By Marley Seaman
Swiss Ranch Estates Ltd., a development firm, has unveiled a plan for a two-story, 50-unit residence for senior citizens. About 100 people would live in the proposed development, which would consist of five buildings ‹ four for housing and one containing a community room. Each unit would have two bedrooms and some 900 square feet of space, and sell for about $250,000. The developers envision married couples taking most of the spots; at least one member of each couple would have to be older than 62.
The development would be east of Woodfield/Derrick Adkins Road, with Eagle Avenue to the north. Oriole Avenue is on the east side of the property.
The proposal was presented at a Town Hall meeting on June 7, and met with sharp criticism. Residents laughed at one expert who testified that the building would not cause traffic problems, and Town Council members Dorothy Goosby and Anthony Santino both voiced doubts about the idea.
James D'Agostino, a Valley Stream-based attorney representing Swiss Ranch Estates, spoke at the meeting, asking the Town Council to change the property zoning to "Golden Age," which would allow the facility to be built. At present, 86 percent of the area is zoned for single-family homes, and the rest is for business. The area of the property is a little larger than three acres.
"I think everybody recognizes that there is a need for senior housing in the county," D'Agostino told the Herald. "We've got a significant proportion of the population that is over 62, and that is increasing. Nassau County has a graying population."
The change in zoning would allow for a greater density of construction ‹ in this case, about 17 units per acre ‹ and put a cap on the price of the units. The property is in the West Hempstead School District, and D'Agostino said that residents of the district would probably have the first chance to buy the units, and that Lakeview residents might also receive preferential treatment.
Location may pose a problem
The location on Woodfield Road, D'Agostino said, was ideal, because it is close to the Long Island Rail Road and to stores, so residents would shop in the community.
The main entrance to the facility would be on Woodfield Road, with an emergency entrance or possible secondary entrance leading to Oriole Avenue. Residents and council members said the main entrance was sure to cause traffic accidents.
Goosby said that cars exiting the facility's parking lot would be at risk of being struck by cars speeding down Woodfield Road after turning off the Southern State Parkway. "The speed of those cars is not within the limit," Goosby said, adding that the road is already busy and often clogged by traffic. "It's an accident waiting to happen."
Santino asked traffic engineer James Graham, who led a traffic study of the area, how much time a car coming down the road at 55 or 60 miles per hour would have to react to a senior citizen slowly turning left into the parking lot. Graham estimated that the drivers would have about eight seconds to avoid an accident, and Santino said he felt that was "cutting it a little too close for comfort." He added, "If that was my father making that turn, I¹d be concerned."
Residents laughed when Graham said that "very few cars would be going that fast." They also applauded several of Goosby's objections to the idea.
D'Agostino suggested that a turn lane could be added to Woodfield Road. Goosby said that the road was so narrow that it would be impossible to add a lane.
Residents unsure about design
More than a dozen residents of Lakeview spoke after D'Agostino's presentation. Most were opposed to the development, though several granted that the area needed some senior housing. Four residents of Oriole Avenue said they were against the development.
"The area he's talking about bulldozing and razing and destroying happens to be a very lovely wooded area,² said Fran Martino. Martino described the soothing natural beauty of the site and the sounds of the birds that live there.
Carrie Strauch, who lives near the site of the proposed Woodfield Road driveway, said residents of the street would be endangered by the increased traffic. "My chain link fence is the only thing that keeps [cars] from smashing into my house," she said. "My son's school bus has nearly been hit twice this year."
Architect James Martino (no relation to Fran Martino), who testified with D¹Agostino, said that the design would make the residence look "very similar to a single-family home." However, some residents said that they felt the structure would look out of place.
History
This is not the first time a proposal for senior housing in Lakeview has met with a mixed response. Three years ago, the Engel-Berman development group put forth a plan for 289 units of housing for seniors on a site on Orlando Avenue that is currently occupied by Richner Communications Inc., which publishes the Heralds and PrimeTime Guides. That idea was withdrawn in the face of public opposition, and the site will instead be occupied by a single-family housing development called The Meadows at West Hempstead.
D'Agostino said that he was not troubled by the tone of the meeting. "My experience has been that people who are opposed to something will always come out," he said. "People that are neutral or even in favor very often will not come out ‹ they're not that strongly motivated."
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