By Nicole Falco
Valley Streamers Bill Freda and Gabe Parrish filed the lawsuit, known as an Article 78, last month, to challenge the legality of the laws, which were adopted by the Board of Trustees during a special meeting Sept. 12 at Village Hall. At that meeting, the board adopted Local Law No. 1, which created 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 Zoning Board of Appeals.
Local Law No. 2 allowed 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, which would allow apartments to be built there. The parcels, on East Valley Stream Boulevard and South Cottage Street, were then considered one property, along with the InFlight property.
In exchange for dropping the suit, Bruce Blakeman, principal partner of Valley Best LLC, has agreed to file a petition with the village board to have the two-family house at 80 E. Valley Stream Blvd. rezoned from industrial back to residential. The parcel on East Valley Stream Boulevard, which measures more than 10,000 square feet, will essentially be split. Approximately 4,000 square feet will remain with the InFlight property, and the rest will be reclassified back to its original RA zone.
"That was a classic case of spot zoning," Freda said. "Our main objection was, How can you take a residential block and rezone that one parcel to C-3 [industrial/commercial]?"
Mike McKenna, attorney for the village, said he believes the Board of Trustees will approve the reclassification. "I am pleased to learn that Mr. Freda and Mr. Parrish have reached an agreement with Mr. Bruce Blakeman," McKenna said. "As I understand the agreement, Mr. Freda and Mr. Parrish have agreed to withdraw their Article 78 proceeding against the village. In return, Mr. Blakeman has agreed to file a petition with the Board of Trustees to have the existing two-family house located at 80 E. Valley Stream Blvd. rezoned to its original RA zone district. I do not foresee any problem in the Board of Trustees approving Mr. Blakeman's petition to rezone the parcel."
Blakeman, who worked with Freda and Parrish to negotiate the compromise, said he is looking forward to breaking ground on the complex as early as next spring, barring any unforeseen difficulties. "We're very excited about the project," said Blakeman, a former county legislator who is now commissioner of the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey. "We think it's a big improvement for the community, and we're looking forward to moving it forward and replacing the industrial use that is there now."
McKenna said the village is also excited about the project and what it will mean for the surrounding area. "The Valley Best condominium development will be a great plus to Valley Stream, the surrounding neighborhood, and the downtown business district," he said. "I hope that Local Law 1 of 2005 will encourage more private investment in the future to enhance the residential character of Valley Stream."
McKenna added that the village will be revisting Local Law No. 1, probably before the end of the year.
According to McKenna, "Prior to approving the local law last month, the board asked me to revise and strengthen the local law for all future applications. I expect to have a revised draft presented to the board before the end of the year.
"Under my proposed revision, an application will be first referred to the Board of Zoning Appeals to conduct the initial site-development plan review and to make an advisory recommendation to the Board of Trustees on the desirability of the proposed project. The Board of Trustees will then make the final decision on any application."
The complex would feature four one-bedroom units measuring 970 square feet each, 48 two-bedroom units of 1,175 square feet, and 25 1,400-square-foot three-bedroom units. The main entrance would be on South Cottage Street, and there would be 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 is adjacent to the Long Island Rail Road. The building would resemble a row of townhouses rather than one continuous structure, with a facade of brick, stucco, slate and stone.
Mike Schnitzel contributed to this story. Comments about it? NFalco@liherald.com or (516) 569-4000 ext. 208.
