Residents of Elmont’s Parkhurst neighborhood have raised several concerns about development in the area, highlighted by the Parkhurst Civic Association and some six other civic groups, who say the problems affect not only Elmont, but other parts of the Town of Hempstead.
In an interview with the Herald, Aubrey Philip, president of the Parkhurst association, and Lori Hallop, its vice president, discussed concerns about McMansions under construction on Parkhurst and overnight parking of a commercial vehicle.
Philip said that the oversized houses don't match the neighborhood's character, and reduce residents' ability to enjoy nature, sunlight and open space. He added that the construction not only reduces home values in the neighborhood, but also creates congestion, bringing commercial vehicles onto residential streets and, with them, equipment including scaffolding and large fences.
Hallop owns a two-story, split-level house in the area, but describes one behind her as 50 percent larger, taking up twice as much space and encroaching on her property.
“‘I used to be able to look out my kitchen window,’” Philip said, quoting another resident, “‘and now all I see is a white wall.
Philip criticized one of the current construction permits from the Town of Hempstead, which allows additions or alterations “in excess of 50%” without a clear maximum size. He cited the town's 27.5 percent lot-coverage rule, setbacks from roads and neighboring properties, and the method for calculating square footage.
“It's ambiguous —that residents worry whether its existing infrastructure can handle that we need to clarify this, and we need to know what this means, and we need the Town of Hempstead to explain it and be open to changing it.”
The Civic Association is requesting a petition for a townwide construction moratorium while town officials review, clarify and update building regulations, followed by stronger inspections, community notice, and enforcement.
“I want to start with the fact that the town of Hempstead needs to put a moratorium across the board throughout the whole town on the building of these houses until everyone can sit down,” Hallop said.
Residents and civic groups in Elmont, Mill Pond and North Valley Stream say they have contacted town officials but described the responses as limited. The Parkhurst Association also addressed overnight parking by commercial vehicles. Philip said that they should be parked in commercial space rather than in residential areas.
“You, as the owner of that business, must find a place in a commercial space that allows you to keep those vehicles overnight,” he said, “because you are living in this community next to other people who are living in this community.”
Residents of Valley Stream’s Mill Brook neighborhood say the building of increasingly large homes is changing the character of their community, raising concerns about drainage, parking, aging infrastructure and the impact of redevelopment on housing affordability.
A petition from the Mill Brook and Parkhurst civic associations urges the Town of Hempstead Board to address the impact of large-scale residential redevelopment and ensure new construction respects established neighborhood character and accounts for environmental concerns, particularly street flooding.
In a post on Facebook, the Mill Brook Civic Association described concerns about 4,000-square-foot homes replacing more modest houses of 1,200 square feet or so. Residents are asking whether existing zoning requirements adequately account for the size of the new homes and their effects on established residential areas.
Guillermo VanEtten, president of the association, said the construction has reduced green space and increased the amount of property covered by pavement.
VanEtten added that the neighborhood dates to the 1930s, and that residents are concerned about whether its existing infrastructure can accommodate the changes. “The infrastructure already that we have is so old,” he said.
He also cited drainage and flooding as concerns, saying residents have dealt with flooding problems since Hurricane Sandy in 2012.
Residents, VanEtten said, want officials to examine whether drainage systems, sewer lines and other public infrastructure can accommodate the scale of new construction.
The size and cost of the new homes have also prompted concerns about affordability, and whether longtime residents and younger families will be able to remain in the community. VanEtten said the trend could make it harder for people who grew up in the neighborhood to purchase homes nearby, or for older residents to downsize without leaving the area.
“We have our legislators, we have our politicians … always showing concern about affordability,” VanEtten said. “I mean, this is like a double-edged sword here. How you talk about affordability, and we're allowing this to happen.”
Residents, he said, are not opposed to new construction, but want development to respect the needs of the existing community.
The Mill Brook Civic Association has encouraged residents to sign its petition and share photos of construction projects or conditions they believe warrant further review.
VanEtten said he has been raising concerns with the Town of Hempstead for more than a year. Residents, he said, attended a Town Board meeting in September, met with Building Commissioner Daniel Leo and shared photos of construction conditions. They remain frustrated, VanEtten said, and want clearer answers about how construction applications are reviewed and how complaints are addressed.
Michael Belfiore, Valley Stream resident, who also raised questions about area development, said residents should examine how the homes received approval and whether existing zoning requirements adequately address their size.
The Town Building Department oversees building permits and enforcement of building codes and local regulations. The Town Board of Appeals reviews disputes involving building permits and applications for zoning variances and special exceptions.
Belfiore said that understanding the approval process is an important step in determining whether changes in zoning requirements or the review process are warranted.
The civic associations hope to bring residents’ concerns to the attention of local officials and encourage a broader discussion about how redevelopment can occur while preserving the character and quality of life of established neighborhoods.
Brian Devine, director of Communication at the Town of Hempstead, responded to this issue via email. Devine said the town is aware of the resident’s concern and added that, like most of the Town of Hempstead, Elmont is in the Residence B zoning district, which limits dwelling size to 27.5% of the lot area.
The Nassau County Police Department handles street parking violations. Devine urged residents to report any zoning violations to the Town of Hempstead Building Department at (516) 538-8500.
