By Jeff Lipton
A plan to reactivate a fire training center at North Woodmere Park has spurred some quality of life concerns from residents about the potential for excess noise and traffic.
Fire officials have proposed to rejuvenate a center at the park that has been inactive for 25 years by constructing a multi-faceted, two-level, 10,000-square-foot building near the driving range of the park's golf course. The building would be the headquarters for the training of firefighters from Lawrence-Cedarhurst, Woodmere, Hewlett, Inwood, Meadowmere Park, Valley Stream and Elmont.
Chief Joseph Montilli of the Lawrence-Cedarhurst Fire Department, representing the seven departments, addressed residents who attended the Thursday, September 14, meeting of the North Woodmere Civic Association, held at The Sephardic Temple on Branch Boulevard in Cedarhurst.
He said the training facility is crucial to maintaining a top-flight fire department and appealed to residents for support of the project. Nassau County officials said that if the project is endorsed by the community, it will be approved.
The park was used about 25 years ago as a training center for firefighters but has been abandoned since and efforts are underway to restore it as a center, Chief Montilli said. He added that Bethpage has a state-of-the-art fire training facility, but it is being used by 71 different departments and is not as centrally located for local departments as is North Woodmere Park.
"Residents may have questions and concerns, but I see little to no real impingement on the lifestyles that you lead now," Chief Montilli said. "The value that this would bring to us is indescribable."
The multi-faceted building, which would cost about $250,000, would contain a home on one side, a store on the other and an apartment house on yet another. The idea is to simulate different types of blazes that firefighters may confront in their communities. "Images of black smoke pouring out is just not going to happen," Chief Montilli said. "It'll just be a wisp of smoke that'll quickly disappear. Creating black smoke and noise is just not the case."
Training sessions on the eight acres of parkland would take place, 6 P.M. to 9 P.M., Monday through Friday and weekends from 10 A.M. to 8 P.M., Chief Montilli said.
The project will not cost residents anything extra in taxes and is being funded by government grants. The land will be leased from the county.
"We're not asking for one dime from the community," the fire chief said.
One North Woodmere resident said, "I would like to support the firemen every opportunity that I get. We all depend on them for our safety. But I'm not happy about putting this in North Woodmere Park."
Another resident asked why the facility must be located at the park. Chief Montilli said it's the ideal location that has been used as a training facility in the past.
Chief Montilli said, "I also live near the area and I don't see noise and I don't see more traffic than you have here today...Seven fire departments coming here once a week is a small price to pay [for maintaining the safety of the community.]"
He added that unless it is an emergency, fire trucks will not have sirens blaring through the neighborhood on the way to the training site.
Jonathan Kohan, a member of the Lawrence-Cedarhurst Fire Department who was assisting Chief Montilli in making the pitch for the new facility, said "God forbid, there's a problem in your house. You would want people who are highly trained.
"We are all very fortunate that we have a top-flight fire department with dedicated personnel," he added. Training at new North Woodmere Park facilities would help boost the confidence of firefighters, he said.
He added that the project will probably require an Environmental Impact Statement to ensure no adverse effects on the community.
"This is what I call a golden moment, a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity," said Chief Montilli. "We want to get better in the year 2000. Lawrence-Cedarhurst is on the cutting edge. This is money well-spent."
