Glenwood Landing, parts of Glen Head and Sea Cliff, Roslyn Harbor, Roslyn, Flower Hill, Port Washington, and Sands Point.

Last week, Democrats announced that North Hempstead Town Councilman Wayne Wink would be that party's candidate for the seat vacated by Mr. Johnson. Republicans are expected to announce that party's candidate on Tuesday. Mr. Wink was one of two North Hempstead Councilman who in November did not vote to change the zoning of the Harbor Fuel / Hinfin / Glen Harbor property from industrial to multifamily residential (see TNH Grants Zoning Change on GWL Waterfront, November 15, 2006). At the time, Mr. Wink commented that he thought too many details were unresolved to proceed.

The county seat is vacant because earlier this month Craig Johnson, a Democrat, won a special election to fill the New York State Senate seat vacated by Michael Balboni, a Republican. Mr. Balboni is the state's new chief of homeland security. He represented New York States' 7th Senate District, which includes Roslyn and Roslyn Harbor but not Glenwood Landing or Glen Head.

Mr. Johnson began representing County Legislative District 11 in 2000 after winning another special election held after the death of his mother, who was his immediate predecessor in District 11. Glenwood Landing and Glen Head's previous legislative representatives include Democrat Brian Muellers and Republican John Canning.

The Nassau County Legislature and original legislative district boundaries were established in 1993, replacing the Board of Supervisors. The original district boundaries were redrawn in 2003. To find out if you are in the 11th Legislative District, call the Nassau County Board of Elections (571-2411) or check the map on the county website.

TNH Grants Zoning Change on GWL Waterfront

2006-11-15T19:39:00.000-05:00

The North Hempstead Town Council last night granted a change in zone from industrial to multi-family residential for property on the Glenwood Landing (GWL) Waterfront. The action changes the use on town-owned property and on property that once housed Harbor Fuel. The action clears the way for the town-owned portion of the property to be sold to Glen Harbor Partners, a developer that proposes construction of a condominium apartment building at the site.

The vote split 5 to 2 in favor of the zoning change, with Councilmen Fred Pollack and Wayne Wink dissenting. The action creates the first multi-family residential zone in GWL and doubles the population of the North Hempstead portion of GWL. The application to rezone passed despite uncertainty about the feasibility of a sewer line to the sewage treatment plant in Glen Cove and many other concerns that, in the view of the Glenwood / Glen Head Civic Association and others, remained unaddressed during environmental review.

The Town of North Hempstead (TNH) has said that the Glen Harbor proposal is contingent upon a sewer line to Glen Cove. Mayor Ralph Suozzi recently told the towns of Oyster Bay and North Hempstead that no sewer lines from outside Glen Cove would be considered until Glen Cove completes its master plan, which could take some time. In addition, Mayor Suozzi has said that, when and if sewer lines from outside Glen Cove are considered, priority will be given to public projects for which a need has been demonstrated based on scientific study.

Another of the civic association's concerns relative to the sewer line is the number of times Shore Road may be opened for construction of sewer lines, particularly in light of the close proximity of the Glen Harbor project to the Shore Realty parcel (a Superfund site where a cleanup has been ongoing for many years and where a proposal for a project of considerable density is likely).

The civic association also has questioned the wisdom of constructing a privately funded sewer line to service the proposed condominium apartment building only, with no possibility of hooking up sections of GWL that may be contributing a significant amount of bacteria to Hempstead Harbor.

To their credit, through the Hempstead Harbor Protection Committee, the towns of Oyster Bay and North Hempstead, Sea Cliff, and Glen Cove recently applied for a state grant to fund a sewer feasibility study for GWL. The Hempstead Harbor Water Quality Improvement Plan endorses sewering as the preferred method of treating waste whenever possible.

In another key development, in response to an inquiry from Councilman Pollack, Town of Oyster Bay Supervisor John Venditto indicated a willingness to explore ways that the site might be jointly managed as parkland. The civic association appreciates Mr. Venditto's receptivity to this idea.

In light of these and many other factors, the civic association believes that the North Hempstead Town Council should not have granted the zoning change. The civic association is assessing whether there is enough financial support and legal ground to contest the town's action in court. We also will attempt to follow the Glen Harbor application when and if it proceeds to the TNH Zoning Board of Appeals and TNH Planning Board.

A key component of the project is a public access waterfront boardwalk. Should the project move forward, the civic association advocates a walkway constructed with high-quality, long-lasting materials; 24-hour access to the public walkway; and a conservation easement for all land around the building held by a conservation organization stipulating that the land must be managed to maximize wildlife habitat. The North Shore Land Alliance has expressed an interest in holding such an easement. Last summer NSLA and Glen Harbor Partners had a brief exchange about the possibility of NSLA involvement.

We also seek a reduction in the height and footprint of the building and the impact of the roof line. At a recent hearing, there was discussion about adding a water tower to the building's massive roof, which already obstructs the view of the water from Rams Hill. Minimizing the roof line is important because of the proximity of Rams Hill, the neighborhood that overlooks the proposed building. Toward that end, the civic association advocates exploring the possibility of a green roof (rooftop plantings designed to control runoff, to insulate the building from extreme temperatures, and to be aesthetically pleasing).

Civic Asks NYS to Support Sewer Feasibility Study for Glenwood Landing & Glen Head

2006-10-29T22:01:00.001-05:00

Below is a copy of a letter the Glenwood / Glen Head Civic Association has sent to the NYS Dept. of State to support an application submitted to the NYS Dept. of State / Division of Coastal Resources for a sewer feasibility study for parts of Glen Head and Glenwood Landing (see previous postings for more information). It is one of many such letters that the civic association has written over the years. If you ever wonder why it is worth bothering with a civic association, this is a good example of the positive contribution a civic association can make in a community. As a private citizen, you, too, can make a similar contribution—in this case by sending a similar letter to the same address.

SMSI GRANT PROGRAM
NYS Dept. of State
Bureau of Fiscal Management
41 State Street / 10th Floor, Suite 1000
Albany, New York 12231-0001

Re: Hempstead Harbor Area Joint Sewer Feasibility Study SMSI Grant

To Whom It May Concern:

I am writing to express the enthusiastic support of this civic association for the application submitted by the Hempstead Harbor Protection Committee, with the Village of Sea Cliff as lead applicant, for a sewer feasibility study focusing on the eastern side Hempstead Harbor under the Shared Municipal Services Incentive Award grant.

This civic association has a long history of participating in HHPC and supporting its mission. We believe a sewer feasibility study is timely in light of the high bacteria counts that have been documented at the Glenwood Landing (GWL) Powerhouse Outfall, the large amount of under utilized property on the GWL Waterfront, the applications for development in GWL and Glen Head that are (or soon will be) under review, the recommendations found in the Hempstead Harbor Water Quality Improvement Plan, and the high water table that characterizes much of the area.

A sewer feasibility study will provide information that is urgently needed for land use and water quality improvement planning. The committee, particularly the Village of Sea Cliff, the City of Glen Cove, and the towns of North Hempstead and Oyster Bay, are to be commended for cooperating on this project.

We strongly urge you to approve the application and thank you for your consideration.

Sincerely,
Patrice Benneward, President

Techniques for Protecting Open Space in Glenwood Landing & Glen Head Topic of Workshop Presented by Pace University Attorney

2006-10-25T19:09:00.000-04:00

Learn about innovative, effective land use techniques that can be implemented to protect open space in Glenwood Landing, Glen Head, and the rest of Nassau County at a workshop presented by Sean Nolan, Director of the Land Use Law Center at Pace University School of Law in White Plains.

The workshop, "Building Stronger Local Laws to Protect Your Community," will be held Thursday, Nov. 9, from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. at East Woods School in Oyster Bay Cove. The cost is $15. Light refreshments will be served from 5 p.m. to 6 p.m.

Topics to be covered include aquifer protection zones, steep slope ordinances, conservation area overlay districts, habitat assessment guidelines, and open space protection. Mr. Nolon's presentation will be followed by a panel of government officials who have adopted some of these techniques in their communities.

Sean Nolon trains local officials, environmentalists, and developers in land use law and consensus building techniques, provides strategic assistance to local governments and intermunicipal councils, and mediates land use disputes. He has taught a law school seminar in conflict resolution and land use law and coordinates the Land Use Conflicts Externship at Pace University.

The workshop is sponsored by The Nature Conservancy and The North Shore Land Alliance (follow links at right for registration information).

Two Thousand Neighbors Receive Civic Newsletter

2006-10-25T18:15:00.000-04:00

The distribution of the Fall 2006 issue of the Glenwood / Glen Head Civic Association Newsletter is just about complete, with nearly 2,000 pieces delivered thanks to a great team effort. About 1,200 were mailed to all of Glenwood Landing and the portion of Glen Head between Kissam and Scudders lanes and Glen Cove and Cody avenues. The reminder have or are in the process of being distributed in other neighborhoods, including Radcliff Manor, Todd Estates, and Glen Knolls.

Many thanks to all, especially the hand distributors. A distribution of this magnitude costs about $550. Your efforts help to keep costs down.

The newsletter contains information about two major items: the Nassau County Environmental Bond Act, which will be on the ballot in November, and the Glen Harbor Partners rezoning application to make way for a condominium apartment building on the Glenwood Landing Waterfront south of the Glenwood Landing Power Station. The North Hempstead Town Council is scheduled to vote on the application on November 14. See previous Civic Spot postings and check out the links at right for more information about these matters.

If any reader would like to distribute materials in his or her area, contact the civic association; extra copies are available. One problem has surfaced in connection with hand distribution, however: some hand-distributed pieces have been left in mailboxes. This is against postal regulations and could endanger the civic association's mailing permit. Any items that are distributed door-to-door should be wedged into a secure spot, such as under a mat, in a door handle, or in a fence or railing. It's important for the newsletter to be secured because we do not want to litter. The newsletter must never be placed in mailboxes.

The Post Office is serious about this. The Glen Head Post Office reports that items left in mailboxes will be confiscated. Thus, all the work and expense of preparing and distributing the newsletter would be for naught. In some cases, confiscation may have already occurred. In addition, the Glen Head Post Office says that if Glenwood / Glen Head Civic Association newsletters on which no postage has been paid continue to be found in mailboxes, the civic association's mailing permit may be revoked.

This is something we hope to avoid. Plus, we appreciate all the work our local post office workers do for us, and we don't want to cause them headaches. At the very least, we can hope that the intended reader of the newsletter is the person that throws it in the trash—not a post office worker!

The civic association's policies require that it strive to comply with federal and local codes in all matters. That's why, for example, we do not post items on telephone poles, a practice prohibited by the Oyster Bay town code. Similarly, ever since the civic association was formed, we have asked that people who distribute items for the civic association or who copy civic association items for distribution on their own never use mailboxes.

Hempstead Harbor Protection Committee Seeks Funding for Sewer Study

2006-10-18T21:47:00.000-04:00

The Hempstead Harbor Protection Committee (HHPC) has applied for a grant to study the feasibility of sewering Glenwood Landing (GWL) and parts of Glen Head and Sea Cliff by connecting all or parts of these areas to the waste treatment facility in Glen Cove. Glenwood Landing, Glen Head, and Sea Cliff make up Hempstead Harbor Subwatershed 8. According to the Hempstead Harbor Water Quality Improvement Plan, subwatershed 8 contributes more pollution to the harbor than any other subwatershed. The plan also identifies sewers as the preferred method of waste treatment whenever possible.

The Glenwood / Glen Head Civic Association first suggested that such a study be conducted more than four years ago, when a privately funded sewer system was included in the Glen Harbor Partners application for a condominium apartment complex on the Glenwood Landing Waterfront immediately south of the GWL Power Station. The sewer would carry waste down Shore Road to the sewage treatment facility in Glen Cove.

Last month, Glen Cove Mayor Ralph Suozzi said sewer hookups from locations outside Glen Cove only will be considered after the city completes its master plan. At that time, he said, publicly funded projects that have been initiated based on demonstrated need will be given priority.

The North Hempstead Town Council is expected to vote on a rezoning application that would permit the Glen Harbor Partners project to move forward on November 14. The Civic Association has asked councilmembers NOT to grant the Glen Harbor Partners application, or at least to delay voting until a sewer feasibility study can be completed and the community can make judgments about the implications of the data and reach a consensus about the direction it would like on the GWL Waterfront. The next step, we believe, should be a comprehensive plan for all of the land in the Town of North Hempstead (TNH) portion of GWL.

If the grant application is successful, the Civic Association believes that the study it funds will provide a wealth of information that can then be used to make rational decisions about future development, infrastructure needs, and water quality improvement projects.

Given the cost of the privately funded sewer proposed by Glen Harbor Partners, the fact that construction would require opening Shore Road, the implications of sewering on density, and the positive impact that sewering selected areas of subwatershed 8 could have on the harbor, the civic association believes that the Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) required by TNH in connection with the Glen Harbor project should have examined the feasibility of sewering all the underdeveloped lots on Shore Road, particularly the Shore Realty site (a brownfield immediately south of the Glen Harbor proposal where a clean up process has been ongoing for many years).

We repeatedly asked that two basic questions be answered: If a privately funded, one-project-at-a-time approach to sewers is taken, how many sewer lines might be constructed under Shore Road and how many times might Shore Road, ultimately, be opened for this purpose? We also repeatedly asked that the EIS examine the possibility that sewering selected portions of Glenwood Landing might significantly improve water quality, and, if so, how such a project might be funded and coordinated with the Glen Harbor project.

This grant, which is offered through the NYS Dept. of State / Division of Coastal Resources, is highly attractive because the local match (the amount of cash or services that municipalities must put up to receive the grant) is only 10%, a much smaller amount than is ordinarily required.

HHPC is an inter-municipal organization made up of the municipalities surrounding Hempstead Harbor. The civic association attends HHPC meetings and supports the work of the committee in any way it can. We commend the members of HHPC for applying for the grant and plan to submit a letter of support to DOS.

Glenwood / Glen Head Civic Mounts Major Push to Support County's Envrionmental Bond

2006-10-18T19:06:00.000-04:00

The Glenwood / Glen Head Civic Association has mounted a major effort to inform neighbors about the $100 million environmental bond act that will appear on the ballot on November 7. More than 2,000 newsletters containing information about the bond, its costs, and its potential benefits have been distributed to the neighborhood west of Glen Cove Avenue and east of Shore Road between Scudders and Kissam lane (see postings below).

The distribution also includes several nearby developments, including Todd Estates, Glen Knolls, and Radcliff Manor. The newsletter also contains information about the North Hempstead Town Council vote to rezone property on the west side of Shore Road from industrial use to residential use and suggestions about what residents can do if they wish North Hempstead councilmembers to consider their input on November 14, when the matter is scheduled for action.

Vote on GWL Waterfront Rezone: How You Can Affect the Outcome

2006-10-18T19:04:00.000-04:00

In August, the North Hempstead Town Council delayed voting on a zoning application that would permit a 60-unit condominium apartment building to be constructed on the Glenwood Landing (GWL) Waterfront just south of the GWL Power Station on property that once housed Harbor Fuel. The vote has been rescheduled for Tuesday, Nov. 14, at 7:30 P.M. At that time, the TNH Council could approve the change with or without conditions, deny the application, or delay taking action. To confirm the date and time that the matter is scheduled, call TNH (869-7700).

Two hearings on the application held during the summer drew standing room only crowds of residents from both the TNH and TOB portions of GWL, as well as neighbors from Glen Head, Sea Cliff, Roslyn Harbor, and Glen Cove. Residents of the TNH portion of GWL have been vocal in their opposition to the project, as have people in the rest of GWL and surrounding communities.

Virtually everyone who attended the summer hearings expressed opposition to the zoning change and the proposed apartment building. There also was strong support for maintaining the parcel as open space. TNH currently owns a portion of the parcel. If the zoning change is granted, TNH would sell that portion of the parcel to Glen Harbor Partners, the company that submitted the zoning application.

TNH appears to have ruled out investing in open space on the eastern shore of Hempstead Harbor because it perceives the population in the TNH portion of GWL as too small to warrant such an investment. The fact that the parcel under review is environmentally sensitive due to its waterfront location does not seem to be relevant to this view. Nor does the long history of industrial and residential taxes collected from properties on the TNH side of the line, little of which seems to have found their way back to GWL over the decades.

Because so many people who would benefit from open space at the TNH / Glen Harbor site would be from outside TNH, TNH Councilman Fred Pollack has contacted TOB Supervisor John Venditto to inquire whether Oyster Bay would consider exploring a cooperative open space effort at this location. As of this writing, Councilman Pollack reports he has received no response. In addition, the project proposed for the site appears to be contingent upon construction of a mostly privately funded sewer line to Glen Cove. Glen Cove Mayor Ralph Suozzi recently notified TNH that Glen Cove will not consider sewer hookups from locations outside the city until Glen Cove has completed a master plan, a process that could take some time. In addition, Mayor Suozzi has said that when and if such hookups are entertained, priority will be given to public projects designed to address a documented need.

WHAT YOU CAN DO TODAY

The civic association supports an inter-municipal effort to explore what it would cost to acquire, rehabilitate, and maintain the TNH / Glen Harbor Partners site south of the Glenwood Landing Power Station as open space and how such a project might be funded and managed (see other side). Please let the officials below know if you, too, would like these questions to be examined. This research will be conducted and presented to the public only if many people express an interest in getting answers. If you live in an incorporated village, also consider contacting your mayor and trustees.

• CONTACT TOB SUPERVISOR JOHN VENDITTO: Request that TOB contact TNH and that the two municipalities explore how much it would cost to maintain the property as open space and how such an effort could be funded (Oyster Bay Town Hall, 54 Audrey Avenue, Oyster Bay 11771 / 624-6350 / Town of Oyster Bay).

• CONTACT MAYOR RALPH SUOZZI: Thank the mayor for considering sewer hookups from locations outside the city only after the city completes a master plan and then giving priority to publicly funded projects that address a documented need (Glen Cove City Hall, 9 Glen Street 11542 / 676-2000 / City of Glen Cove).

• CONTACT TNH SUPERVISOR JON KAIMAN: Request a comprehensive management plan for the TNH portion of GWL and ask TNH to lead an inter-municipal effort to rehabilitate the entire TNH / Glen Harbor Partners site and to bring it into the public domain as protected open public land (North Hempstead Town Hall, 220 Plandome Road, Manhasset 11030 / 869-7700 / Town of North Hempstead).

Your Vote Counts: A Chance to Support Open Space on November Ballot

2006-10-18T19:00:00.000-04:00

Voters have another opportunity to preserve the rapidly dwindling supply of open space in Nassau County thanks to a county-wide $100 million Environmental Bond Act that will appear at the top of the November ballot as Proposal One. If the bond passes, it will cost the average family $16 annually ($1.33 monthly) and will fund land acquisition and open space preservation. Land use planners project that Nassau County will be “built out” by 2010, underscoring the importance of immediate action to protect as many key parcels as possible. The bond also would be used to control storm water runoff (the biggest cause of contamination to surface and coastal waters) and for park improvements.

In the last few years, voters have overwhelmingly approved four similar town or county initiatives: a $50 million county bond in 2004; two $30 million bonds in the Town of Oyster Bay (TOB) in 2004 and 2000; and a $15 million bond in the Town of North Hempstead (TNH) in 2000. The county’s 2004 bond currently costs the average household $7 annually ($0.58 monthly), while TOB’s 2004 bond costs an average $16 annually ($1.33 monthly).

The procedure for choosing projects funded by these initiatives is similar in all jurisdictions. Residents and professionals nominate projects they believe to be worthy of consideration. An impartial group of environmental leaders then evaluates the applications based on an objective set of environmental criteria and makes recommendations to the town board or county legislature. Many of the projects that have been funded by previous bonds are in the Hempstead Harbor drainage basin and directly benefit the harbor. Among them are catch basin improvements at Scudders Pond and Gerry Park and wetland restoration along the harbor’s western shore. Acquisition of the propane field adjacent to Tappen Beach is on both the TOB and county list of priorities. The Civic Association believes Hempstead Harbor is likely to reap additional, much needed benefits should voters approve the new $100 million bond.

Community Meeting for Residents of 6th Precinct

2006-10-06T12:54:00.000-04:00

The Nassau County Police 6th Precinct invites all residents of the precinct (which includes Glenwood Landing and Glen Head) to a community meeting on October 11 at 7 p.m. at East Hills Village Hall Auditorium, 209 Harbor Road, for a discussion of security concerns.

Nassau County District Attorney Kathleen Rice will speak, along with Inspector Jay Caputo and others from the precinct. Officials and representatives from the Town of North Hempstead and Roslyn School District also will be present.

For more information, contact the police department public information office at 573-7135.

$100 Million County Bond for Open Space on November Ballot

2006-09-17T23:00:00.000-04:00

At a special session of the Nassau County legislature on Tuesday, September 5, legislators unanimously authorized a $100 million Environmental Bond that will be on the ballot in November 2006. If voters approve the bond, it will cost the average taxpayer $1.30 per month or $16 per year.

A $50 environmental million bond, the first of its kind at the county level, was overwhelmingly approved in November 2004. That bond has preserved more than 72 acres of land and funded purchase of development rights to 43 acres and many park improvements and clean water projects. These expenditures were authorized after exhaustive public outreach by a nonpartisan advisory committee. The propane field in Glenwood Landing was on the list of recommendations and would likely remain on a list compiled for another round of county funding.

A second county bond also could be a potential source of funds for reclamation of the Hinfin / Harbor Fuel / Town of North Hempstead / Glen Harbor Partners site, the location of a proposed 57,000-square-foot waterfront condominium apartment complex in Glenwood Landing opposed by many residents (see stories below).

GWL Resident Asks Oyster Bay to Oppose Waterfront Project on Other Side of Line

2006-09-17T21:35:00.001-04:00

Oyster Bay, July 12—Glenwood Landing (GWL) resident Sally Sotriovich took advantage of the public comment period at today's Oyster Bay Town Board meeting to inform Oyster Bay councilpersons about the Glen Harbor Partners proposal for a 57,000-square-foot condominium apartment building just across the town line in the North Hempstead portion of the GWL Waterfront (see stories below).

Sally reports that she asked TOB to explore two approaches designed to stop the project: support for reclaiming the site as a park (possibly through an intermunicipal park district) and an Article 78 (a legal action that, in this case, would be filed against North Hempstead, possibly in connection with approval of a zoning change that would allow the project to proceed; the North Hempstead Town Council is scheduled to vote on the zoning change on Tuesday evening, November 14).

According to Sally, TOB Supervisor John Venditto said that Oyster Bay is open to exploring the possibility of a park. However, she reports that Mr. Venditto said the lead should come from the Town of North Hempstead (TNH) through the support of North Hempstead Supervisor Jon Kaiman or the majority of the North Hempstead Town Council. North Hempstead Councilman Fred Pollack approached Oyster Bay about the possibility of a joint TOB/TNH open space initiative in August after standing-room-only crowds expressed opposition to the Glen Harbor project at North Hempstead Town Council meetings in July and August.

Sally also reports that TOB has agreed to examine if, under New York State law, Oyster Bay has the legal standing necessary to file an Article 78.

TNH Vote on GWL Waterfront Rezone Set for November

2006-09-17T20:54:00.000-04:00

The North Hempstead Town Council is scheduled to vote on the Glen Harbor Partners proposal to rezone a portion of town-owned and privately-owned land on the Hempstead Harbor Waterfront in Glenwood Landing from industrial use to multi-family residential on Tuesday evening, November 14. Town of North Hempstead Councilmen Tom Dwyer and Fred Pollack have confirmed the new date. The vote had originally been scheduled for Wednesday, September 13, after a hearing held in August was closed.

A four-story, 60-unit, 57,000-square-foot condominium apartment building with ground-level parking underneath the building has been proposed for the waterfront site immediately south of the Glenwood Landing Power Station (see previous postings). An Environmental Impact Statement has been prepared by Glen Harbor Partners and was accepted by the Town Council last spring.

Applications for zoning changes are heard by Town Council, while applicants for zoning variances are heard by the Zoning Board of Appeals (ZBA). If the Town Council grants the zoning change, the action apparently will clear the way for the sale of the town-owned portion of the parcel to Glen Harbor Partners and for a ZBA hearing to consider two variances: one to permit a ground-level parking garage underneath a building with four floors of living space; the other to permit four stories of living space. The height of the proposed building is said to fall within the 50-foot limit established by the town code.

North Hempstead Town Council Postpones Vote on GWL Waterfront Rezone

2006-09-12T19:32:00.000-04:00

According to the Office of Town of North Hempstead Supervisor Jon Kaiman, the vote on the application by Glen Harbor Partners to rezone a portion of the Glenwood Landing Waterfront from industrial use to multi-family residential use has been postponed. According to the supervisor's office, the North Hempstead Town Council is now scheduled to vote on the matter on Tuesday, October 3. The vote had originally been scheduled for tomorrow. Town Council meetings usually begin at 7:30 p.m. If you plan to attend, always contact the town on the day of the meeting to see if the item that interests you is on the agenda and how it is expected that the matter will be addressed (Supervisor Jon Kaiman, 869-7700 / kaimanj@northhempstead.com; Councilman Tom Dwyer, 869-7696 / dwyert@northhempstead.com). North Hempstead Town Hall is located at 220 Plandome Road, Manhasset 11030.