By:Karenlyn Barone
The village has just declared a moratorium on new construction. Although the resolution, Local Law No. 5, was approved unanimously, a majority of residents at Monday night's village board meeting did not agree with the decision. "As a taxpayer and a business owner in this village, I depend on you to bring business into the village, not deter it," Sue Torborg told the board.
The law implements "a moratorium on the development of any and all property located within the commercial and industrial districts of the Incorporated Village of East Rockaway." The purpose is to "ensure the qualities which make our village so special will stand for generations, not just for months," said deputy mayor Richard Meagher,
The moratorium ceases all development in commercially zoned areas for a minimum of six months. During that time, the village board says it intends to hire a professional planner, who will make recommendations to the board regarding the type of construction that would fit the quaint atmosphere of the village. "Some property owners have done things that are inconsistent with the small and quaint village we have," said Trustee Ed Sieban. "We are not interested in stopping progress, but are looking to have a hand in that progress. What we do now will put fingerprints on this village for the next 25 years."
"This is ludicrous," said one resident who declined to be identified. "How do you place a moratorium on building when you're in the middle of a revitalization project? It makes no sense." The resident was referring to the Waterfront Revitalization Project taking place along Front Street. The lofty, $4 million project, which is in its second phase, will provide for the renovation of the Talfor Boat Basin, including a fishing pier, a boardwalk and a new bulkhead.
Some residents who attended the meeting accused the board of proposing a moratorium for the purpose of targeting the empty lot that once housed the legendary East Point Inn Restaurant. Its owner, Donald Colwell, demolished the building earlier this year, without the proper permits, and the plot has stood empty ever since. The Colwell property is directly across from the Talfor Boat Basin.
Colwell's daughter, Nancy, who opposes the moratorium, pleaded her case before the board. "We have an interest in East Rockaway," she said. "My father's heart has always been here, and he wants [his property] to be beautiful again. What would you allow us to build?"
But the question was moot, since the moratorium prevents construction of any kind for the time being. Although approved for just six months, it contains a caveat whereby the board can vote for six-month extensions. The Colwell family will have to present a hardship case to the board if it wants to build on the lot, said Village
Attorney Anthony Guardino.
With ratification of the law, the proposed senior housing project on Front Street will now have to apply for hardship status as well, since construction was slated to begin within six months. Mayor Joseph Carrigan said there are three such properties that will be directly affected by the law. Members of the East Rockaway Chamber of Commerce sided with the board. "The Chamber of Commerce agrees with the direction the village is going in," said its president, Paul Lanzetta. "I think we are moving in a nice direction now. We don't want to see any white elephants."
Echoing Lanzetta's sentiment, chamber Vice President Ken Clark said, "We all want East Rockaway to look nice. We want to keep our identity as a little village. I believe the board is trying to keep a check on these things."
Dr. Meyer Hodes and his son, Dr. Leon Hodes, expressed their concern that such a law would prevent the renovations they have planned for their property on Atlantic Avenue. In a letter to the mayor, received before the meeting, the senior Hodes wrote, "If construction is banned, we might be forced to look for accommodations elsewhere."
Carrigan assured the doctors that their type of project would be permitted. "Your improvements would be to benefit patients, residents and the community," he told them. "It would be approved, because it benefits everyone."
The mayor also said that the board is currently looking at proposals from planners, but that a decision on whom to hire has not yet been made. When asked by residents how much the hiring of such an expert would cost the village, the mayor said fees had not been submitted with the proposal.
"Development should not be helter-skelter or willy-nilly in our village," said Meagher. "That is why a planner is needed." He assured residents that monthly reports and public meetings would be held during the moratorium to apprise the village of any progress or recommendations by the planner.
"This moratorium is designed to put a brace on building in the village," said Trustee Sieban. "We have $4 million invested in the waterfront, and we want to have an input as to what comes into our village."
Comments about this story? KBarone@liherald.com or (516) 569-4000 ext. 202.
