by MIKE CAPUTO
Instead, the Peninsula Public Library board was challenged to return with more answers.
PPL officials have expressed hope that the Lawrence village board would grant its blessing to their plans for a new library facility. The Lawrence board's approval would be a crucial step for PPL because the plans call for a new structure on village-owned property at the train station.
It appeared that June 12 was much too soon for village officials to commit to the project and/or a sale of land to the library.
"I felt that we were unable to discuss reaching a final position because of the lack of information that we had," said Trustee Edward Klar. "I hope [the PPL board] can meet and reach some kind of concept on how the numbers should be played out whether it is a lease or a purchase. I don't have the information to make the intelligent decision."
Before the library portion of the agenda began, Mayor Jack Levenbrown instructed presenters to focus on the plans involving the village-owned land, rather than emphasizing on the need for a new facility.
Despite the presence of the library's hired architect and engineer, trustees agreed that an independent appraisal is a crucial component that remains missing at this point.
"It needs to be appraised appropriately," said Trustee Martin Oliner.
Oliner, who lauded PPL's efforts at last week's meeting, explained that most of the project's future lies in the hands of the library board and the residents of Lawrence, not just village government.
"I am saying, 'Does this make sense to residents of Lawrence?'" Oliner said. "The project looks good, it is out of the park. It looks like it is going to be a positive effect.
"There are a lot of non-village issues that need to be dealt with, that the library board needs to deal with outside the scope of the piece of land [issue]," the trustee added.
Despite the presence of PPL's hired architect - Roger Smith of Burton, Behrendt and Smith -- and an engineer - Kevin McAndrew of Cameron Engineering, the village board expressed its desire to see more figures and more details, including a comprehensive traffic and parking study.
By utilizing undeveloped land in the train station, preliminary sketches have shown that a new library facility would not affect the amount of spots for commuters and would create adequate parking for library patrons.
Trustee Joel Mael motioned to table discussion on the new library to a future meeting. Both Mael and Klar agreed that more details need to be hashed out by the library board and reported to the village through sub-committee sessions before returning to the public meetings.
The motion to table failed; Oliner and Levenbrown voted it down and Trustee Simon Felder was not present at the time of the motion.
Lawrence officials agreed that the sale of village-owned land is rare, and must be looked at with a keen eye.
"I don't think I am in a position to encourage or discourage," Mael said during the meeting. "There is only one item here to decide, are we willing to sell land and if so at what price?"
Library officials are even open to pursuing a long-term lease, if that makes the decision easier for the village.
"We want them to sit down with us and look at various options," said Joan Lepelstat, co-president of the PPL board. "Leasing is one of them. If that makes them happy we are willing to do it."
The renderings depict a new 27,000 square foot library in the Lawrence train station parking lot, next to Zion Park. The current facility on 280 Central Avenue is 13,000 square feet. The architectural firm has orchestrated library and educational construction projects across Long Island, including the new Manhasset Public Library, which transformed a 16,500 square foot facility into a new 41,600 square foot building.
Instead of touching grass and open space, the doors of the proposed new children's library would open into the park.
Klar, like most of the village board, has yet to establish a position on the library's request, but expressed the importance of the process.
"The village historically does not sell its land," Klar said. "The only reason that I am even considering this is because I feel the library is such an valuable asset to the entire community - and as a patron of the library myself."
Comments about this story? Mcaputo@liherald.com or (516) 569-4000 ext. 201.
