Sunday, September 17, 2006

$100 Million County Bond for Open Space on November Ballot

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

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

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.

Tuesday, September 12, 2006

North Hempstead Town Council Postpones Vote on GWL Waterfront Rezone

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.