Leeds Pond hearing to resume July 20

Community rallies to prevent project

BY BRANDON DUFFY

The Plandome Manor Board of Zoning Appeals will continue a public hearing to consider approving an application for a developer to place 500 cubic yards of site fill in the backyard of a property that sits on Leeds Pond.

The first hearing on June 15 was continued to July 20 after the board reserved a decision on the matter and to keep the record open until June 29. Additionally, opponents of the application submitted by 1362 Plandome Road LCC—primarily led by attorney Christopher Murray, who is representing adjacent neighbors at 1 Stonytown Road—had two weeks to review any documents with the application and submit any written correspondence they might find necessary.

1362 Plandome also had two weeks following that to respond as well.

calling on multiple government entities including North Hempstead, which owns the pond, to “enforce the law to ensure the health of Leeds Pond.”

Leeds Pond is part of Nassau County’s 35-acre Leeds Pond Preserve, which overlooks Manhasset Bay. It is approximately 21.4 acres in size with a tributary watershed area of about 2.275 acres.

Plandome Manor Mayor Barbara Donno said the petition and accompanying flier disseminated to residents contained inaccurate and misleading information.

Donno said the application itself has nothing to do with Leeds Pond and is entirely about the property at 1362 Plandome Road. The mayor stressed that the project has full approval from the state’s Department of Environmental Conservation, which is the authoritative body on wetlands like Leeds Pond.

SUBSCRIPTIONS: Sue Tabakin 516-307-1045 x206 stabakin@theisland360.com vote.

Stone, the newcomer in the June 20 election, is starting his first term on the board.

The reorganizational meeting comes after a public display of disagreement and contention by the Manorhaven Board of Trustees at their May meeting during which board members proposed and voted on resolutions that blindsided the mayor.

The mayor called the board’s behavior at the May meeting “unprofessional and disruptive,” condemning them for meeting about the surprise resolutions firing the village clerk and attempting to remove the complaints investigator position without his knowledge.

Popeleski and multiple residents spoke against the trustees’ behavior during the June meeting, asking for cooperation for the sake of the village.

ADVERTISING: Steven Blank 516-307-1045 x201

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: Deborah Flynn 516-307-1045 x218

Despite the prior tension among the board members, Popeleski said the board will “straighten itself out” and go down the right track again.

“We are looking forward to the upcoming year for positive changes and hard work for our residents,” Popeleski said. “I’d like to welcome back Krhisitine Shahipour and I would like to welcome our new trustee, Jeffrey Stone, to the board… We are looking forward to working together with everyone.”

The village also appointed multiple individuals to various village positions. All appointments were unanimously made by the board.

The mayor presented a resolution to appoint attorneys Jared Kasschau and Brian Stolar as the village’s attorneys. Both attorneys are with Harris Beach PLLC, a New York-based law Continued on Page 41

Village code allows up to 50 cubic yards of site fill, which is the use of soil, sand or other building materials to change the existing ground level of an area of land according to the code. Civil engineer for the application, Michael Rant, presented to the board a different plan to regrade the backyard, which would then require only 300 cubic yards of fill.

Ahead of the June 15 meeting, a petition called “Save Leeds Pond & Beyond!” was created to bring awareness to preserving the pond,

“All necessary precautions and measures have been taken to adhere to the guidelines and regulations set forth by the DEC, ensuring the environmental sustainability and integrity of the area,” Donno wrote in a letter posted to the village website.

Donno emphasized the inaccuracy of the information provided in the petition and flier and asked residents who have questions on any applications to come to the village.

“I urge you to disregard these documents and trust the expertise of the relevant authorities who Continued on Page 41

Brandon Duffy 516-307-1045 x215 • bduffy@theisland360.com

Manhasset Times: Karina Kovac 516-307-1045 x203 kkovac@theisland360.com

Roslyn Times: Cameryn Oakes 516-307-1045 x214 • coakes@theisland360.com

Williston Times: Brandon Duffy 516-307-1045 x215 • bduffy@theisland360.com

Port Washington Times: Cameryn Oakes 516-307-1045 x214 • coakes@theisland360.com