The Town of North Hempstead has approved a major change in the_zoning code for single-family housing by eliminating Mother/Daughter_permits and replacing them with Accessory Apartment permits. These_apartments are to be within a single-family-home but can be rented to_up to three occupants who do not have to be related to the homeowner_or to each other. The maximum allowable accessory apartment gross_square footage is 900 sq. ft. or 29 percent larger than the maximum that was_allowed for mother/daughter gross sq. footage. This is a large area_because the average house size in New Hyde Park is 1200/1400 sq. ft.__Many North Hempstead taxpayers were unaware of this proposed_change and are very concerned about the implications and believe that_this will change the character of our neighborhood. The school_districts could possibly suffer an impact due to an increased burden_of additional population with little change in the taxpayer base. __Questions also have been raised about the increased number of_parked cars on our local streets. The town is requiring two additional_off-street parking spots for each accessory apartment permit. (The_town also allows for 40 percent of our front yard to be cemented over which_could provide the additional spaces needed, which would grossly change_the character of our neighborhoods.)__This was passed on July 29th at a sparsely-attended town board_meeting - civic leaders were not informed about this prior to its_hearing. Our representatives are Lee Seeman and Angelo Ferrara and_they have failed to keep us aware of issues that might change our_quality of life such as this. Their performance is disappointing and_dismal._ Write or_call the Town of North Hempstead..._Jon Kaiman, Town Supervisor, 869-7700 kaimanj@northhempstead.com_Lee Seeman, Councilwoman, 869-7692 seemanl@northhempstead.com_Angelo Ferrara, Councilman, 869-7716 ferraraa@northhempstead.com_Tom Dwyer, Councilman, 869-7696 dwyert@northhempstead.com _Fred Pollack, Councilman, 869-7698 pollackf@northhempstead.com_Kitty Poons, Councilwoman, 869-7704 poonsm@northhempstead.com_Robert Troiano, Councilman, 869-7799 troianor@northhempstead.com_ Marianna Wohlmuth