By MIKE RUSSO
but the Baldwin Oaks Civic Association says it will not be satisfied until the property is designated as a perpetual preserve - which would ensure that the property could never again be proposed for development.
Nassau County Legislator Kevan Abrahams (D-Hempstead) proposed a bill at the Legislature's Oct. 20 meeting that would give the property that designation.
Condemned in 1977 as a polluted brownfield site by the county, the parcel was sought by Molloy for the development of athletic fields through a county-issued request for proposals. But after vehement protest from area residents, County Executive Tom Suozzi struck
Molloy's proposal - the only one offered - from the record last month. Since then, the civic association has focused on protecting the site as a preserve.
If Abrahams's legislation is approved, the 33-acre property would be designated a "natural resource area," one of six types of perpetual preserves under the county charter. Athletic fields and playgrounds would be prohibited, though a wood chip walking trail and park benches would be allowed - something a majority of civic association members had been asking for. Abrahams spoke at a civic association meeting on Oct. 21, offering a plain-language description of his legislation and describing what the other types of preserves would entail.
"You're better off putting the restrictions in now, and then if the county wants to make a change, they have to publicly notify you," Abrahams explained. "If you don't put the limitations in now, then next thing you know, you wake up one day and you have lighting and a ball field in your backyard." He added that the legislation can be amended, and that residents are encouraged to voice their opinions at a county public hearing Nov. 17.
The bill is now before the Planning, Development and Environment Committee, headed by Legislator Dave Denenberg (D-Merrick), who has frequently supported the civic association. Denenberg also attended the association's meeting, and assured residents that the legislation would make it through his committee.
"The property will be a perpetual preserve, save for the remediation," Denenberg said, referring to the environmental cleanup still needed on the parcel because of lingering contamination from waste dumped there by the old Garden City Hotel. Denenberg added that some money from the county's 2006 Environmental Bond Act could be used for the remediation, but state and federal funding would be needed as well. "I assure you that this property will be open," he said. "We have to be protective of what's right."
Civic association President Jacqueline Bell, addressing group members at the conclusion of the meeting, said that there are a number of options they can explore to secure funding for the cleanup. Bell also asked U.S. Rep. Carolyn McCarthy - who took part in a candidates forum hosted by the civic association that same night - if she would be able to help them. McCarthy referred Bell to one of her aides, who told Bell to call McCarthy's office in early January to be added to the list of congressional earmarks.
"We can get matching funds if [Hempstead Town Councilwoman Dorothy] Goosby and [Senior Town Councilman Anthony] Santino help, and also from the county and from the federal level," said Bell.
While the civic association is eager to move the process forward, Abrahams said that no significant progress will be made until late in the year, as he and the rest of the Legislature are busy hammering out details on the county budget. "We're probably not going to be able to wrap this up soup to nuts until early December, because we just don't have enough meetings," said Abrahams. "But it's on the right track. This gets the ball rolling."
Comments about this story? MRusso@liherald.com or (516) 569-4000 ext. 283.
