by Mike Schnitzel and Nicole Falco
Several measures were approved by the village board that will allow Valley Best LLC to construct a condominium complex in a C-3 District (a commercial/industrial zone). Plans were discussed at consecutive public hearings at Village Hall on Aug. 29.
A study done on behalf of the village by AKRF Environmental and Planning Consultants of Bohemia concluded that Valley Best's proposal would have no significant impact on the environment, and would in fact improve the social, economic and environmental conditions of the village, according to the testimony of AKRF Senior Vice President James McAllister at the Aug. 29 hearing.
Local Law A, which was adopted unanimously, will allow the creation of a CA district, or floating zone, permitting the construction of residential housing in industrial/commercial zones - C-2, C-3 and C-X districts - on a case-by-case basis at the discretion of the Board of Trustees, circumventing the Board of Zoning Appeals.
Local Law B allows for the rezoning of the two properties that abut the main parcel, the former home of InFlight Newspapers & Magazines, from a residential to a C-3 district. The parcels, on East Valley Stream Boulevard and South Cottage Street, will now be considered one property, along with the InFlight property.
The Board of Trustees passed a resolution to abandon the dead end of East Jamaica Avenue with the intention of selling it to Valley Best LLC. "We don't have the need for it," said Village Clerk Vincent Ang. "Now the entire dead end is contained within the property. We are selling it to [Valley Best LLC] for $60,000."
The condominium complex would feature four one-bedroom units measuring 970 square feet each, 48 two-bedroom units of 1,175 square feet, and 25 three-bedroom units of 1,400 square feet. The main entrance would be on South Cottage Street, with a 173-space gated underground parking facility accessible from East Valley Stream Boulevard.
According to the architect's plan, there would be 20-foot setbacks on all sides of the property except for the rear, which would be adjacent to the Long Island Rail Road. The building would resemble a row of townhouses rather than one continuous structure, according to Robert Ferraro of Wax Ferraro Architects PC of Lynbrook, with a facade of brick, stucco, slate and stone.
According to Mayor Edward Cahill, the condos will be beneficial to the community. "I think it will bring much-needed housing space to Valley Stream," said Cahill. "It will be replacing downtrodden stores that were there. It should be good for the community."
Comments about this story? MSchnitzel@liherald.com or (516) 569-4000 ext. 265.
