Plandome sewer vote postponed to March

Businesses and restaurants along Plandome Road can pay as much as $50,000 to $70,000 annually to pump their septic tanks. Some have also said they pay more than $500,000 a year to maintain their systems.

The system that Plandome business owners will be converting to will be a pump system that Donno said will connect to each building and essentially pump the water down the line to the district, where it will be treated.

Donno previously said the Great Neck Water Pollution Control District will be doing a design study on what exactly needs to be done to complete the project.

The district’s study along with the physical application of pipes and hookups into businesses was once estimated to cost upwards of $12 million. Now, Donno said, the project should be fully funded by the proposed funds from the town and a $5 million state grant.

Manhasset Chamber of Commerce member Robert Donno said the expected costs projected in the 2020 feasibility study for the project have come down and that businesses can make their own decisions after looking at costs to hook up to the project when all said and done.

Robert Donno added that all businesses would have access to the new system to potentially avoid a business owner coming years later and wanting to opt into it, which would require more development.

“These businesses are taking a beating the last couple of years so it’s a good investment for everything,” Donno said. “The minute that pipe goes in the ground from the Great Neck Water Pollution Control District, the property values will increase.”

The next North Hempstead Town Board meeting will be held on Tuesday, Feb. 7.