Friday, March 28, 2025
The Town of Hempstead Board reserved decision at the Feb. 4 board meeting in regards to the proposed rezoning of the Oceanside Jewish Center on 2860 Brower Avenue.
The application, submitted by Fieldstone at Oceanside LLC, seeks to rezone the property from a Residence B District to a CA Residence District to allow for the construction of 59 condominium townhouses allowing for the development. The site, which includes the Jewish center and two single-family homes, is currently exempt from taxes because of its religious use.
The hearing was a continuation from Jan. 7, which drew significant attention from residents concerned about the potential impact of the development on traffic, infrastructure, and community character.
“I do stand with the people in voting against this project,” said Oceanside resident Frank Wassenbergh. “There are just too many houses that are going to be going into this property to help in any way, shape or form for people. The peoples whose homes have been driven on by cars, the side streets into here are already raceways for people.”
Many residents expressed frustration and opposition to the proposed rezoning, citing long-standing issues with traffic congestion, insufficient infrastructure, and fears of overdevelopment in a community still recovering from the effects of Superstorm Sandy.
“Oceanside is starting to look more and more like Queens and Brooklyn,” said Regina Pasqualino, who has lived in Oceanside for most of her 66 years, and described the development as a threat to the town’s character and safety.
“There’s no land anymore to absorb water, and constant building is making flooding worse.”
Residents also responded to the board with alternatives for the space. Pasqualino suggested converting the parcel into a park to provide children with a safe outdoor space, rather than adding more housing. Proponents argue that the project would address housing shortages for younger families and downsizing seniors while transitioning the tax-exempt property into a significant source of tax revenue.
“Fifty-nine units is way too many,” said Oceanside resident and architect Tim Lambert. “Brower Avenue is already a terrible street—narrow, with no curbs, and cars parked on sidewalks. The traffic will be horrendous.”
Lambert proposed an alternative solution: dividing the land into 20 detached, single-family homes, which he believes would still be profitable without overwhelming local infrastructure. Other residents echoed Lambert’s concerns. While many spoke out in opposition, some residents expressed cautious support.
“This is the best plan we’ve seen,” said Oceanside resident Martha Salzburg, noting that the original proposal included 72 units, which has since been reduced to 59. Additionally, the development was changed from rental units to condo townhouses that will contribute to local property taxes. “Although everyone would prefer single-family homes, no developers are offering to build them,” she said. “Whether or not this development adds traffic, there’s already a traffic problem. The high school is less than a quarter mile away down Brower. The only thing that will truly help the traffic situation would be more busses to the high school and possibly to the kindergarten center.”
As of now, the rezoning proposal remains under consideration, with further discussions and potential amendments expected in future meetings. For updates on Town Board meetings and decisions regarding this rezoning proposal, residents can visit the Town of Hempstead’s official website or contact their local representatives directly.
