By Mary Malloy
Their complaints ranged from not being given enough notice, to not getting any notice at all, to the overpruning of the block's pride and joy, its tree canopy. Deputy Mayor Tom Miccio thanked KeySpan for addressing their concerns so quickly, and for meeting with the residents of the affected areas last Friday.
According to KeySpan's engineer, Ed Carr, the pipeline route was chosen after extensive scrutiny of the area. "Long Island is using more natural gas, and upgrades have to be made because the draw is so high," Carr said, explaining that the existing underground infrastructure, road work scheduled to be done by the village on certain streets and traffic considerations figured into the company's plan.
The pipeline will connect to a 30-inch pipe at Lister Park in Rockville Centre and be routed down Village Avenue to Ocean Avenue, then continue to Windsor Place, Huntington Avenue, Elm Street, Vincent Avenue, Shipherd Avenue and Union Avenue. "We leave [the street] better than the way we found it," said Carr. "We meet with your public works department and the water company." Carr explained that he also surveyed surrounding areas of East Rockaway and Rockville Centre. When asked about using Sunrise Highway for the pipeline, he explained that heavily traveled state roads are not allowed to be used for this purpose.
The steel pipes will carry 300 pounds of gas pressure, which is only 15 percent of their operating strength. They measure 20 inches in diameter and 3/8 of an inch thick. "We will test it at two times its designed pressure," said a KeySpan spokesperson, "to make sure there are no compromises. Engineers will also monitor it through regular surveys."
Addressing the tree trimming, KeySpan officials apologized to residents. "Our equipment was hitting low-lying branches, and we called in our tree trimming crew, Asplundh," said Carr. "Perhaps they were a little aggressive." Miccio explained that many of the residents who attended did so because of the tree trimming, and he asked for compensation from KeySpan on behalf of the affected homeowners.
Mayor Eugene Scarpato said there are advantages to the work's being done. "There will be a revitalization of [Elm] street - more that what the village would have done," he said. Scarpato also explained that the water company would work with KeySpan, since two-foot-wide trenches are already dug, and replace any lead water pipes leading into homes with copper pipes.
Bill Joseph, a resident of Huntington Avenue, said he never received a letter from KeySpan. "We found out by a knock on our door to move our cars off of the street," Joseph said.
Trustee David Penso agreed that the first letter from KeySpan to residents was vague.
Elm Street resident John Cori thanked the board for its quick reaction and for KeySpan's answering of questions, but he was still upset about the trees. "We had a canopy of trees, and they have ruined our block," Cori said. "Nothing can replace it." He read a letter, signed by residents of his street, that stated, in part, "Our majestic trees have been destroyed ... we have had misleading, non-information ... just an undated letter from KeySpan ... a commercial project must take commercial roads."
KeySpan officials agreed that in the future, no tree would be touched without a village representative being present and homeowners notified and conferred with. Chris Pierce of Denton Avenue, which is affected by the project, suggested that KeySpan purchase trees from Lynbrook's tree program to give to the affected homeowners. "The board should tell KeySpan to do this for its residents," Pierce said
Although routing the pipeline along Shipherd Avenue would make the project more difficult and was not part of KeySpan's official recommendation, Carr said he would consider the avenue at the insistence of Elm Street residents. Shipherd Avenue has some 11 homes on the south side of the street, the backs of Sunrise Highway businesses on the north side, and one apartment building. Elm Street has 34 homes.
A Shipherd Avenue resident who had been watching the televised meeting at home showed up to address the board. "I don't want to see my street ripped up, either," he said.
Comments about this story? MMalloy@liherald.com or (516) 569-4000, ext. 202.
