By Liz McBreen
William Bonesso, the attorney for the storage company, brought a proposal to the board in March, and the request was denied. In addition to a permit for the building, the storage company was requesting a special height variance because the structure was initially going to be three stories high. After speaking with community members in May, the plans were revised, and the proposed building is now two stories, with a basement level. Alterations have been made to the exterior of the building as well, in order to make it more aesthetically pleasing.
Scott Jablow, President of the Cathedral Gardens Civic Association spoke with Project Manager for the site, Kevin Shaw after the board denied the permit. After receiving feedback and suggestions from the organization, the plans for the facility were modified.
"If they [Safeguard] use all the modifications as they presented them in May, we would support the business," said Jablow.
Not everyone in West Hempstead, however, is willing to see another storage facility in their town. "The Civic Association's main focus is to help West Hempstead flourish," said the organization's Vice President Rosalie Norton. "we support businesses that will be beneficial and try to prevent ones that will harm the community. A storage facility is really a glorified dump. People will drop their belongings and leave, never utilizing any of the town's other facilities or businesses."
On Dec. 11, Safeguard appeared before the board with the revised plan for the facility, and the hearing was re-opened.
Because the proposed building is now 26 feet high, it will not require a height variance. The company is requesting 19 parking spaces and a Special Use Permit needed for self-storage in a business zone.
The property is a 58,000 square foot plot at 445 Hempstead Turnpike. Shaw explained that plans for the exterior of the building have changed dramatically from the original plans. "The building will have architectural panels and additional landscaping to make it more pleasing to the community," said Shaw.
The facilities are designed to operate in a similar manner to office buildings, according to Bonesso and Shaw. There would be only one entrance to the building, and it would be open between 8:00 a.m. and 6:30 p.m.
Shaw explained that these facilities do not create an abundance of traffic. "During any given peak hour, there will be an average of three cars in the lot, and about twenty over the course of an entire day."
Barry Nelson, a real estate appraiser, was questioned as an expert witness by Bonesso. Nelson stated that storage facilities are typically used by residents or businesses, and the are good neighbors to both. "The town will not be jeopardized by the Special Use Permit. These storage facilities have been put up in several towns with no adverse effects on the community," said Nelson.
Bonesso also questioned Robert Eschbacher of Eschbacher Engineering, who analyzed national data in comparison to an independent study on traffic in and around Safeguard storage facilities. "Safeguard has never experienced a situation where they needed more than one third of the parking they provide at any time during a business day," testified Eschbacher.
The proposed facility, according to Eschbacher, will include 550 individual storage units. At any given time, including weekend hours, a facility typically uses only one space per 100 storage units. He also stated that any other business or office in the same location would generate a much higher level of traffic.
Eschbacher also told the board that the entrances and exits on Hempstead Turnpike and Hempstead Avenue have been planned out with the surrounding traffic in mind, "cars coming into and leaving the parking lot will be accommodated in a safe and efficient manner."
After meeting with the Cathedral Gardens Civic in May, Shaw had the plans modified to incorporate residents' suggestions, according to Bonesso. "They indicated that they would not oppose construction if the building were two stories instead of three, and if the outside was uniform on all sides," said Bonesso.
Originally, the west side of the building was going to be plain "block". The revised plan now shows this side of the structure will be stucco and brick, matching the other outside walls, and the landscaping plan was improved as well, including an irrigation system for the plantings.
Should the Zoning Board approve the application for a permit, Bonesso explained that Safeguard must then seek to have the site plan approved by Town Board. "This is not as formal as the Zoning Board. There is no public hearing, and approval could take anywhere from three to five months." A building permit must also be acquired which could take an additional two months.
The decision of the Zoning Board is currently pending a new landscape plan to be submitted by Safeguard. The board requested that the amount of plantings be increased in the immediate vicinity of the building. "If the board grants the permit sometime in January, construction should begin by the fall of next year," said Bonesso.
Members of the West Hempstead Civic Association are concerned about the economic effects of the Safeguard facility. Marshall Myers urged the board not to accept the request for a permit. "The land should be used for a business that is in demand, and with another storage facility a stone's throw away, this is not a demand in West Hempstead."
"This business will offer no opportunity for economic growth in West Hemsptead. It will send a message that we can do no better," said Norton.
Greg Yuknek, president of the West Hempstead Chamber of Commerce, will support the business if Safeguard carries out the revisions, and the business is a good neighbor to the community. "I don't want to see another fast food chain, and an office building in that location is unrealistic." Yuknek did appeal to the board to act as a watchdog, should they grant the permit, making sure that the business stands by their modified plan.
