By Hector Flores
Civic leaders applauded the board¹s decision, saying that it would help prevent future accidents from occurring on a very congested road. Helen Meittinis, president of the Community Association of Stewart Avenue, has described Carman Avenue as one of the county¹s most dangerous roads.
Richard Cardozo, president of the Carman Community Association, said, ³The board should be highly commended for the intelligence they have displayed for not granting the application. For Linda to deny that there have been fatal accidents in the area just because she hasn¹t seen them is just lunacy.²
Cardozo added that his organization is not against having a day care center, but it is opposed to its proposed location. ³My organization, being forward-thinking, has contacted four other commercial real estate brokers that have advertised open commercial space,² he said. ³If she really wants to expand, they can provide legitimate facilities in an area that does not create a traffic or congestion hazard to the other people in the area.²
Meittinis agreed with Cardozo, and said that the proposed site was not safe enough. ³It really wasn¹t the proper place for a day care center,² she said. ³Children have no place being on a congested and dangerous parking lot, and near an accident-ridden road.²
Meittinis added that the site was not environmentally sound. ³I wish Linda well and success in her business and hopefully she can find a more suitable site,² she said. ³I¹m sure down the road she will be doing fine.²
Roger Boucher, an East Meadow resident whose children attend Castro¹s day care facility, Little Sponges, on Lion Lane in Westbury, had hoped that the variance would be approved. ³Everyone is very disappointed,² he said. ³I hope that it all works out for the best.²
Castro is currently weighing her options and considering alternate locations for her day care center. Had the board granted the variance, it would have allowed for the drop-off and pick-up of 80 children on a circular driveway. Castro was looking to expand her current facility to meet the increase in demand. She runs her day care center from her home, and can only accommodate 14 children at a time. There are currently 30 children registered at the center, and there is a waiting list of parents who want to register their children. The approval of the variance would have allowed Castro to expand the facility and accommodate the parents on her waiting list.
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