By Jason Scheer
With the area already divided over the formation of two special benefit, or canal, districts, attention is now turning to the sanctity of the environment in the area.
A corporation, operating under the name of Parkway Drive Development, is asking the Town of Hempstead for variances in order to build 11 luxury homes.
However, some residents say construction will ruin the wetlands and wildlife prevalent in the area.
Jimmy Vilardi is the head of Parkway Drive Development Corporation. He said the homes, which he estimates will sell for between $800,000 and $1.5 million, will do a lot of good for Baldwin.
"They're going to be single-family, luxury homes and I think it's going to greatly improve the neighborhood and increase the tax base," he said. "It will probably be one of the most exclusive waterfront communities on the western part of the south shore. That does a lot for Baldwin. That's no joke."
Residents along Parkway drive and neighboring Colony Drive aren't laughing. They're livid.
"I'm completely opposed to it," resident Anne Haverlin, who lives within 100 feet of the proposed project, said. "I live with the wetlands in my backyard and there is a tremendous amount of wildlife which I adore. I feel [Vilardi] will be raping the land."
Haverlin points to the myriad of animals, herrings, egrets, swans and otters, as examples of the wildlife that will be affected by the construction of new homes.
As for the possibility of increased property value, Haverlin said, "I don't need them to raise my property value. It's fine where it is."
John Lowe also lives within 100 feet of the proposed project. He agreed with Haverlin's assertion that construction would be detrimental to the area.
"It's a horrible thing," he said. "It's worse than horrible.
"The herrings, the egrets and the swan families are all going to be gone. This is a sin against God."
As for the idea of increased property value, he says, "that's nonsense. [Building new homes is not] going to bring up property value. The only thing it's going to do is destroy a natural habitat."
Not all residents in the area are opposed to the project.
Sandy Camenzuli, who was instrumental in the formation of the canal districts, likes the idea of exclusive homes in the area.
"The truth of the matter is, [this project is] good for Baldwin," she said. "It brings higher priced homes into the area and it is good for the tax base.
"So far, we haven't been able to get an old Navy into Baldwin. We haven't been able to get a GAP to come into Baldwin. But this developer is willing to bring $11 million into Baldwin and nobody that I know of is trying to bring that money into Baldwin."
She also voiced concern over the fate of the canal districts if Vilardi is denied the variances. Residents along the canals will have the opportunity to vote for the formation of the canal districts in the coming months. A homeowner's vote is proportional to the amount of footage of his or her property along the canal. Vilardi's 11 lots total about 100,000 square feet each, he said.
"If he doesn't get his variances, he is not going to vote yes for the canals," Camenzuli said.
Vilardi said that, legally, he should be granted the variances. And, while he says he will take the concerns of the neighbors under consideration, he is entitled to construct on his property if granted the variances.
"Our case is that [the land in question is] private land," he said. "Not wanting to have something new built is not a reason to oppose a project.
"When you think about it legally, what these people really want to do is eclipse my rights as a property owner and that's really not fair. We shouldn't be denied legally."
Dealing with the DEC
Vilardi said that concerns over the environmental impact are premature and that the Department of Environmental Conservation, which has jurisdiction over the area around the wetlands, will ensure the sanctity of the environment.
"The DEC isn't going to let us do anything to harm the environment," he said.
Bill Fonda, a representative from the DEC's Suffolk and Nassau regional office, confirmed that Vilardi's company has been in contact with the DEC.
According to Fonda, the company sent an application on Sept. 21, 2004 and the DEC responded back in October, saying that the application was incomplete.
"We haven't heard anything since," he said.
Subhed: Before the board
On Wednesday, June 8, the Parkway Drive Development Corporation's applications for 11 variances came before the Town of Hempstead Board of Zoning Appeals.
Among other things, the company was asking for variances to off-street parking requirements, the amount of space between the property and the street and the right to construct dwellings with garages on unimproved streets.
The BZA, however, granted a request for an adjournment. The case will be brought up again in October.
In the meantime, Lowe said he and the opponents of the project are soliciting help from environmental groups and legal counsel who wish to aid them in their cause.
"We know what we're up against," he said. "We're up against professionals and we're just homeowners."
The BZA has issued variances to other developers who own property along Parkway Drive, although not as much property as Vilardi.
Comments about this story? JScheer@liherald.com or 569-4000 ext. 282.
