By Liz McBreen
On Dec. 3, residents once again attended a public hearing for similar reasons. Cumberland Farms, Inc. was applying for a permit to allow an existing Gulf gas station on Hempstead Turnpike to continue doing business.
The property has been used as a small, two bay gas station for over 40 years, according to West Hempstead Civic Association President Bob Rabey. Cumberland Farms, a company that franchises gas stations, recently acquired the station, and sold it to a franchisee.
The permit required is one that will include the station in the Gasoline Service Station (GSS) District of the Town of Hempstead. According to a representative at the Town Board, the district was designed in 1974. All service stations in the district must have a permit to legally do business, and it requires the business to keep up the appearance and landscaping of the property. The station was entitled to operate as it has been until Jan 1, 2005. If a permit had not been obtained by this date, the station would be put out of business.
At the public hearing, John Lynch, the lawyer for Cumberland Farms was applying for this permit to include the existing station on Hempstead Turnpike in the GSS district. Lynch told the board about the improvements that Cumberland intends to make on the property, including a new coat of paint and landscaping.
Lynch was quickly quieted by Councilman Joseph Kearney who, according to Rabey, told the lawyer he should be embarrassed by the presentation he was making to the Board and to the residents. Kearney blasted Lynch, telling him that the community has had the same problems with the location for some time, and his client has failed to correct them. Kearney also informed Lynch that his client has not made any effort to work with the community.
"The greatest achievement for any business is to earn the respect of the residents of the community in which the business is located. Cumberland Farms has not earned this respect and they should keep this in mind as they go forward with this application," said Kearney.
Scott Jablow, president of the Cathedral Gardens Civic Association, agrees that the problem lies with the franchise. "The new owner of the station seems very receptive, and wants to work with us, but he can only do so much if Cumberland Farms does not want to spend the money."
According to Jablow, the new owner, who arrived at the Hempstead Turnpike location less than three weeks ago, had begun to park cars on the sidewalk outside the gas station. "It forced people had to walk through the station to get around them. As soon as I spoke to him about it, he stopped parking cars there."
Both Rabey and Jablow stated that all the community wants is for Cumberland to put some effort into the appearance of the business. "We are just looking out for the good of the community," said Rabey. The business, located on the corner of Westminster Road, is next to St. Thomas the Apostle Church, and near a residential area of West Hempstead. "We just want Cumberland to clean it up, and make it something they would want in their community," said Jablow.
Peter Brennan, a member of the Cathedral Gardens Civic Association also voiced some resident's concerns about the underground gasoline storage tanks that may date back as far as the 1940s.
At the hearing, Supervisor Rich Guardino explained that he has lived in the Cathedral Gardens area of West Hempstead for 27 years, attended and graduated from St. Thomas the Apostle School. He added that the community has made great strides in improving the town, and residents are proud of their neighborhood. He and Kearney urged Lynch to take their comments back to his client for consideration.
For now, the motion is being held in reserve, and Lynch was advised to have his client work on their proposal of improvement before a decision will be made by the Town Board.
According to Lynch, a letter outlining what happened at the hearing was sent to his client late last week. "I trust that my client will take the contents of the letter under advisement," said Lynch. He added that the new owner of the station is willing to work with the community.
Residents in the community are still waiting for a decision on Hempstead Tire. The Zoning Board is currently looking into the history of the site, as well as its current condition, before deciding whether or not to grant a permit.
