By Andrew Coen
After some testimony was heard on Dec. 6 before the Town of Hempstead Board of Zoning Appeals, which will decide whether to approve variances submitted by developer Raul J. Contilla to construct a Lowe's at the shopping center on the Five Towns-Queens border, the case was adjourned until Jan. 3. But at that brief hearing held inside Hempstead Town Hall, the case was adjourned once again, this time until Jan. 31 at 3 p.m.
If the BZA approves the request by Lowe's, the home improvement chain would be allowed to knock down the existing Conway's Store in the shopping center and construct a larger structure in its place. The shopping center has a Rosedale, Queens address but is under the jurisdiction of the Town of Hempstead. In crime reports, the Nassau County police refer to the shopping center as being located in North Woodmere.
Despite granting a request by attorney Alan Stein, who represents the opposition to the project, to adjourn the case on Jan. 3 so he could further study a traffic report from the applicant, BZA Chairman Gerald Wright said both sides better be ready on Jan. 31, when he hopes the case will finally be heard.
"All parties will be ready to go," said Wright after announcing the new Jan. 31 date. "I will not listen to anymore excuses."
Stein said in a phone interview that since 104 condominiums for people ages 55 and older are planned for the vacant JFK Properties Co. LLC, located adjacent to the shopping center heading north on Rockaway Boulevard, the developer for the project would like to address certain issues with Lowe's but he would not go into specifics. "We have some sight and operational concerns which we would like to address with Lowe's," said Stein.
Lawrence Village Trustee Martin Oliner has expressed concerns about the proposal since Rockaway Turnpike, which leads into Rockaway Boulevard, is already heavily congested with traffic, and such a project would add to the problem. Oliner also does not feel the plan by Lowe's provides adequate parking.
"What they are building would bring a tremendous amount of cars," said Oliner. [Rockaway Turnpike] will come to a standstill."
Oliner, who in 2003 helped defeat a Super Stop & Shop proposed for Rockaway Boulevard at the corner of Brookville Boulevard, said there should be no further development in that area because the road is being looked at for a planned expanded and
elevated Nassau Expressway, to be connected to the Van Wyck Expressway, which would serve as a main evacuation route for the Five Towns in case of emergency.
"It's a total horror," said Oliner of the idea of more development on Rockaway Turnpike.
Mike McCarthy, an attorney for Lowe's, referred all questions to the company's spokeswoman Karen Cobb, who then said it is company policy not to comment on proposed stores until the property has been acquired.
Comments about this story? Acoen@liherald.com or (516) 569-4000 ext. 210.
