By:Angela Marshall
Those in attendance, about 150 residents, were asked to help the cause by attending Monday-s village Board of Trustees meeting and the next Planning Board meeting, scheduled for Wednesday, March 3, after the Herald went to press. Dozens did show up to express their concerns at the Monday board meeting, calling on the mayor and trustees to turn the project down.
The trustees explained that the decision would be made by the Planning Board, which acts independently. Unhappy residents said this decision is too important to be left up to an appointed board, and called on their elected officials to do something.
New Jersey developer Chase Partners plans to build the complex on the former Darby Drugs site, 80-100 Banks Ave., just north of the Sunrise Highway King Kullen shopping center. The developers have been meeting with the Planning Board since April. In order to move forward, Chase needs environmental and site-plan approval.
Those united to stop the project say it will bring higher taxes, increased congestion and decreased village services. They also announced last week that they have hired an expert to testify at the Planning Board meeting on their behalf. Fliers handed out at the Legion hall meeting requested donations to help with the defense fund. Jeanne Mulry, who has spearheaded the group, declined to name the expert until the hearing.
Michael Faltischek, attorney for Chase Partners, sent a letter to Mary Beth Kearns, chairwoman of the Planning Board, seeking to block further comment from the public. He said that the public had been given its opportunity to speak at the last hearing, and he believed that the only business left open for the March 3 hearing was his rebuttal and the answering of any remaining questions from the Planning Board itself.
In past cases, the Planning Board has always allowed the public to continue commenting until a hearing is closed.
During both meetings, those opposed to the apartment development questioned why the Board of Trustees changed village code to allow multi-family housing in Rockville Centre-s industrial zone, especially when the board knew this project was proposed. Trustees once again reminded the residents that one of the first proposals for the property was a Home Depot, and that many were against that as well.
As part of the village-s ongoing code-revision process, the board enacted an 18-month moratorium on big buildings while it contemplated what would be best for the future of the village. During that time, the trustees decided to allow residential development. At a number of conferences, the trustees were told that allowing residents in the downtown area was good for the health of the business community.
Mulry pointed out that the law was changed after the village attorney wrote a memo saying the developer was anxious to pursue his rezoning application. The only trustee to attend the Legion hall meeting, Mary Bossart, said Mulry had tried to use that as a red herring before and added that time pressure from the developer had nothing to do with the passing of the law. She said the board doesn-t function on someone else-s timeline. We do what we need to do, she said.
Deputy Mayor Wayne Lipton also refuted one of the residents- other complaints. During the town-hall meeting, Joseph Thrapp decried the possibility of adding 700 potential residents, saying the village population has only grown by a few thousand people since 1948. But Lipton pointed out that the village population peaked in 1970, when it hit 27,444, according to the U.S. census. The population has steadily decreased since then. The 2000 census put Rockville Centre-s population at 24,568.
The debate over the complex has motivated the board to consider putting some sort of density control in place. One idea being considered is to limit the number of apartment units allowed per acre to 20. The Banks Avenue proposal calls for 349 units on 7.1 acres, more than double the proposed limit. But the density-control legislation is unlikely to be completed in time to make any difference in this project.
The village attorney, Martha Krisel, also addressed concerns about the contamination recently found on the development site. Chemicals traditionally used by dry-cleaners were found during environmental testing of the property. It is believed that they were left by a carpet-cleaning company located on the property more than 30 years ago.
Residents want to make sure a cleanup plan is in place before the Planning Board issues any approval for the project. Krisel said she has requested information on how to proceed from the state Department of Environmental Conservation.
