By TIFFANY RAZZANO
However, because state law does not permit a vote until trustees have a copy of a proposed law for seven days, no vote was taken. The trustees are now scheduled to vote on the measure on Feb. 12.
If passed, there would be a year-long moratorium on the reconstruction or renovation of any multifamily dwellings in commercial districts - Business A, C and C2 and Urban Renewal Light Manufacturing - that would increase their floor area by more than 25 percent, as well as on new single- and two-family homes or any subdivision of residential property anywhere in the village.
The moratorium would also prohibit the destruction of most existing single-family, two-family or multifamily home. The village would use the year to study the zoning code as it applies to multifamily homes in business districts, as well as regulations in Residence A and Residence B districts regarding lot coverage, height and setback restrictions, historic preservation, tree preservation, corner lot requirements and exterior design standards.
Though the public hearing was closed, the board was unable to vote on the law that night. Mayor Eugene Murray was sick at home, and missed the meeting. Because the Nassau County Planning Commission has voted not to approve the legislation, the board will need a super-majority vote of at least 4-1 in order to pass the law.
The board vote was pushed back to the Feb. 12 meeting to give the board more time to examine the law and to ensure Murray's participation.
Many residents spoke up at the meeting nonetheless, some expressing their support for the law and others opposing it. "I'm in favor of a moratorium," said Catherine Pucciarelli, a member of the village Planning Board. "I've watched with growing concern ... the last four years, as oversized condos are built on small plots. ... Passage of the [2003] multifamily law" - which permits multifamily housing in Business A and Urban Renewal Commercial Light Manufacturing A districts - "paved the way for a lot of this development."
Kevin Ackner, chairman of the Zoning Board of Appeals, who has said in the past that he does not think the moratorium has a place in Rockville Centre, voiced his concern about the types of studies that would be conducted, and by whom, if the law passed. The board had no answer, saying it was too soon to come up with a plan, but Trustee Jeanne Mulry suggested involving the newly reformed Beautification Committee.
There was also some question regarding the length of building permits, since the moratorium would not allow any projects currently awaiting permits or those with permits that had not completed most of their construction when the permits expired. Thomas Domanico, deputy superintendent of the Building Department, said the permits are good for 90 days, but their enforcement is up to the discretion of the building department, and that typically they are good for a year. Levin suggested that the board cap permit length in order to avoid future problems.
The board also emphasized the fact that hardship exemptions would be available to property owners who proved to the board that the moratorium had created a hardship for them. Real estate developer and village resident, Alan Stein, who is opposed to the moratorium, said he is concerned that hardship exemptions might trump the moratorium if too many people applied for them.
Comments? E-mail TRazzano@liherald.com or call (516) 569-4000 ext. 221.
