By: Nicole Falco
On Dec. 15, the Board of Appeals unanimously approved variances sought by Vornado Realty Trust, the mall-s owner, to facilitate the expansion of the mall, which is slated to begin next April. The project falls under the town-s jurisdiction because the mall is located outside the incorporated village. The stores located directly on Sunrise Highway, however, do fall within village lines.
Dominick Minerva, of Minerva & D-Agostino, Vornado-s attorney, originally appeared before the board on Sept. 29. The board reserved its decision to allow for additional input from the public, particularly residents of the adjacent Mill Brook community, who had expressed concerns about the expansion. Chief among those concerns, as voiced by the Mill Brook Civic Association, was the increase in traffic the new stores would likely cause along Mill Road, as well as more noise and less pedestrian and shopper safety.
The Mill Brook Civic Association board-s number one concern is and always has been the safety and health of our community, said Marc Tenzer, the association-s president. We only hope that the [board-s] decision will adequately protect the safety and health of our residents.
The expansion project includes the construction of a 122,000-square-foot B.J.-s Wholesale Club store on what is now a rarely used 1,000-space parking lot on the mall-s south side; a Best Buy, to be built next to Seaman-s at the west end of the mall; two retail stores, to be built on the parking lot adjacent to Seaman-s; a 35,000-square-foot expansion of JC Penney; and two multi-level parking structures near the B.J.-s site, with space for up to 1,500 vehicles.
The most significant of the approved variances allows the construction of a 14-foot-high timber fence behind B.J.-s, along Flower Road, to act as a sound barrier between the mall and Mill Brook. The fence would be similar to the one behind Home Depot.
In its decision, the board wrote, There will be no undesirable change produced in the character of the neighborhood or a detriment to the nearby properties created by the granting of the area variances. The board finds, and as was testified to by the applicant-s real estate expert, the proposed variances will not alter or change the essential character of this neighborhood. A detriment to property values, if any, has already been established by the adjoining business districts, the business uses and the existing mall.
The board approved the variances with conditions. The fence, complete with noise-absorbing materials, must be erected before construction of the B.J.-s begins. The B.J.-s signs cannot remain illuminated after the store closes. A new directional sign must be installed at the northwest corner of Sydney Place and Mill Road, and should read, Mall Entrance, with an arrow pointing west to assist traffic moving south on Mill. Vornado must provide sufficient security personnel and other appropriate personnel to facilitate vehicle movement within the mall and promote the safety of shoppers.
Minerva called the decision a thoughtful, comprehensive and compelling analysis of the case. He added in a press release that Vornado will continue to work toward maintaining good relations with the surrounding community.
Minerva said the expansion will create 375 permanent retail jobs and an increase in tax revenue for the town, county, School District 30 and the Valley Stream Central High School District. The expansion is expected to bring a $3.3 million increase in rental income to Vornado.
I believe the board was convinced of the merits of this matter, including the need to reinvest in substantial properties like Green Acres, the additional tax benefit to the school district and the job creation the project will generate, Minerva said.
Comments about this story? NFalco@liherald.com or (516) 569-4000 ext. 208.
