GWL Waterfront Condos: Key Document Now Online

In response to requests from the community, the Town of North Hempstead has posted on its website the Draft Environmental Impact Statement for the apartment complex proposed for Hempstead Harbor on the Glenwood Landing Waterfront just south of the Power Plant.

The Final Environmental Impact Statement (FEIS) was posted earlier this summer, but access to both documents is necessary to fully understand how the environmental review of the project was conducted. Both reports are accessible at www.northhempstead.com/content/4296/5340/5501.aspx.

The Glenwood / Glen Head Civic Association is grateful to the residents who requested electronic access to both documents and appreciates the town's responsiveness.

A hearing for a change of zone for the property from industrial use to multi-family residential use is scheduled for Tuesday, August 22, at 7:30 p.m. at North Hempstead Town Hall, 220 Plandome Road, Manhasset. Acceptance of findings made in connection with the FEIS also is on the agenda. The town must accept the findings before the addressing the rezoning application.

How this property is developed will affect everyone who lives in the North Shore School District, as well as those who live in Glen Cove, Roslyn, and all of Roslyn Harbor. It is extremely important for as many residents of the area as possible to attend the hearing to show their interest and to express their views. Call TNH to confirm the time and date of the hearing (869-7700). You also can ask where the matter appears on the agenda to give you an idea about how to schedule your evening. Written comments may be sent to TNH Supervisor Jon Kaiman, North Hempstead Town Hall, 220 Plandome Road, Manhasset, NY 11030.

A wealth of details, including maps of the site, the footprint of the proposed building, and the route of the proposed sewer line to Glen Cove, can be found at GlenwoodLandingInfo.com, a website recently launched by residents opposed to the project.

More information, including renderings from the FEIS, also can be found here at the Civic Spot (see Civic to Stress Open Space & Water Quality at Glenwood Landing Waterfront Hearing, July 16; Hearing Date Set for Waterfront Apartments, July 1; North Hempstead Accepts Environmental Impact Statement for Waterfront Apartments in Glenwood Landing, May 25).

Website Opposing GWL Waterfront Condos Launched

A wealth of details about the proposal to construct a waterfront condominium apartment building on Shore Road in the Town of North Hempstead (TNH) portion of Glenwood Landing can be found at GlenwoodLandingInfo.com, a website launched today by residents opposed to the project.

More information, including renderings from the Environmental Impact Statement (EIS), also can be found here at the Civic Spot (see Civic to Stress Open Space & Water Quality at Glenwood Landing Waterfront Hearing, July 16; Hearing Date Set for Waterfront Apartments, July 1; North Hempstead Accepts Environmental Impact Statement for Waterfront Apartments in Glenwood Landing, May 25).

GlenwoodLandingInfo.com contains maps showing the location of the proposed project, the lots involved and who owns them, the footprint of the proposed building, and the route of the proposed sewer line. There also is a brief history of the property and a summary of why the website author(s) believe the project would be detrimental to the community.

A hearing for a change of zone from industrial use to multi-family residential use is scheduled for Tuesday, August 22, at 7:30 p.m. at North Hempstead Town Hall, 220 Plandome Road, Manhasset. Acceptance of findings made in connection with the EIS also is on the agenda. The town must accept the findings before the addressing the rezoning application.

This project will affect everyone who lives in the North Shore School District, as well as those who live in Glen Cove, Roslyn, and all of Roslyn Harbor. It is extremely important for as many residents of the area as possible to attend the hearing to show their interest and to express their views. Call TNH to confirm the time and date of the hearing (869-7700). You also can ask where the matter appears on the agenda to give you an idea about how to schedule your evening. Written comments may be sent to TNH Supervisor Jon Kaiman, North Hempstead Town Hall, 220 Plandome Road, Manhasset, NY 11030.

According to the author(s) of GlenwoodLandingInfo.com, the disadvantages of the proposal far outweigh the advantages. Among the disadvantages cited are:

• the loss of 2.5 acres of waterfront property owned by the TNH, particularly since there is no public waterfront access on the eastern shore of Hempstead Harbor within the TNH;

• a traffic study that was conducted three years ago that did not consider other development currently underway or seriously contemplated in Roslyn, Glen Cove, Sea Cliff, Glenwood Landing, Roslyn Harbor, and Glen Head, which concluded that the addition of 143 cars to daily traffic will have only a “moderate” affect on traffic;

• the claim that the addition of 160 residents and 140 bedrooms will add only 12 to 14 students to the school district;

• the public inconveience involved in construction of a sewer line that would be used only by those in the proposed development;

• the possibility of inadequate water pressure in as much as Glenwood Water currently operates at near capacity and the residents of the proposed project would consume an estimated 32,500 gallons of water per day for domestic use;

• lack of a finalized plan for "“fire flow" water to provide water for fire sprinklers and fire fighting;

• the possibility that a water tower would have be to constructed on top of the building;

• the inadvisability of constructing residental units near KeySpan generating plants, which are considered potential terroist targets by law enforcement;

• the possibility that this project would set a procedent for other waterfront projects on the Glenwood Landing Waterfront, particularly on the nearby Shore Realty site, which could be combined with adjacent commercial lots to create an even larger development.

Website Planned to Oppose GWL Condos

Residents opposed to the condominium apartment building proposed for a brownfield on the west side of Shore Road south of the Glenwood Landing Power Station are constructing a Website and coordinating other efforts aimed at addressing the issue.

The project would be built on publicly held land that is currently owned by the Town of North Hempstead (TNH) and on privately owned land that was once occupied by Harbor Fuel. To learn more or to help out, contact NOGWLCONDOS@aol.com.

A zoning hearing held in July was continued to Tuesday, August 22, at 7:30 p.m. It is extremely important that as many people as possible attend. The town also will accept written comments (which may be sent to Supervisor Jon Kaiman, Town of North Hempstead, 220 Plandome Road, Manhasset, NY 11030). Call TNH to confirm (869-7700).

For more information, see the following Civic Spot Postings: Civic to Stress Open Space & Water Quality at Glenwood Landing Waterfront Hearing, July 16; Hearing Date Set for Waterfront Apartments, July 1; North Hempstead Accepts Environmental Impact Statement for Waterfront Apartments in Glenwood Landing, May 25).

Fighting Words Against GWL Condos

Glenwood Landing resident Sally Sotirovich is calling for a grassroots campaign to oppose the 60-unit condominium apartment building proposed for Hempstead Harbor in the North Hempstead portion of Glenwood Landing.

In a recent email message circulated to many people who attended a standing room only zoning hearing last Tuesday at North Hempstead Town Hall, Ms. Sotirovich said she supported the “yes” option: that is, no action on the application submitted by the developer, Glen Harbor Partners.

The hearing has been held over to Tuesday, August 22, at 7:30 p.m. in North Hempstead Town Hall, 220 Plandome Road, Manhasset. It is very important for as man people as possible to attend this hearing to show their concern and to express their views. Contact Town Hall to confirm the time and date (869-7700).

The “yes,” or “no action” option would leave the property as it is—at least for the time being. “We would rather live with the site in its current state than lose it forever, as we will if a condo is built,” Ms. Sitirovich said in the message. “While we understand that at present there may be no funding to clean up the site and convert it to a park space, we are willing to wait until this is a possible option.”

A portion of the land is already owned by the Town of North Hempstead (TNH). If the zoning application to change the use of the property from industrial to residential is approved, this land would be sold to the developer.

In the email message, Ms. Sotirovich said she wants every resident who lives between Roslyn and Glen Cove to know about the proposal and called for volunteers to help:

• set up a simple website and serve as webmaster;

• design a flyer and poster;

• distribute flyers and circulate petitions;

• donate special legal or other skills.

Ms. Sotirovich can be reached at NOGWLCONDOS@aol.com.

Full House at GWL Waterfront Condo Hearing

There was standing room only at North Hempstead Town Hall Tuesday evening, as more than 150 residents of Glenwood Landing, Glen Head, Sea Cliff, Glen Cove, and Roslyn Harbor attended a hearing to rezone the Harbor Fuel/Hinfin/Town of North Hempstead (TNH) property on Shore Road in Glenwood Landing from industrial use to residential use.

The zoning change has been requested by Glen Harbor Partners of Locust Valley. The firm has proposed a 60-unit condominium apartment building for the site (see Hearing Date Set for Waterfront Apartments, July 1; North Hempstead Accepts Environmental Impact Statement for Waterfront Apartments in Glenwood Landing, May 25).

Two items were on the agenda: the zoning change and findings based on an Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) that has been prepared by Glen Harbor Partners as required by TNH. The findings must be accepted by TNH before the zoning application can proceed.

The hearing was continued to Tuesday, August 22, at 7:30 p.m. It is extremely important that as many people as possible attend. The town also will accept written comments (which may be sent to Supervisor Jon Kaiman, Town of North Hempstead, 220 Plandome Road, Manhasset, NY 11030). Call the Town of North Hempstead (TNH) to confirm (869-7700).

Several residents said that the property should be developed as parkland. Others said they had not heard about the proposal until very recently and were shocked that an apartment building would be considered for this location.

Sally Sotirovich, a resident of Glenwood Landing, questioned the wisdom of building new housing adjacent to several generators, which are viewed by Homeland Security as potential terrorist targets. She said she had taken photos of KeySpan facilities to accompany her comments about the proposal. She said that soon afterward on two separate occasions she was contacted by law enforcement personnel and that one of these persons was from Homeland Security (see Environment of Terror, Newsday, July 20).

Ms. Sotirovich also said that she had not been able to locate the EIS or draft EIS at some of the libraries where it was supposed to be available. A spokesperson for Glen Harbor Partners said that copies had been delivered to each of the area's libraries. Town Supervisor Jon Kaiman said that the hearing would be carried over to ensure that libraries had copies of the documents and to give the public time to examine them.

The EIS is available on line at the TNH web site and in person at the Gold Coast Library. It should also be available at the Sea Cliff, Bryant, and Manhasset libraries. At least three other public hearings have been held in connection with the application over a period of about four years. On at least two occasions, TNH mailed notices to all of Glenwood Landing and part of Glen Head—an action that was far in excess of the town's legal obligation. The GWGH/GH Civic Association has distributed more than 6,000 informational flyers and newsletters about the proposal and commented at every step in the public review process.

The civic association believes that developing the subject property as open space would be the best use for the site. We also have been critical of the height and footprint of the proposed building, as well as the cost and logistics of constructing a sewer line to Glen Cove, a key component of the project. We have said that if a sewer line is constructed, the feasibility of hooking up other key parts of Glenwood Landing (such as lower Glenwood Road and the Shore Realty site located immediately south of the subject property) should be studied and that the line should not be built until such a study is completed. We also have said that if the project moves forward, open space and public access to the waterfront must be maximized—and protected with an ironclad conservation easement held by a nonprofit conservation organization such as the North Shore Land Alliance (see Civic to Stress Open Space & Water Quality at Glenwood Landing Waterfront Hearing, July 16.

Civic to Stress Open Space & Water Quality at Glenwood Landing Waterfront Hearing

The application by Glen Harbor Partners of Locust Valley to rezone the Harbor Fuel / Hinfin property south of the Glenwood Landing Power Station from an industrial zone to a multi-family residential zone will be heard at North Hempstead Town Hall, 220 Plandome Road, Manhasset, on Tuesday, July 18, at 7:30 p.m. (see Hearing Date Set for Waterfront Apartments, May 27, for a description of the proposal and renderings excerpted from the Environmental Impact Statement). It is important for as many people as possible to attend the hearing and express their views—whatever those views may be. Call the Town of North Hempstead (TNH) to confirm (869-7700).

The civic association has been following the Glen Harbor Partners application for several years and has participated in three previous hearings held in connection with the proposed project. The civic association has expressed grave reservations about the application at every opportunity. We have been particularly critical of TNH’s plan to sell to the applicant two town-owned lots adjacent to the Harbor Fuel/Hinfin property. We also have been critical of the height and footprint of the building and skeptical about the logistics and expense of constructing a sewer line to Glen Cove—particularly without examining the possibility of hooking up certain other key areas and the potential impact of doing so on the harbor and on future development along the waterfront.

As a matter of policy, the civic association has not, to date, supported or opposed this or any other application. Rather, it has participated in various review procedures and done what it could to inform neighbors about high-priority applications to help make it easier for residents to express their particular views should they chose to do so. Toward that end, the civic association has distributed more than 6,000 informational flyers about the Glen Harbor Partners application to residents in Glenwood Landing, parts of Glen Head, and Roslyn Harbor (RH).

Because open space and water quality are two of the civic association’s major priorities, we plan to focus on these issues at the Tuesday hearing. Among the items we think must addressed if the zoning change is granted and the project moves forward are:

• Waterfront walkway. Title to the walkway shown in the plan would be privately held, but public access would be permitted. In our view, the public’s interest in the walkway must be protected by an iron-clad easement—and the best and perhaps only way to achieve this goal is through a conservation easement held by a private, nonprofit conservation organization. The North Shore Land Alliance has expressed strong interest in handling a conservation easement at this location. In such an arrangement, the land remains in private hands, the owner receives a reasonable tax benefit, and the possibility that the easement might be lost or overturned at some time in the future is minimized. A walkway with a conservation easement would advance the goals of the New York State Open Space Plan (2002), which specifically calls for establishing a Glenwood Landing Waterfront Greenway, and the Glenwood Landing Waterfront Redevelopment and Revitalization Plan developed by the Town of Oyster Bay for the Oyster Bay portion of the Glenwood Landing Waterfront.

• Lawn. The plan currently shows a lawn between the walkway and the patio and pool area adjacent to the building. Lawns have virtually no wildlife value and increase the nutrient load delivered to nearby waterways. Therefore, we believe that it is extremely important for this area to be landscaped with native plants and managed for wildlife—again with an easement held by the North Shore Land Alliance or similar group.

• Design of walkway and wildlife area. Materials, dimensions, access points, and amenities must be contractually specified. The walkway should be constructed of brick or stone; amenities should include sturdy, attractive benches, lighting, and refuse containers; the width of the walkway should be at least 10 feet (as specified by the applicant in previous testimony), and there should be entrances at both ends (also as specified by the applicant in previous testimony).

• Operation of walkway and wildlife area. Hours of access for the walkway must be contractually specified (we suggested 24/7). Access to the wildlife area must be contractually prohibited for everyone but management personnel. Long term maintenance and management needs should be addressed by requiring the developer to deposit funds into an account earmarked for initial maintenance and management; going forward, a yearly percentage of condominium owner fees should be assessed for and dedicated to ongoing maintenance and management.

• Kayak launch. Several years ago the civic association and a RH trustee filed a joint Environmental Legacy Fund (ELF) application for a kayak launch at the western terminus of Scudders Lane just south of the proposed development. ELF is the program funded by the TNH environmental bond act approved by voters several years ago. The response from TNH seemed favorable, but the application seems to have fallen between the cracks. Establishing a blue route (canoe/kayak water trail) is a priority included in the Hempstead Harbor Management Plan. The Scudders Lane kayak launch should be viewed as an important component of developing this area and it should be accomplished in a timely fashion.

• Motts Cove. Motts Cove supports abundant wildlife and is facing increased pressure due to increased human activity permitted by TNH and RH. TNH should make it a wildlife management priority. Recall that only a few years ago, TNH permitted three single-family homes to be constructed on land with frontage on Motts Cove that had been town-owned, a situation that caught many people in the community completely off guard. The land would have made a lovely vest-pocket park with frontage on a very active birding area. That opportunity is now totally lost to the public and the increased human presence increases the stress on the Motts Cove ecosystem.

• Sewer line construction. The EIS did not examine the feasibility of sewering portions of Glenwood Landing or providing a hook up for the Shore Realty site. Consistently high bacteria counts have been documented at the Powerhouse outfall (located on the town line between Powerhouse Park and the Power Station) in both dry and wet weather. Would sewering key portions of Glenwood Landing significantly reduce the bacteria count and would such a reduction significantly improve water quality in Hempstead Harbor? An application to develop the Shore Realty site is likely to be filed at some point in the foreseeable future. Will another sewer line be required at that time? How many times will Shore Road have to be opened to accommodate a sewer line; how many sewer lines can Shore Road accommodate? How much sewage from Glenwood Landing is Glen Cove able and willing to accommodate? A feasibility study addressing these questions, as well as the cumulative impacts associated with them, is necessary. Such a study would advance the goals of the Hempstead Harbor Water Quality Improvement Plan. To ignore these and other related questions, perhaps in an attempt to limit cumulative impacts, seems bafflingly counterintuitive and, in the long run, could, potentially, do more harm than good.

• Sewer line operation. What will the pumping stations look like; how many will there be; where will they be located? Who will operate the sewer line and be responsible for its maintenance and repair? Will the sewer line be dedicated to a municipality; if so, which one and has that municipality accepted the responsibility? If not, what are the ramifications?

• Spending increased tax revenue. If the proposed project moves forward, it will double the number of households in the TNH portion of Glenwood Landing. Presumably, tax revenue will increase as a result. We would like to see the TNH portion of GWL benefit from this increase in local revenue. One possibility is restoration and management of a historic cemetary located at the end of Viking Road that is owned by TNH and that has been all but forgotten. We suggest that TNH formally survey people who live in the TNH section of GWL to determine what other suggestions they may have.

• Management of the eastern lot. The project includes a one-acre lot on the eastern side of Shore Road. The applicant has said that this lot would be dedicated to the town. While we would be more than pleased to see this land come into the public domain, it clearly is a very problematic lot, largely because of its location on a sharp curve. Should the lot be acquired by the town, we would request that a mechanism be established for determining how the lot will be managed and request the opportunity to participate in the planning process.

The EIS prepared by Glen Harbor Partners and accepted by TNH is available on line at the TNH web site and in person at the Gold Coast Public Library (see EIS for GWL Waterfront Apartments Available at Gold Coast Library, May 27; North Hempstead Accepts Environmental Impact Statement for Waterfront Apartments in Glenwood Landing, May 25).

What's Happening in Glen Cove Creek?

If you are curious about the current vision for development around Glen Cove Creek, you can view the latest up-to-the-minute proposal, including a scale model, on Monday, July 17, from 1 p.m. to 9 p.m., at the Metropolitan Club, 3 Glen Cove Road, Glen Cove. Experts will be on hand to answer questions and take comments at an open house hosted by the city.

Safety a Concern at Glenwood Road / Kissam Lane Construction Site

Work at the corner of Glenwood Road and Kissam Lane opposite the Glenwood Landing Post Office, where seven new single-family homes are planned, has created holes and depressions on the property that could be dangerous—especially for children who may wander into the site. Because of this concern, the Glenwood / Glen Head Civic Association has contacted the Town of Oyster Bay to request that the site be secured. It is our understanding that town regulations require such precautions.

The civic association has also requested that maintenance of the sidewalk be improved, as it is often impassable, forcing people to walk in the street.

According to the NYS Dept. of Environmental Conservation (DEC), work at the site may be curtailed for an undetermined period of time. The DEC reports that a stop work order has been issued to the owner pending approval of a stormwater plan and site stabilization (see Halt in Work at Glenwood Site Until Runoff Is Controlled, June 27).

Hearing Date Set for Waterfront Apartments

Hold that Date
Tuesday, July 18, 7:30 P.M.
North Hempstead Town Hall
220 Plandome Road
Manhasset

A zoning hearing is scheduled for Tuesday, July 18, at 7:30 p.m. at North Hempstead Town Hall for an apartment building with 60 condominium units on the Glenwood Landing Waterfront immediately south of the Glenwood Landing Power Plant.

The applicant, Glen Harbor Partners of Locust Valley, has requested a change in zone from industrial use to multi-family residential use. The building would be constructed on a parcel of about 4 acres, including two town-owned lots and private land that was once the home of Harbor Fuel. A 1.24-acre parcel on the west side of Shore Road also is part of the development.

The rendering above, from the final Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) filed in May by Glen Harbor Partners, shows a view of the proposed building looking east from Hempstead Harbor. The site plan calls for a 5-story (including a ground-level parking garage), 57,000-square-foot building that is about 50 feet high and covers about 33% of the 4-acre parcel. Under the multiple residence zone requested in the application, 35% coverage, 24 units per acre, and three stories are permitted.

Soil would be brought in to increase the elevation of a portion of the property, as well as the overall height of the building, thus ensuring that the first floor of the building would be within federal flood plain guidelines. There would be a public waterfront esplanade with southern and northern access points. An environmental clean up would be funded by the developer. The use of the eastern parcel is undecided and appears to depend upon a number of variables, including whether a sewer line to Glen Cove is feasible.

At a hearing on April 28, 2005, Charles Voorhis, an engineer with Nelson, Pope & Voorhis, the firm representing Glen Harbor Partners, told the North Hempstead Town Board that there would be two one-bedroom units, 36 two-bedroom units, and 22 three-bedroom units. He also said the public esplanade would be 10 feet wide and that the lot on the east side of Shore Road would be donated to the town for use as open space. Mr. Voorhis said the height of the building is 45 feet and that this conforms to the height requirement of the requested zone.

Two variances needed

Artist rendering of the north wing of the proposed condominium building looking south from Shore Road, from the EIS.

If the rezoning request is approved, two variances will be needed to accommodate the number of stories in the building and the parking garage. Several years ago, when Glen Harbor Partners originally approached community groups about the possibility of developing the site, a 40-unit building, presumably lower and with a smaller footprint, was discussed. Glen Harbor Partners no longer appears to believe that the smaller-scale project is economically viable.

The view from Rams Hill

The rendering above, excerpted from the EIS, shows the proposed building looking east from Hempstead Harbor with existing homes on Rams Hill in the background. According to the EIS, the harbor would probably be visible from the second floors of the homes on Rams Hill.

The EIS is available on line at the Town of North Hempstead web site and in person at the Gold Coast Public Library (see EIS for GWL Waterfront Apartments Available at Gold Coast Library, May 27; North Hempstead Accepts Environmental Impact Statement for Waterfront Apartments in Glenwood Landing, May 25).

What’s Happening Under the Viaduct

The Village of Roslyn has accepted a Draft Environmental Impact Statement (DEIS) for the former Stop and Shop site in Roslyn, an 11-acre parcel at the southern end of Hempstead Harbor in the vicinity of the viaduct. A hearing, held over from May 30, is scheduled for Tuesday, July 11, at 8 p.m. at Bryant Library.

According to a State Environmental Quality Review Act (SEQRA) Notice issued by the village, the DEIS was triggered by a proposal to build 66 townhouse units and 14 “flats.” There would be 245 parking spaces in garages, driveways, off-street, and on-street, as well as 39 additional spaces in two visitor parking lots adjacent to Bryant Avenue. The project includes public amenities such as a village green, waterfront promenade, pond with a wooden footbridge, two observation decks, gazebo, and waterfront plaza.

Vehicles would access the site at three locations: two on Skillman Street and one from the southern visitor parking area on Bryant Avenue.

The project next door

The proposed construction is just west of another 11-acre project already underway that involves two buildings: Sterling Glen, a 189,000-square-foot structure with 160 rental apartments, and Horizon, a 67,000-square foot building with 50 rental apartments. Both buildings are intended to appeal to seniors. The site plan calls for natural landscaping and ponds and, eventually, a public walking trail.

According to an article in the New York Times on June 27, 2004, Sterling Glen will include 90, one-bedroom, 650-square-foot to 750-square-foot apartments renting for $3,500 to $4,500 a month; 20, one-bedroom, 750-square-foot to 850-square-foot apartments with an extra windowless room renting for $4,500 to $5,500 a month; and 50, two bedroom, 850-square-foot to 1,200-square-foot apartments renting for $5,500 to $7,000.

The article states that the monthly fee will include a concierge, formal 120-seat restaurant, a cafe with waterside dining, a 40-seat theater, daily continental breakfast, 30 meals in either of the buildings’ two restaurants, weekly housekeeping and linen services, and an activities program. Optional support services, such as assistance with bathing, will be available for an additional fee. The charge for a second occupant in an apartment would be an additional $800 a month.

The developer is quoted as saying that Sterling Glen will generate $545,511 in school taxes and $40,103 in village taxes annually.

At Horizon, plans call for 10, three-bedroom 1,500-square-foot to 2,400 square-foot apartments, each with a water view and balcony, renting from $3,300 to $4,800 a month; 39 two-bedroom 1,100 square-foot to 1,500 square-foot apartments renting at $2,800 to $3,500 a month, and one studio. Support services will not be offered.

Reminder to Town Board: Time to Purchase Waterfront Utility Property in Glenwood Landing

Oystery Bay—The following statement was made on behalf of three area civic associations during the public comment period at the Town Board Meeting held this evening:

My name is Patrice Benneward. I live in Glenwood Landing. I’ve been asked to speak to you this evening by three civic associations: the Glenwood / Glen Head Civic, the Todd Estates Civic, and the Hill Terrance Civic.

Our organizations ask that you move forward with the purchase of a property on the GWL Waterfront that has been discussed for the last 6 years or so. It is an approximately 4-acre parcel that was an underground storage facility for propane until about 1999. Next to it is a smaller wetland parcel that is contiguous with Tappen Beach.

Both lots seem to be owned by KeySpan and both have been fully remediated. The scuttlebutt has been that the wetland lot would eventually be donated to the town but the propane field would require purchase.

Town, state, and county funding sources are in place for the acquisition. The property is on the town’s SEA list; the state has awarded the town two grants specifically earmarked for the property; and Nassau County has included the property on its environmental bond act priority list.

The property was not acquired under the town’s first round of environmental bond purchases, largely, I think, because it did not seem to be immediately threatened with development. Several other worthy properties were acquired at that time, most notably Underhill. Our civic associations recognize that these choices are difficult to make and enthusiastically supported your decision on these acquisitions.

However, at this time, we believe that the GWL waterfront parcel is the most critical purchase the town can make. We think so for 5 major reasons:

1) The property is now threatened: A British firm recently made a serious offer to purchase KeySpan. If this offer does not go through, another buyer is likely to materialize. A new owner would be under no obligation to honor any informal agreement that the town may have with KeySpan. Thus, the opportunity for the town to acquire the propane field and wetland could easily be lost indefinitely.

2) The impact of neighboring development: The Town of North Hempstead recently accepted an EIS for a waterfront parcel just south of the town line in the TNH portion of Glenwood Landing. The EIS was triggered by an application for a zoning change to accommodate a 60-unit apartment complex adjacent to the GWL Power Station that would be served by a sewer line to Glen Cove. A zoning hearing is scheduled for July 18. As this project moves forward, it is likely to set a precedent that may trigger a significant rise in the value of all other underutilized parcels on the GWL waterfront, irrespective of jurisdictional lines and including the propane field.

3) The lots are collecting debris: While the propane field was pristine immediately after the remediation was completed, it is becoming a magnet for debris—just as any unused property would. Already, at least one abandoned boat has somehow found its way to the site. The longer the property remains unused, the more debris will accumulate and the more it eventually will cost the public to tidy things up should the property be brought into the public domain. Also, the ground surrounding the wetland was capped, which means the site is inappropriate for deep-rooted plants. It does not appear that the property is being managed to maintain only shallow-rooted plants, which could increase initial management costs down the line.

4) Public expectations: Four years ago two generators were installed on the east side of Shore Road across the street from the propane field. Many residents of this community accepted this intensification of industrial activity predicated on an understanding with KeySpan and LIPA that two public benefits would soon follow: the propane field and adjacent wetland would be brought into the public domain and additional taxes or PILOTs would be forthcoming. Thus far, neither outcome has been realized. To say that this is discouraging is putting it mildly.

5) To advance the goals of existing management plans: The acquisition would advance the goals of the GWL Waterfront Redevelopment and Revitalization Plan, which the town adopted in 2002. It also would advance the goals of the NYS Open Space Plan, which specifically includes as a priority the creation of a GWL Waterfront Greenway.

For all of these reasons, our organizations hope that you will purchase the propane field immediately, while there is still an opportunity to do so. As always, thank you for your attention and consideration.

Halt in Work at Glenwood Site Until Runoff Is Controlled

The New York State Dept. of Environmental Conservation reports that a Notice of Violation has been issued to the owners of the construction site at the northwest corner of Glenwood Road and Kissam Lane for beginning work without a NYS SPDES permit, see Glenwood Landing Bids Farewell to a Piece of History, May 25; Stormwater Controls Implemented at GWL Site, May 25; Stormwater Runoff Controls Needed at Glenwood Landing Site, May 12. These permits are designed to control runoff, a major source of pollution and silt build up in Hempstead Harbor and virtually all other waterways. A temporary stop work order has been issued until the site has been stabilized and the conditions required for a permit are satisfied.

More Congressinal Shenanigans Could Gut Hempstead Harbor Funding

We have just learned from Friends of the Bay, based in Oyster Bay, that another proposed change in the language of the Long Island Sound Stewardship Act of 2006 (H.R. 5160) would eliminate open space from funding under the bill. Thus, underwater lands, wetlands, and open space would no longer be eligible for the funds the bill is designed to provide. These are the very lands that the bill was created to protect. It is difficult to believe that the sponsors of the bill would accept such changes, as they effectively gut the bill. Please contact the parties listed in the Civic Spot posting of June 25, Federal Funding for Hempstead Harbor Projects Threatened. At the very least, if you live on the east side of Hempstead Harbor, contact Congressman Peter King, as most—if not all—of us in that area are in Mr. King's district (Pete.King@mail.house.gov /1003 Park Boulevard Massapequa Park, NY 11762 / 516-541-4225). This legislation is very important.

Federal Funding for Hempstead Harbor Projects Threatened

Your help is urgently needed to ensure that federal funds are available for projects that protect wetlands in Hempstead Harbor and neighboring waterways. Hempstead Harbor (along with Manhasset Bay, Oyster Bay Harbor and other key Long Island Sound waters) recently were designated as Long Island Sound Stewardship sites.

The designation makes municipalities in these areas eligible for funding under The Long Island Sound Stewardship Act of 2006 (H.R. 5160), proposed federal legislation now under review. The text of the bill is available from the search page of the U.S. House of Representatives: Office of the Clerk.

However, a recent change in the act (apparently prompted by a single voice in Connecticut) would eliminate all wetlands and underwater lands from the definition of a stewardship site, leaving only uplands above the mean high water mark. If this language is accepted, it will undermine the original intent of the act and eliminate funding for the most critical projects in Hempstead Harbor and surrounding waters.

The Glenwood / Glen Head Civic Association believes that this change makes no sense and is highly damaging to Hempstead Harbor and to Long Island Sound.

Please consider sending the draft letter below, or some version of it, to the local offices of key congresspersons in New York and Connecticut. If you wish, you can go to U.S. House of Representatives: Write Your Representative to send your messages via email (see note below).

The suggested text was composed by Eric Swenson, director of the Hempstead Harbor Protection Committee (HHPC), an intermunicipal organization made up of the municipalities surrounding the harbor (the towns of Oyster Bay and North Hempstead, the villages of Sea Cliff, Roslyn Harbor, Roslyn, Flower Hill and Sands Point, the City of Glen Cove, and Nassau County). The Glenwood / Glen Head Civic Association participates in HHPC as a nonvoting member and supports the work of the committee in whatever way it can.

In the letter, Eric points out that "trying to protect Long Island's coastal ecology without protecting its wetlands and underwater lands is like trying to protect a tree while allowing its limbs to be cut off." Great progress is being made in restoring the wetlands and water quality in Hempstead Harbor and in Long Island Sound in general. This is an opportunity to help federal officials understand how to keep that progress on track.

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

The Honorable Steve Israel
U.S. House of Representatives
150 Motor Parkway, Suite 108
Hauppauge, NY 11788-5152

Re: Long Island Sound Stewardship Act (H.R. 5160)

Dear Congressman Israel:

I am writing to you regarding the Long Island Sound Stewardship Act (H.R. 5160) which would establish the Long Island Sound Stewardship Initiative. My colleagues and I are concerned about a recent change to the “Boundaries” section of the legislation that would exclude all underwater lands and wetlands from the protections afforded by this otherwise much-needed bill.

We believe that the exclusion of wetlands and underwater lands largely defeats the very purpose of the bill, which was introduced “... to identify, protect, and enhance sites within the Long Island Sound ecosystem with significant ecological, educational, open space, public access, or recreational value through a bi-state network if sites best exemplifying these values.”

Wetlands provide irreplaceable habitat for various species and also serve as natural filters for stormwater which in turn protects the health of our harbors. In fact, the bill itself states that “approximately 1/3 of the tidal marshes of the Long Island Sound have been filled, and much of the remaining marshes have been ditched, diked or impounded, reducing the ecological value of the marshes”.

Not only should these areas be protected but they should be the main focus of this legislation. Trying to protect Long Island Sound coastal sites but eliminating protection of wetlands and underwater lands is like trying to protect a tree but allowing its limbs to be cut off. The wetlands and underwater lands are so integral and key to the protection of the coastal ecosystem that eliminating them from the scope of the bill effectively “guts” the bill.

As a community which has done much to protect and enhance Hempstead Harbor, we urge you to revise the Stewardship Act to include New York’s wetlands and underwater lands.

Thank you for your consideration.

cc:

Gary Ackerman
218-14 Northern Blvd., Bayside, NY 11361-3503

Timothy Bishop
3680 Route 112, Suite C, Coram, NY 11727

Joseph Crowley
74-09 37th Ave, Suite 306-B, Jackson Heights, NY 11372-6303

Rosa L. DeLauro
59 Elm Street, Suite 205, New Haven, CT 06510-2036

Peter King
1003 Park Blvd., Massapequa Park, NY 11762-2758

Nita M. Lowey
222 Mamaroneck Ave., Suite 310, White Plains, NY 10605-1316

Carolyn McCarthy
200 Garden City Plaza, Suite 320, Garden City, NY 11530-3338

Christopher Shays
10 Middle Street, 11th Floor, Bridgeport, CT 06604-4223

Robert Simmons
2 Courthouse Square, 5th Floor, Norwich, CT 06360-5763

-----------

Note: U.S. House of Representatives: Write Your Representative seems to be set up to permit people to send messages only to the congressperson representing their particular district. It appears to be possible for those with legitimate reasons for contacting congresspersons outside their district to get around this by using the recipient's zip code instead of the sender zip code when prompted for the sender zip code. However, you should still type in all of your correct contact information in the various address felds that follow. In your message, you might want to include an introductory sentence to the effect that, although you do not live in the representative's district, you are writing on a matter of great concern to everyone who lives near Long Island Sound and that requires intermunicipal cooperation, so you hope that the congressperson will take the message seriously. You also may have to type in a number or letter in a required field to prove that you are not spamming. (To reach Timothy Bishop you can use any four digit zip code extension for the portion of Coram that Mr. Bishop represents; how to do this will become evident). It could be easier, but it's not as bad as it sounds.

Action Needed on Propane Field Acquisition

The Glenwood / Glen Head Civic Association will renew its request that the Town of Oyster Bay (TOB) move forward with plans to acquire two waterfront lots on Hempstead Harbor adjacent to Tappen Beach at the Town Board meeting scheduled for Tuesday, June 27, at 7 p.m. Please try to attend. You may speak or simply show your support by your presence. Town Hall is located at 54 Audrey Avenue in Oyster Bay. The public comment period is usually at the end of the meeting. If you know you will be attending in time to RSVP, please send a message to gwghcivic@optonline.net.

The lot available for purchase is a fully remediated underground propane storage facility that is currently owned by KeySpan. There also is an adjacent wetland that has been cleaned up and is likely to be donated to the town. The parcels have been recommended for acquisition by the town's Save Environmental Assets Bond Act Advisory Committee. In addition, TOB has received two state grants to assist with the acquisition, and the Nassau County Open Space Advisory Committee also has recommended acquisition of the property with funds available under the county's environmental bond act (see Protecting Environmental Bond Recommendations, April 21; GWL Waterfront Scores as County Priority, March 10).

At least three major developments support swift action to bring the lots into the public domain:

• The possible sale of KeySpan, potentially to a British firm that recently made a serious offer (see KeySpan Buyout: Waterfront Implications, March 05). It does not seem likely that a new owner would be obligated to honor any understanding that the town and KeySpan may have, whether formal or informal.

• The impact of a project proposed for a parcel just south of the town line in the Town of North Hempstead (TNH) portion of Glenwood Landing (see EIS for GWL Waterfront Apartments Available at Gold Coast Library, May 27; Sewer Line: Consider Glenwood Landing, March 19). TNH recently accepted a Final Environmental Impact Statement for a 60-unit apartment complex adjacent to the Glenwood Landing Power Station that would be served by a sewer line to Glen Cove. The project could set a precedent that triggers a rise in the value of the propane field.

• The integrity of the remediation. While the propane field was pristine when remediation was completed, it is becoming a magnet for debris—just as any unused property would. Already, at least one abandoned boat has somehow found its way to the site. The longer the property remains unused, the more debris will accumulate and the greater the cost of eventual removal. Also, the wetland adjacent to the propane field was capped, precluding the site as an appropriate location for deep-routed plants. It does not appear that the wetland parcel is being managed to maintain the appropriate flora, which could lead to unnecessary expenses in the future.

Finally, this community accepted the intensification of industrial activity on its waterfront (i.e, the installation of two generators on the east side of Shore Road) predicated on an informal understanding with KeySpan and LIPA that two public benefits would follow: the propane field (and adjacent wetland) would be brought into the public domain and additional taxes (whether in the form of a traditional tax or a PILOT). Thus far, neither has been forthcoming. To say that this is discouraging is putting it mildly.

In recent years, TOB voters approved two town environmental bonds; voters also approved a similar county bond. This civic association distributed more than 6,000 educational flyers about these initiatives, which passed overwhelmingly. The first TOB bond funded acquisition of several worthy parcels, including the Underhill property, a large parcel near Route 107 in the vicinity of Jericho. The movement to acquire the Underhill property began decades ago and the civic association fully supported it. That purchase was accomplished with town, county, and state funds.

EIS for GWL Waterfront Apartments Available at Gold Coast Library

If you want to know more about the apartment complex proposed for the Town of North Hempstead (TNH) portion of the Glenwood Landing Waterfront, you need go no further than the Gold Coast Public Library. Library Director Genellen McGrath reports that two copies of the Environment Impact Statement (EIS) for the development were delivered to the library yesterday. The document also is available online through the TNH website.

TNH will accept written comments on the EIS through June 8. The next opportunity for public input will be at a hearing scheduled when an application to rezone the property from industrial use to multi-family residential use is filed. The Glenwood / Glen Head Civic Association expects a rezoning application will be forthcoming.

The civic association, Hempstead Harbor Protection Committee, and Coalition to Save Hempstead Harbor have been following the application and have commented at two previous hearings (see "North Hempstead Accepts Environmental Impact Statement for Waterfront Apartments in Glenwood Landing," May 23; "County Explains Role in Waterfront Sewer Line," May 10; "Sewer Line: Consider Glenwood Landing," March 19).

How the land proposed for this development is used will have a tremendous impact on Hempstead Harbor, Glenwood Landing, Glen Head, Roslyn Harbor, Sea Cliff, and the North Shore School District and will shape the character of the community and the waterfront for generations to come. The Glenwood / Glen Head Civic Association urges residents to take full advantage of all opportunities to participate in the review process.

Glenwood Landing Bids Farewell to a Piece of History

Glenwood Landing lost a rare window on its past this morning, when a wrecking ball crashed into the Townsend House, a home that has stood at the corner of Glenwood Road and Kissam Lane for more than a century. Originally, the home overlooked a pastoral scene of rolling hills, farmland, and ponds. In more recent years, the view has been dominated by the Glenwood Landing Post Office, which is built over one of these ponds. For the last few decades and until recently, the home was occupied as a two-family residence.

According to a study commissioned by the Glenwood / Glen Head Civic Association, the Townsend House was an excellent example of vernacular architecture, a building form that is fast disappearing from the Glenwood Landing landscape (see “Subdivision Review Reveals A Pre-Colonial Past,” May 11). The study also identifies the original owners of the home as the Townsend family, who were among the area’s first settlers.

At many hearings, the civic association suggested that the building be preserved and its present use be maintained. Unfortunately, this goal could not be achieved. In April, after prolonged county and town review of a seven-unit subdivision proposed for the site, the Town of Oyster Bay issued a permit that cleared the way for demolition. The site plan calls for construction of five homes at the rear of the 2-plus-acre-parcel, two homes at the front, and a new cul-de-sac that opens onto Kissam Lane near the stop sign. Much of the existing slope will be removed to accommodate seven new structures and extensive retaining walls will be required.

Stormwater Controls Implemented at GWL Site

A commendable effort to contain runoff has been made at the construction site on the northwest corner of Glenwood Road and Kissam Lane, where a seven-unit subdivision is planned. Earlier this month, an absence of stormwater control measures followed by several days of heavy showers permitted a great deal of mud to escape from the site and wash into Hempstead Harbor via Glenwood Road and a nearby storm drain.

Construction runoff is a key component of non-point source pollution. The Hempstead Harbor Water Quality Improvement Plan identifies non-point source pollution as a major cause of contamination and silt build up in the Hempstead Harbor. The harbor is particularly vulnerable to the impact of construction activities at the Glenwood Road / Kissam Lane site because of the site’s slope, close proximity to the harbor, and close proximity to the nearest storm drain.

To help reduce the impact of construction runoff on New York State waterways, the state recently mandated implementation of certain stormwater control measures at all construction sites of one or more acres. The Glenwood Road / Kissam Lane site is just over two acres. Developers and property owners are responsible for implementing the measures. Local municipalities and the NYS Dept. of Environmental Conservation are responsible for enforcement. Noncompliance can result in heavy fines.

Containing runoff at the Glenwood Road / Kissam Lane site is challenging because of the site's slope and proximity to the storm drain. Nevertheless, less runoff can be expected from today forward thanks to the installation of straw bales in front of a silt fence and around several mounds of exposed soil. Most importantly, the straw bales have been trenched into the soil a few inches in compliance with New York State guidelines. Additional measures, such as seeding and mulching of the open soil piles are still needed, however. Experts say these measures are fast, relatively inexpensive, and highly effective.

Memorial Day Weekend Fireworks in Hempstead Harbor

Fireworks are scheduled at Bar Beach on Saturday, May 27.

The event is offered by the Town of North Hempstead with funding from the Americana Manhasset and Wheatley Plaza.

The rain date is Sunday, May 28.

North Hempstead Accepts Environmental Impact Statement for Waterfront Apartments in Glenwood Landing

On Tuesday, May 23, the North Hempstead Town Council accepted an Environment Impact Statement (EIS) submitted by Glen Harbor Partners in connection with a waterfront apartment building proposed for town- and privately- held property in Glenwood Landing on Shore Road immediately south of the Glenwood Landing Power Station.

The property is commonly referred to as the Hinfin/Harbor Fuel site. The EIS can be viewed online and at the Town of North Hempstead (TNH) Planning Department and also may be available at Bryant Public Library. The Glenwood / Glen Head Civic Association has requested that TNH explore the possibility of making the document available at the Gold Coast Library.

TNH will accept written comments on the proposal through Friday, June 8. Although the Glenwood / Glen Head Civic Association had understood that a hearing would be held at the time the EIS was submitted, this impression was incorrect: the State Environmental Quality Review Act (SEQRA) does not require a public hearing at this stage. However, TNH has elected to accept written comments because of the public interest the project has generated.

TNH has held two previous hearings on the EIS: a "scoping session" designed to determine what the EIS should include and a hearing on the draft EIS. These hearings were widely publicized by the civic association and TNH. The next opportunity for a public hearing on the proposal is likely to occur if an application is made to rezone the property from industrial use to multifamily residential use.

The project would involve some 60 apartment units, a pool, and several stories. A varience would be required to accommnodate the height of the building; the number of units is contingent upon constructing a sewer line on Shore Road through the Glenwood Landing Waterfront to Sea Cliff, terminating at the sewage treatment plant in Glen Cove. The project includes a public esplanade with public access from the north and south and would involve an environmental clean up funded by the developer.

Glen Partners and the Village of Sea Cliff have been discussing the possibility of constructing the sewer line in a manner that would accommodate some Sea Cliff properties. Those reviewing the project have routinely discounted the suggestion made by the civic association that the possibility of accommodating some Glenwood Landing properties also should be seriously explored, particularly in view of the high water table and cesspool problems familiar to many people in or near the Glenwood Landing waterfront and the impact of these issues on Hempstead Harbor.

Although a great deal of the sewer line would be constructed through the Town of Oyster Bay portion of Glenwood Landing, Nassau County appears to be the only permitting authority with regard to this aspect of the project because Shore Road is a county thoroughfare. According to the county, issuing a road opening permit for a sewer line is routine and there is no opportunity for public input or notification. Last month, the civic association met with the Nassau County Department of Public works to emphasize traffic, pedestrian, and construction concerns should the project move forward.

For more information, contact the Town of North Hempstead Planning Department (869-7679).

Stormwater Runoff Controls Needed at Glenwood Landing Site

Heavy rains last night created a river of mud this morning that flowed onto Glenwood Road from a slope on the northwest corner of Glenwood and Kissam Lane, opposite the Glenwood Landing Post Office, where excavation in connection with a 7-lot subdivision is underway.

The mud will inevitably wash down Glenwood Road into Hempstead Harbor. According to the Hempstead Harbor Water Quality Improvement Plan, runoff from construction sites, roadways, and private yards is a significant source of silt build up and pollution in Hempstead Harbor. Experts agree that the problem is endemic in virtually all Long Island Sound waterways.

Effective measures are available

To address the issue, New York State has adopted regulations that require developers and/or owners to implement stormwater containment measures at all construction sites that disturb one or more acres of land. The Glenwood/Kissam subdivision involves more than two acres. Furthermore, a great deal of soil will have to be disturbed to accommodate the seven lots called for in the site plan.

The measures that can contain stormwater during the construction phase of this or any other project are generally relatively inexpensive and easy to implement, and they are known to be highly effective when properly executed.

This morning the Glenwood / Glen Head Civic Association contacted the Town of Oyster Bay (TOB) and the NYS Dept. of Environmental Conservation about the apparent lack of stormwater runoff control at the Glenwood / Kissam site. This afternoon a TOB building official said that an inspector had visited the site and that the town will insist on adequate stormwater containment.

Learning from the recent past

Glenwood Landing recently experienced a similar runoff problem early in the construction phase of a home on a steep slope located on Scudders Lane near the Swan Club opposite Glenwood Road in Roslyn Harbor. The site is in the Town of North Hempstead (TNH) portion of the hamlet. Eventually, containment measures were implemented—but not until after a great deal of soil had escaped.

The Glenwood / Kissam project has been under review for about eight years. At hearings held by TOB and the Nassau County Planning Commission, the civic association presented photographs of the Scudders Lane project before stormwater controls were implemented to underscore the importance of stormwater containment when and if the Glenwood / Kissam project moved forward. We are now confident that the cooperation of all concerned parties will be forthcoming.

Home measures also important

To increase awareness of the importance of reducing all forms of stormwater runoff and the contaminants it carries, the civic association is cooperating with TOB and Nassau County to mark storm drains in Glenwood Landing and Glen Head with medallions bearing the message "No Dumping / Drains to Waterway." Literature about stormwater runoff also will be distributed.

Note that if you live in Glenwood Landing or "lower" Glen Head, the storm drains you see on your street eventually open into Hempstead Harbor—even if the harbor is nowhere to be seen from your home. Thus, chemicals from your garden, soap from washing your car, pet waste that is left on the ground, and so on can and do make their way into storm drains. These pollutants are then conveyed to the harbor through an extensive network of pipes and tunnels under your feet. Eventually these pipes and tunnels open into Hempstead Harbor. Therefore, it is important to reduce the pollutants that enter storm drains from all sources, including our gardens and driveways.

Watch for storm drain markers and literature in your area. Attaching the markers is fun and a good activity for children, although some degree of adult supervision is required depending on the age of the children. If you would like to mark the storm drains on your street, send a message to the civic association at gwghcivic@optonline.net.

Subdivision Review Reveals A Pre-Colonial Past

Many generations of children raised in Glenwood Landing or Glen Head will recall combing the property at the northwest corner of Glenwood Road and Kissam Lane for arrowheads—and the thrill of coming up with a handful of mysteriously pointed stones. In fact, many of those presumed arrowheads were, indeed, authentic Native American artifacts.

The presence of artifacts used by the indigenous people of the north shore was recently confirmed by an investigation conducted in connection with a 7-unit subdivision proposed for the site that has been undergoing review for several years. The investigation was required by the Nassau County Planning Commission under the State Environmental Quality Review Act (SEQRA) at the expense of the developer (currently Anray Custom Builder of Sea Cliff).

Some of the items documented by investigators from the firm of John M. Milner Associates are relatively common artifact of fairly recent vintage. However, some of the items may date to the pre-colonial period. Known as pre-contact artifacts, such artifacts are prized by archeologists—although to the lay person they may often seem like nothing more than nondescript chips and chards.

Archeological experts say that no more sites of this type are likely to be diiscovered in Nassau County. One characteristic that makes the site so unusual, according to Charla Bolton, a preservation advocate for the Society for the Preservation of Long Island Antiquities, is evidence of continuous human occupation for so long a period of time.

The Native Americans were succeeded by the Townsends, who were among the area's earliest settlers. According to a historic study conducted by a consultant hired by the civic association, the Townsends probably constructed the main building on the site sometime during the mid-19th century and used it through the first third of the last century. John Collins, architectural historian, preservationist, and member of the Town of Oyster Bay Landmarks Commission, has described the building as a good example of the vernacular architecture of the 19th century, which was once common in Glenwood Landing and surrounding areas. It also is one of the few reamining such buildings in Glenwood Landing.

Vernacular architecture is a term applied to structures that are usually erected by non-academically trained builders based on local traditions, building techniques, and materials. According to the online encyclopedia, Wikipedia, design and construction often occur simultaneously onsite; some of those who eventually use the building are often involved in construction, design, or both; and the shape of the building generally reflects local patterns that may be either centuries old or that reflect the technological advances of the time (such as the jigsaw, which made "gingerbread" embellishments possible during the late Victorian period).

The civic association commissioned the historic study with the hope that a mechanism for preserving the building, which was occupied as a two-family home until last year, could be found. The effort was unsuccessful, however. Last month, the Town of Oyster Bay issued a demolition permit, which includes removal of several structures and underground oil storage tanks.

According to a letter from Joel Klein, Senior Project Manager at John M. Milner Associates, submitted to the county Planning Commission, more than 50,000 stone and ceramic artifacts and animal remains were recovered and removed from the site as ordered by the commission and the state. The stone artifacts include “tools related to the procurement, processing and consumption of shellfish, fish, and mammals" and "numerous grinding and abrading stones, pitted stones, and debris resulting from tool manufacture.“ The ceramic artifacts include three reconstructable vessels and more than 11,000 fragments.

Forum for Consumer Questions in Farmingdale

• Overwhelmed at the thought of purchasing a home or renovating your current home?

• Concerned about improving credit or avoiding identity theft?

• Trying to find high quality child care?

• Wondering about child ID cards, how to find out about recalled toys, or the best criteria to use when selecting a school or school district?

Representatives from more than 20 state and local agencies will be on hand to offer tips about these and other consumer-related topics at “Consumer Action Day” on Saturday, May 13, in Roosevelt Hall, SUNY Farmingdale, 2350 Broadhollow Road, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.

The event is hosted by the NYS Consumer Protection Board (470-2954).

County Explains Role in Waterfront Sewer Line

Three area civics met today with County Legislators Diane Yatauro and Craig Johnson and Nassau County Acting Commissioner of Public Works Joe Davenport to learn more about the county’s role in a sewer line that may be constructed under Shore Road in Glenwood Landing. Jim Antonelli, an engineer with Sidney B. Bowne, the Town of North Hempstead’s (TNH'S) consulting firm, also attended.

The sewer line would carry waste from a waterfront apartment complex that may be constructed immediately south of the Glenwood Landing Power Station (on the site known as the Harbor Fuel/Hinfin property) to the sewage treatment plant in Glen Cove. The site is located in the TNH portion of Glenwood Landing. While some of the property is privately owned, a portion of the site is held by TNH; the project also includes a lot across the street.

A 40-unit apartment building or a 60-unit apartment building have discussed for the site. The plan also includes a public waterfront esplanade with access at both the southern and northern ends. The developer would fund the environmental cleanup at no cost to taxpayers.

TNH has mounted an active public outreach campaign and has held several hearings in connection with the proposal. The Glenwood / Glen Head Civic Association, Hempstead Harbor Protection Committee, and Coalition to Save Hempstead Harbor have provided comments at every opportunity. The Final Environmental Impact Statement is expected shortly. At that time, the town will hold another public hearing.

The sewer line would be installed under Shore Road, a county throughfare, and proceed through Sea Cliff. Two Sea Cliff routes have been discussed. One would run under certain village roads; the other appears to be entirely in the county right of way. It may or may not be possible for some commercial businesses in Sea Cliff to hook into the line. Officials have thus far dismissed the possibility of hooking up any part of Glenwood Landing to the sewer as financially and technologically unfeasible.

The number of apartment units constructed is largely dependant on the construction of a sewer line. It is the Glenwood / Glen Head Civic Association’s position that if a way to accommodate sewering at least a portion of Glenwood Landing cannot be found, then maybe the applicant should be limited to the 40-unit proposal, which would probably treat waste in an on site system. In any case, the civic association believes that the footprint of the building is too large, the height of the building is too tall, and the public space is too limited for this project to be feasiable in Glenwood Landing, especially along the waterfont. Interestingly, the renderings of the 40-unit alternative and the 60-unit alternative both seem to show a building with the same footprint and height.

Should the project be approved with a sewer line, road opening permits will be issued by the county. There will be no opportunity for public participation or notification at that point in the process. Rather, if the project moves forward, the opportunity for public comment about the sewer line and other matters will be through hearings held by TNH in connection with the Final Environmental Impact Statement and an application to rezone the property from industrial to multiple residential. The Nassau County Planning Commission also will review the application and hold a public hearing.

It is important to recognize that participation in the review process can help shape the project. If you do not participate, you forfeit your right to complain! TNH has done two mailings to all of Glenwood Landing and parts of Glen Head to announce previous hearings, and the civic association has moutned a massive education campaign at considerable effort and expense. If you have been unaware of this project, it isn't for want of trying. There is every reason to believe that TNH will continue to encourage public input, and the civic association certainly will continue to do so. For more information, contact the TNH Planning Department (869-7679), watch this site for updates as information becomes available, and please inform neighbors about the situation.

Another Scudders Lot Possible

It appears that the lot on Scudders Lane adjacent to the six-unit subdivision on the southeast corner of Scudders and Lincoln Avenue currently under construction may be subdividable. The sloped parcel currently contains one blue house. If so, two homes are likely to rise on two smaller, newly created lots, bringing to 8 the total number of new homes to appear on that corner. Some of the new homes face Cleveland Ave in Hill Terrace.

TOB and Area Civics Discuss Knockdowns

The presidents of the Glenwood / Glen Head, Todd Estates, and Hill Terrance civic associations met with Town of Oyster Bay (TOB) Planning Department officials last Wednesday to discuss mechanisms that can be used to better manage a growing trend: replacing perfectly sound homes with the largest new structures permitted under the current zoning code and, sometimes, subdividing the property to create several additional lots—often in neighborhoods where the average existing lot size is much larger and the average existing house size is much smaller than those created by the new construction.

“The practice is visible throughout the town,” Commissioner Jack Libert said. “In fact, you can’t miss it almost anywhere you go.” The situation can be difficult to address. “We thought about upzoning,” Deputy Commissioner Leslie Maccarone said. “But then in most places there would be so many nonconforming lots that practically everybody would have to appear before the zoning board to do almost anything.”

Nevertheless, mechanisms to balance the demand for expansion capability with the desire to preserve community character do exist. Commissioner Libert said that TOB has hired Frederick P. Clark Associates, a planning firm that the town has used on many previous occasions, to analyze the situation with respect to TOB and to make recommendations.

The commissioner and deputy suggested that the department furnish the civic associations with copies of the Fredrick P. Clark report when it is completed and requested civic feedback. In addition, a public hearing will be held. The department also has provided the civic associations with a map that clearly delineates the various zones in Glenwood Landing and Glen Head.

According to Jack and Leslie, one key measure being considered for inclusion in the code is floor-area-ratio (FAR), which takes into consideration the amount of living space relative to lot size. Although FAR is included in TOB's commercial code, it is currently not in the residential code. Other measures being evaluated are the amount of pervious surface (such as a lawn) to non-pervious surface (such as an asphalt driveway), as well as maximum height and roof pitch.

All of these measures can work together to permit the expansion of existing homes or the construction of new ones in a manner that does not overwhelm a neighborhood. The civic associations have requested that the town examine some additional zoning techniques that are also designed to accomplish this goal, including:

• requiring subdivided lots and/or new construction or additions to conform to the average lot and/or building size in a neighborhood rather than be limited only by the conditions set forth for a particular zone (a measure that has been adopted by the Town of North Hempstead);

• protections for structures that are architecturally or historically desirable from a local perspective or that are essential for preserving community character;

• stricter controls on variances granted to nonconforming lots;

• special protections for slopes, the defining geographical feature of the north shore;

• restrictions on creation of oddly shaped lots, which are sometimes carved out only to maximize yield;

• application of cluster housing and conservation subdivision concepts to large and small parcels (with the proviso that these concepts are not intended to increase yield);

We have also suggested the town demand that relatively small lots comply with state stormwater requirements, which apply only to construction-related disturbances of an acre or more but can be extended by local municipalities to include smaller disturbances.

Tent Caterpillar Alert

Over the weekend, a sharp pair of eyes spotted a cocoon loaded with tent caterpillars on the young cherry tree in front of 98 Glenwood Road. The branch surrounded by the cocoon was quickly clipped, sealed in a plastic bag, and discarded in a trash can. Be on the lookout for these potentially destructive pests on any trees—especially the saplings planted along Glenwood Road last winter by Nassau County (see Adopt a Tree on Glenwood Road, April 8; On Your Mark, Get Ready, Start Watering, March 26). If you see a cocoon, don’t stop to ask—just cut off the branch that supports the cocoon, seal it in a plastic bag, and toss it in the trash.

Demolition Permit Issued for Glenwood Road Subdivision

The Town of Oyster Bay Building Department confirms that on April 26 the Building Department issued a demolition permit for structures located on the northwest corner of Glenwood Road and Kissam Lane opposite the Glenwood Landing Post Office, where a 7-unit subdivision has been proposed. The permit includes removal of underground oil tanks.

The subdivision has been under review for several years. An environmental review found that the site contained significant Native American artifacts. Demolition of structures and excavation was delayed until the applicant removed the artifacts to a location where they would be preserved. Proof of removal apparently has been submitted to the satisfaction of the appropriate authorities.

The existing buildings have stood on the site since the 19th century. They were originally owned by the Townsends, one of Glenwood Landing's earliest families. The civic association commissioned a historical study of the site and submitted it to the TOB Landmarks Commission with the hope that it would be possible to preserve the structures. Unfortunately, no mechanism was found.

The civic association has participated in review of the subdivsion and proposed several alternatives, including a cluster plan and a five-structure/six-unit plan.

Glenwood Fire Company Opens Window on the Past

For a rare glimpse of Glenwood Landing and Glen Head's past, visit the Glenwood Fire Company Website. The description of the fire company’s founding in 1907 through its 90th anniversary, opens a compelling window on the area’s history.

You’ll learn about the Fyfe Shipyard, a major maritime center on Shore Road for nearly a century, the great fire at Wenlo, one of the region’s most stunning mansions (which firefighters saved and was recently placed on the national and state registers of historic places), and much more.

And, an added bonus, the Website is an excellent resource for fire safety information

Civic Spot Adds Link to GW-GH Garbage District

Sometimes it seems easier to learn about what's happening on the other side of the planet than about what's happening down the block. That's why we recently were delighted to stumble across a weblog maintained by the Glenwood-Glen Head Garbage District and have added a link to the site from the Civic Spot.

All of the neighborhoods served by he Glenwood-Glen Head Garbage District are in the Town of Oyster Bay. That includes most of the Glenwood / Glen Head Civic Association's target area (the neighborhood between Kissam Lane and Scudders to the north and south, and Glen Cove Avenue and Shore Road to the east and west), except for the southwest portion of Glenwood Landing (which is in the Town of North Hempstead).

The district's weblog is handy for checking up on practical information that it's easy to forget, such as collection days, weight limits, and the fall leaf collection and holiday schedules. You can also read some interesting facts and figures that you'd be hard-pressed to find anywhere else, such as how and when the district was formed, the number of households in the district, and district boundaries.

We hope the district will continue to maintain the site and look forward to using it to learn more about important district-related matters—especially the budget, election, and names and terms of the commissioners.

Protecting Environmental Bond Recommendations

The Nassau County Planning Commission is reviewing the Environmental Bond Act recommendations made by the Environmental Program Advisory Committee on March 6. County legislators will vote on the recommendations sometime in May. If approved, the projects will be funded by the $50 million environmental bond referendum voters passed in 2004 by a margin of more than 4 to 1.

The Glenwood / Glen Head Civic Association urges the Planning Commission and the Nassau County Legislature to accept the Advisory Committee’s recommendations without alteration. We believe the application and review process was painstaking, fair and objective. We believe that altering the recommendations made by the committee would undermine public confidence in the legislature and in the environmental program that voters intended to support.

The Advisory Committee received 262 proposals and recommended 57 projects. All of these projects represent valuable improvements that will benefit everyone who lives, works, or plays in Nassau County. The list includes 15 parcels for open space acquisition, improvements at 18 parks, 17 stormwater improvement projects, and 7 brownfield clean-up projects.

One of the parcels recommended for open space acquisition is on the Glenwood Landing Waterfront; five others are in the immediate vicinity of Hempstead Harbor (see "GWL Waterfront Scores as County Priority," March 10). The remaining 51 projects are well dispersed throughout the county, from east to west and north to south. The civic association supports each and every one of these recommendations with full confidence in the criteria that the Advisory Committee established to evaluate the applications and in the judgments the Advisory Committee made based on these criteria.

Please consider contacting county legislators and the Planning Commission to express your views on this matter (see below). A press release titled Suozzi Advisory Committee Announces Proposed Uses for $50 Million Environmental Bond and the Environmental Program Advisory Committee Report are posted on the Nassau County Website.

The public servants below can be reached at 1 West Street, Mineola, NY 11501; legislators can be emailed directly from the Legislator Page of the Nassau County Website.

Patricia Bourne, Director, Nassau County Planning Commission (516-571-5847)
Lewis Yevoli, Chairman, Nassau County Planning Commission (516-571-5844)
Legislator Craig Johnson, LD 11, including Glenwood Landing (516-571-6211)
Legislator Diane Yatauro, LD 18, including Glen Head (516-571-6218)
Legislator Peter J. Schmitt, Minority Leader (516-571-6212)
Legislator Judith Jacobs, Presiding Officer (516-571-6216)

Buildings Secured at Proposed Subdivision

Unoccupied buildings on the northwest corner of Glenwood Road and Kissam Lane, where a subdivision of seven single-family homes is planned, have been secured. The buildings have been open to the weather since at least last fall. Earlier this month, and on several previous occasions, the Glenwood / Glen Head Civic Association has requested that the Town of Oyster Bay (TOB) require the buildings to be properly sealed until such time as they may be demolished to make way for new construction (see Better Maintenance Needed at Glenwood Landing Subdivision, April 8).

We await word from the Nassau County Planning Commission about the status of site plan review for two lots at the front of the property created by a zoning change granted by TOB; protection of the Native American artifacts documented at the site; and seismic studies being required because of the scale of the retaining walls that will be needed to accommodate the extensive amount of soil that would be removed to create seven building lots.

The existing buildings have stood on the site since the 19th century. They were originally owned by the Townsends, one of Glenwood Landing's earliest families. The civic association commissioned a historical study of the site and submitted it to the TOB Landmarks Commission with the hope that it would be possible to preserve the structures. Unfortunately, no mechanism was found.

The civic association has participated in review of the subdivsion and proposed several alternatives, including a cluster plan and a five-structure/six-unit plan.

Living with Geese

It’s spring, and that means teams of specially trained municipal workers and volunteers are tramping around wetlands, golf courses, sumps, land fills, and even shopping malls armed with umbrellas, buckets, and vegetable oil. The teams are searching for geese that are nesting in areas that interfere with human activity and that are unsafe for the birds.

Like the goose at left, which is incubating her eggs in a planter on a dock, geese are increasingtly nesting in inappropriate places throughout Long Island and the entire eastern seaboard.

Each time a nest with at least one goose egg is located, the umbrella is used to shoo away the parents. The bucket is filled with water, and the egg is placed in the bucket. If the egg sinks, the embryo has not started to develop. In such cases, the egg is oiled to prevent oxygen diffusion. Cutting off the oxygen supply prevents the development of the embryo. Thus, a chick will not hatch. The egg is then placed back in nest so that the parents will not lay another egg to replace it—and population growth is reduced by one.

Eggs found in nests located in good nesting habitats also are oiled in order to limit popultaion growth as much as possible.

The effort is part of GeesePeace, a humane geese control program adopted by the Town of Oyster Bay, the Town of North Hempstead, and some villages. The program also involves site aversion. After the chicks hatch and before the birds molt (lose their feathers and are temporarily unable to fly), specially trained dogs (usually border collies) are used to systematically heard the birds away from inappropriate locations.

What you can do

It is important not to feed geese. Feeding geese is bad for the birds. Grasses and other plants are the natural diet of geese. A diet of bread and other human foods causes vitamin deficiency and makes geese vulnerable to serious, debilitating avian diseases. Feeding geese also encourages the geese to remain in an area and attracts more geese to the vicinity. This undermines the humane goose control management policies of local municipalities.

How geese affect water quality

For thousands of years, flocks of Canada geese have migrated across Long Island twice a year, in the Fall en-route to southern wintering grounds and in the Spring en-route to northern nesting grounds.

But, in recent years, flocks of resident, non-migratory Canada geese have grown so large that they have become a serious nuisance, a health threat, and a source of pollution. Runoff from geese waste drains into streams and storm drains and enters waterways, where it contributes to pollution. Geese waste also causes problems on golf courses, playgrounds, and ball fields.

The geese causing these problems were introduced to Long Island and neighboring states several decades ago for hunting and conservation purposes. The swelling population of these non-migratory geese—and the problems associated with them—were not anticipated.

Wonder birds

Geese are intelligent, excellent parents. They stay together all year and mate for life but will find a new partner if a mate dies. Migratory geese mate and nest in Canada. Only resident geese that were born in the United States mate and nest in the United States.

Migration is a learned process. Migratory geese return to the general area of their birth each year to mate and nest. Sometimes they nest in the exact same location from year to year, sometimes they choose a location nearby. Migratory geese do not become resident geese unless they are injured.

The flight range of migratory geese is 2,000- to- 3,000 miles. In contrast, resident geese fly 100- to- 200 miles to find food, water, and safety. Resident geese could fly as long a distance as their migratory cousins, but they have learned that long flights are not necessary.

Nesting

Nesting season is from mid-March to mid-May. Geese begin to nest at age three. They prefer isolated sites near water. Islands are their favorite location. Nests are usually on the ground. When egg laying begins the male partner, known as the sentinel goose, stands watch nearby—but not close enough to give away the location of the nest to a predator. When a solitary goose is seen during nesting season, it’s probably the sentinel goose—and a nest probably is somewhere in the vicinity.

The group of eggs laid by the female is called a clutch. She generally lays 1 egg every 24 hours for several days until a full clutch is established (5 eggs on average). When all the eggs are laid, she begins to incubate them. Thus, all the hatchlings are the same age when the hatch. The incubation period is 28- to- 30 days.

It is easy to tell if the embryos have started to develop. Eggs not being incubated are cool to the touch. Undeveloped eggs that are still fluid sink or float vertically with the wider portion of the egg pointing down. Developing eggs float horizontally or at a slight angle and break the surface of the water.
At that point the goslings are 1- to- 2 weeks away from hatching.

All geese eggs in a single clutch hatch on approximately the same day. Baby geese are called goslings. They can fly approximately 2- to- 3 months after hatching. Geese can live up to 20 years and usually weight 20- to- 30 pounds.

When geese are chased from a traditional nesting area or a nesting area with too many nesting pairs, they find alternative sites to nest. These sites are often quite marginal—too far away from water and food—and may be in highly inappropriate locations—such as rooftops, balconies, ball fields, golf courses, and parks.

Molting

Each June, adult geese lose their wing feathers, a process called molting, and are temporarily unable to fly. Molting season runs from early June to late July. During the molt, geese need to be near water for easy escape from predators, and a food supply must be accessible. Foxes, raccoons, owls and snapping turtles are the natural predators of geese. Geese can fly again approximately 6 weeks after molting. Generally, by early August all geese (except those that are injured) are ready for flight.

Photo by Jennifer Wilson-Pines
GeesePeace Coordinator

Adopt a Tree on Glenwood Road

Last Sunday afternoon, the 23 saplings planted along Glenwood Road in December received their first major drink of spring—four liters of water for each delivered by members of the Glenwood / Glen Head Civic Association. Nature followed up today with a welcome 1.7 inches of rainfall.

The trees were planted by the Nassau County Dept. of Public Works to replace older trees that have been lost over the last several years (see On Your Mark, Get Ready, Start Watering, March 26; New Trees for Glenwood Road, March 16).

If there’s a tree in the vicinity of your home, don’t forget to help get it off to a good start by giving it a minimum of one slow, soil-soaking drink a week throughout the spring and summer (more if there is a dry spell). Civic Association waterers were able to skip watering two trees that had already been watered by nearby neighbors.

According to the county, nearly all of the trees planted are sidewalk- and wire-friendly. In two instances taller trees with deeper root systems were planted in locations with no sidewalks; these trees are also relatively easy to prune because they have no central leader.

The sidewalk- and wire-friendly trees are Japanese Tree Lilacs and Japanese Kwanzan Cherries. The county tells us that if you live at 13, 26, 28, 29, 34, 36, 49, 59, or 72 Glenwood Road, you received a Japanese Tree Lilac; if you live at 65, 77, 86, 91, 98 101A, 108, 109, or 112 Glenwood Road, you received a Japanese Kwanzan Cherry; if you live at 126 or 128 Glenwood Road, you received a stately Japanese Zelkova. In a few instances, two trees were planted in front of one property.

Have you watered your tree yet? Are you considering doing so? Consider posting a comment to let the civic association—as well as visitors to the site—know. If you cannot reach the tree with your hose or if you do not have a watering can, you can fill up a couple of empty soda or milk bottles. Civic association waterers used two-liter soda bottles last week. Have a better technique? Why not let us know?

Better Maintenance Needed at Glenwood Landing Subdivision

Concern about the condition of the property at the northwest corner of Glenwood Road and Kissam Lane opposite the Glenwood Landing Post Office has prompted the Glenwood / Glen Head Civic Association to contact the Nassau County Planning Commission and the Town of Oyster Bay about improved maintenance and proper development of the site.

A seven-unit subdivision is planned for the site. In the interim between subdivision approval and groundbreaking, the property has fallen into disrepair. Existing buildings are open to the weather, the grounds are poorly maintained, and debris frequently collects along the sidewalk and at other locations.

Last year, the Oyster Bay Town Board approved a zoning change from commercial to residential that created two of the seven lots. The civic association has contacted the town on several occasions since the zoning hearing to request that the town require the property to be maintained in a manner consistent with the town code: specifically that existing buildings be secured until such time as they may be demolished and that the grounds be properly maintained.

Unfortunately, the buildings remain open to the weather, as they have been for more than a year, and the build up of yard debris is common.

The Nassau County Planning Commission has approved a site plan for the additional five lots in an existing residential zone, with certain conditions. Among these conditions are that:

• the two lots created by the zoning change be presented to the county planning commission for site plan review;

• the Native American artifacts documented at the site be protected before any demolition or construction occurs;

• seismic studies be conducted because of the scale of the retaining walls that will be required to accommodate the extensive amount of soil that would be removed to create seven building lots.

The civic association has contacted the county planning commission to request a hearing to determine if the Native American artifacts have been properly removed and, therefore, that they no longer impede any application a developer might make to the town for a demolition permit.

The civic association also has requested that the county provide information about when in the development process the seismic studies would be conducted and how the results will be documented and presented to the public.

The civic association has participated in the review of this subdivision for at least six years. Among its proposals was a five-unit residential plan with four single-family structures and one owner-occupied two-family structure; we also urged the involved parties to consider a cluster plan. Shortly before the zoning hearing, stakeholders in the Glenwood Landing Business District requested that the Town Board maintain the commercial status of the property; the civic association was pleased to support this request.

Prior to the zoning change, the civic association commissioned a study of the property that was submitted to the Town of Oyster Bay Landmarks Commission. The study documented continuous human occupancy of the site from the pre-colonial period through the present and noted the importance of the Native American artifacts at the site. The study also noted that the Townsends, a local family with historic significance, were the original owners of the property and that the family retained ownership from the pre-revolutionary period through the early part of the last century. There have been only three owners of the site since the Townsend’s relinquished title. Our historian estimated that at least one structure on the site dates to the1850s, although a site inspection was not permitted by the owner of the property at the time the study was conducted.

The Landmarks Commission concluded that the documentation submitted by the civic association did not indicate that the property merited further investigation and rejected landmark status for the property.