Friday, June 15, 2018
Vol. 94, No.38
FOUNDED 1923
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LOCALLY OWNED AND EDITED
High notes PAGE 46 n You rock! PAGE 17
555 Stewart plan under fire during Village hearing
A GREAT START TO SUMMER
BY RIKKI N. MASSAND
change that, with the original proposal, would have the building reaching a maximum height of 45 feet. “The applicant has complied with that for most of the building but is proposing now for the center portion of the complex which would reach a maximum height of about 53 feet to 56 feet, in order to have its fitness club in that particular location. The present terms of
Over 100 people packed Village Hall’s meeting room and adjacent hallway on Thursday night. June 7, for what is expected to be the final public hearing on the proposed development for the 555 Stewart Avenue parcel next to Roosevelt Field. Hearings have been contentious, with residents voicing their concern over the tax deal being sought by the developer. Under a proposed plan, village taxes would be paid in full while the Garden City Public Schools’ taxes may be abated through a PILOT (payment in lieu of taxes) that will be sought from the Nassau County IDA (Industrial Development Agency.) At the next Board of Trustees meeting on June 21, the trustees are expected to vote on both a zoning change application for the property, to allow the residential component, and the proposed four-story, 150-apartment complex for Stewart Avenue that will be visible from homes on Raymond Court. Resident Craig Katinas of Bluebell Court was the most fervent public speaker at the June 7 Board of Trustees’ meeting, countering points made by the trustees and engaging in a breakdown of finance and school district considerations from his seat in the audience. Mayor Brian Daughney, Trustee Robert Bolebruch, Trustee Louis Minuto and new Trustee Colleen Foley each took turns addressing Katinas’ points directly as he led a community dialogue on why the 555 Stewart Avenue project as proposed is wrong for Garden City. Katinas first said he commends a chance for the village to add affordable housing, as “everybody deserves an opportunity” and Garden City is all about building friendships and collaborations regardless of the economic spectrum. But he contends that adding these 150 apartments and the potential PILOT for the school district taxes, the developer is pulling wool over the Board’s eyes. Katinas said in 2012 the average cost per pupil for public schools education in Nassau County was over $25,000 (in taxes) and the cost can only have gone exponentially higher in the past six years.
See page 55
See page 54
Garden City residents enjoyed a perfect evening of pre-race fun at the annual Belmont Stakes Promenade on Seventh Street on June 8th. See pages 44 and 45 for more photos.
New height proposal for apartments BY RIKKI N. MASSAND
At the close of the June 7 public hearing for the proposed 150-apartment complex at 555 Stewart Avenue, the Board of Trustees considered a late change to the application that would add a rooftop gym to the center portion of a stepped, four-story high development. The developer’s attorney Kevin Walsh presented the modified plans with two options, and the choice for a gym and fitness
facility in the center of the proposed building will exceed Village Code for the height requirements. An alternative presented to the Board would place that rooftop facility on one side, creating a slight dischord to the stepped, four-story look of the complex. Special zoning counsel to the Village of Garden City A. Tom Levin of firm Meyer, Suozzi, English & Klein, P.C., said the village is weighing a zoning law
Western POA honors scholarship winners PAGE 8 Stratford's Kids Helping Kids helps wildlife PAGE 41