By MIKE CAPUTO
In February, the Office of Mental Health and an East Meadow property owner applied for a special exemption from the Town of Hempstead's Board of Zoning Appeals that would allow the community mental health center to operate on a parcel of land in East Meadow that is zoned for commercial use. The application so infuriated residents that they held an emergency meeting on Aug. 27 that was attended by several community leaders, and an overwhelming majority agreed to oppose Progress House's plans.
Petitions were circulated, letters were sent to public officials, and within a two-week span, the application was pulled.
Salisbury civic leader Helen Meittinis, who attended the emergency meeting last month and helped spearhead the petition drive, said she was impressed by the community's response. "We brought a community together," Meittinis said. "Everybody came together and got on the same page, because sometimes you hear rumors and bits and pieces of things, but we put out exactly what was going on and people had the information in their hands."
The property in question, at 2575 Hempstead Turnpike, currently houses a strip of retailers. Community leaders expressed concern that opening Progress House there would put a damper on the budding retail infrastructure along that stretch of Hempstead Turnpike.
A hearing on the application before the Hempstead town zoning board was initially scheduled for August, but was adjourned until Sept. 17.
Progress House, which is operated by the state mental health office and the Pilgrim Psychiatric Center, has sought to expand for several years, but its efforts have failed so far in Levittown and East Meadow. "The Office of Mental Health continues to look at options for Progress House that result in our providing the best service at the best cost," said Sara Kalvin, a spokeswoman for Pilgrim Psychiatric Center.
Howard Avrutine, the attorney representing the applicant, East Meadow Commons LLC, explained that the application was withdrawn after the Office of Mental Health decided that it would not proceed with its plans. "What was told to me is that the Office of Mental Health decided not to proceed with operating the facility at that location," Avrutine said.
Progress House looked to expand at its current location, 3095 Hempstead Turnpike in Levittown, in 2002, but faced similar community opposition and did not obtain required approval from the BZA.
An outpatient facility that clients visit voluntarily, Progress House offers an array of counseling and rehabilitation services to Nassau County residents. Many of its clients have gone through alcohol and drug treatment programs, and use Progress House to help develop and maintain healthier lifestyles. The facility has been known to help patients get jobs and become active in their neighborhoods.
The East Meadow community opposition group asked local elected officials for help, including county Legislator Norma Gonsalves (R-East Meadow). Gonsalves explained that she opposed the plan for a variety of reasons. Because East Meadow was already home to the Nassau University Medical Center and several group homes, she reasoned, another treatment facility would lead to what she called "oversaturation." In addition to reports of safety and security concerns at its Levittown location, Gonsalves also noted that Progress House would not "keep with the character" of East Meadow's residential and business community.
"It was the community unity that brought about the withdrawal," Gonsalves said. "This community stands together, and your problem is our problem."
The application's opponents also garnered support from Assemblymen Rob Walker (R-Hicksville), Tom McKevitt (R-East Meadow) and David McDonough (R-Merrick), along with Sen. Kemp Hannon (R-Garden City). They co-signed a letter to Office of Mental Health Commissioner Michael Hogan and urged him to look into alternative options.
For now, Meittinis said, she is still collecting petitions to keep on record. Even though Salisbury is not near the East Meadow property Progress House wanted, Meittinis noted that civic action from all sides of the community is crucial. "It just went to every corner of East Meadow," she said. "It was a good thing to have a community come together."
Comments about this story? MCaputo@liherald.com or (516) 569-4000 ext. 287.
