By:Nick Buglione
The Town of Hempstead Council unanimously passed a code amendment at its April 27 meeting, requiring businesses of certain sizes to apply for a "special exception" with the town Board of Zoning Appeals when moving onto roads allowing only a single lane of traffic in each direction, such as Front Street or East Meadow Avenue.
A recent town study examining how businesses impact traffic congestion on such roads precipitated the amendment. Front Street was one of 12 thoroughfares included in the study.
"During the traffic study process, we discovered that during peak hours there was significant traffic congestion and delays at these areas," said Michael Galante, executive vice president of Frederick P. Clark Associates, the Connecticut-based firm hired to conduct the study.
The investigation came on the heels of a heated civic battle in nearby North Bellmore, where residents are fighting the Western Beef supermarket's planned move into a former Rite Aid, at Peapond Road and Jerusalem Avenue. Like Front Street, Jerusalem Avenue allows only one lane of traffic in either direction.
Residents and community leaders maintain that the Western Beef would exacerbate an already existing traffic problem. Their outcry prompted town officials to place a six-month moratorium on the move and other projects similar to it.
The proposed Western Beef construction was considered "as of right," meaning the company did not have to apply for variances or receive any kind of approval from the town Board of Zoning Appeals. As vocal as residents might be in their opposition, little could be done to stop such projects in the past.
With the amendment, however, residents can now go before the board and challenge a business's special-exception application in order to block the move.
"What it's going to do is afford the public greater input," said Town Councilman Gary Hudes, a Republican of Levittown who represents East Meadow. "It's giving the public the opportunity to have input during a public hearing."
Thresholds, based on a proposed structure's size, will dictate which businesses and organizations have to apply for special exceptions.
For instance, any supermarket that measures 9,300 square feet or larger must apply. The same goes for any fast-food restaurant larger than 1,850 square feet or a convenience store larger than 1,300 square feet.
The thresholds were based on how many square feet per structure will trigger 100 vehicle trips during peak hours, according to the town.
"I think it's a very positive law that will help the community to reduce traffic congestion on any application that may be adverse to the community," said Robert Zafonte, president of the East Meadow Civic Association. "Right now, East Meadow Avenue and Front Street are exhausted with traffic."
As an East Meadow civic leader and president of a business advocacy group, Richard Bivone is skeptical about the new code amendment. "I think that it has its pros and cons," said Bivone, who is vice president of the Council of East Meadow Community Organizations and president of the Nassau Council of Chambers of Commerce. "If it's a type of business that will cause a traffic issue, then yes, the change of zone has done its job."
Most recently, Bivone has led East Meadow residents in fighting Taco Bell's plan to build a new drive-through restaurant inside the Meadow Plaza shopping center on Front Street and East Meadow Avenue. Among other things, residents were concerned about the traffic problems a Taco Bell would create there.
But from a business standpoint, Bivone sees problems with the new amendment. "You've just put handcuffs on a business," he said. "If the property was zoned business, it should be allowed to stay that way, as of right."
Hector Flores contributed to this story
