By Brian Zanzonico
Despite some concern over safety, egress and ingress and the impact on the Malverne School District, neighbors backed the 51 single-family home subdivision proposed at last Tuesday's Hempstead Town Board meeting. Lynbrook-based Engel-Burman, which is in contract with Butterfly Realty to take over the property, is seeking a zone change from light manufacturing to residence B (single-family homes).
"I commend the developers because they have come back to the table to try and work with the community," said Regina Adolphus, an Orlando Avenue resident. "We're all happy."
This is the developer's third proposal for the site, home to a 150,000-square-foot building on just under 11 acres of land. Last November, they came before the town board with plans for a gated community with 100 duette (attached) 1,800-square-foot homes with one-car garages. A clubhouse with a pool was also included in the plans and would have required a special exception permit. Residents roundly rejected the proposal a year after they scuttled Engel-Burman's designs for a 289-unit retirement community for the site.
"What started as an abomination has been negotiated to 51 homes... it'll definitely do some good for the community," said Mike Alexander, of Orlando Avenue.
The plan calls for the opening of Otsego and Ossippe roads - both dead ends - and the construction of a road through the subdivision to connect the two streets. Two cul de sacs are also in the design. Sanitary District #6 would be in charge of garbage pickup.
Engel-Burman attorney Albert D'Agostino, of Valley Stream, said the homes will be two-story colonials somewhere between 2,400 and 3,000-square-feet with one or two garages and driveways. D'Agostino said the design of the homes, which will cost about $550,000, have not been fleshed out, but will fit into the character of the neighborhood.
Traffic, safety, school
Some residents voiced concern over the two access roads. "Why should one street bear the brunt of 51 homes?" said 40-year Otsego Road resident Marilyn Alias. "Every car will go through Otsego because Ossippe is a circuitous route."
She also suggested adding one or two more cul de sacs. "I agree with the proposal but not as planned," she said.
"I'm happy they reduced the project to 50 homes because it benefits the community," said Beatrice Bayley. "But I'm concerned about my neighbors. The points of egress should be looked into."
D'Agostino said the plans meet both town and county regulations regarding ingress and egress and access for fire and emergency vehicles. The developer's engineer, Steven Hyman, said the 50-foot radii of both cul de sacs are more than enough clearance for a fire truck to turn around.
Traffic expert Robert Eschbacher said if the building were reused and operated as a factory, it would produce triple the amount of traffic of the planned subdivision.
Residents also questioned how many students would enter the Malverne School District. Robert Marks, president of Goodman Marks Associates, Inc. Real Estate Appraisers and Consultants, said 51 four bedroom single-family homes would produce about 68 school-age children. Alias argued that 51 homes would, minimally, have 102 children. Either way, Malverne School District First Vice President Gregory Padmore said the schools are prepared for an influx of new students, no matter the number.
"Our district mandate is when a child resides in the district legally, we educate that child," he said. "We will educate those children."
History of the property
The building currently occupying the site was erected in 1953 and operated as a cardboard manufacturing plant. Additions to the structure were made in 1963 and 1979. It was later sold to Rugby Darby drugs, which used the building as a distribution facility. In 1995, it was purchased by Butterfly Realty, whose Natural Science Industries, Ltd. manufactured crafts and toys.
D'Agostino said that in 1983, an environmental study found that chemicals had made their way into the groundwater, and there was a five-year groundwater-monitoring program. Soil and groundwater have been fully remediated, he said.
Marks said the taxes generated by the 51 homes would be about $415,000 as opposed to the $322,000 generated by the current building.
Safeguard against illegal housing
Some residents said they feared the single-family homes could be easily converted to two-family dwellings - illegally. Councilwoman Dorothy Goosby (D-Lakeview) asked D'Agostino to design the homes with only one kitchen and no second entrance.
The timetable
D'Agostino said the developers must also apply for variances to subdivide two lots with frontage on Cayuga Road and Smith Street, which are now private roads. But that will likely come after getting zoning approval from the town board and then the county for the subdivision, 6 to 9 months from now.
After the meeting, D'Agostino said he was happy to see residents on board with the plan.
"My clients and I were very pleased with the comments [from neighbors]," D'Agostino said.
Comments about this story? Mal-wheditor@liherald.com or (516) 569-4000 ext. 240.
