Trustees Discuss the Flip-Side of the Sutton Story

By Amy Edel

On the Supplemental Agenda for the Nov. 20 Board Meeting a SEQR (short environmental questions review) was listed for Local Law 4-1997. The item was up for a vote to approve the form. Trustee Torino requested the removal of the item from the vote on the whole consent calendar to enable discussion and debate on the subject before a vote would be held.

As many residents read in last week's issue of Garden City Life , the Albanese Development Corporation, that owns 870-888 Franklin Avenue, is negotiating a lease with Sutton Place Gourmet for that entire address. In order for Sutton to move into this space the Village would have to re-zone the property to allow a food store not exceeding 15,000 square feet. In the process of bringing this subject to a vote, the Village will hold a Public Hearing on Dec. 4 during the next board meeting. One of the steps that had to be followed was a SEQR form had to be completed by the Village's Public Works. The vote on Nov. 20 was just to either accept or reject that form.

Trustee Torino argued that he believed "a more thorough assessment should be performed" on the environmental impact of changing the zoning. The specific wording of the proposal which will be the subject of the Dec. 4 meeting is "In C-4 Districts, no land, building or structure shall be used and no building or structure shall be erected or altered to be used for any purpose other than: (1) The uses permitted in Commercial C-B Districts and (2) Food and hardware stores not exceeding 15,000 square feet of floor area." Torino argued that allowing this use of the building could potentially have a significant impact on the environment of the area and was not satisfied with the SEQR on the subject. He questioned the adequacy of the documentation provided with the summary the trustees had before them and argued that it failed to answer all of the environmental questions raised by the proposal.

Trustee Lewis argued that it was his impression that the original zoning was designed to protect green space in the Village and had not intended to prohibit new uses of property that already served commercial uses or currently functioned as a parking lot. Trustee Bee concurred and urged that "sentiment" about not changing zoning codes not influence anyone's thinking and stated his disapproval of "calling for an Environmental Assessment as a delaying tactic to kill the project" when the Village's professional staff had analyzed the situation and determined there to be no environmental reason to provent proceeding.

Trustee Asselta argued, however, that when the Master Plan updates were made in 1989, that commercial area was re-zoned to prohibit food and hardware deliberately. "I don't think it was an oversight on their part" she said. She contended that businesses like Sutton are "high parking generators" and that alone would have a significant environmental impact on the area. She pointed out that Sutton would be significantly larger than Grand Union and the Food Basket, both of which are located on Seventh Street.

Deputy Mayor Hecken stated his belief that the place to discuss these issues is during the Public Hearing on Dec. 4 and that the decision before them now pertained only to the approval of the SEQR. He directly referred to the Garden City Life interview with Russell Matthews of Albanese and stated that, as was expressed by Matthews, the Coalition had recommended gourmet food shops and the proposed use of the property complied with the recommendations.

Asselta, as a member of the Business Planning Coalition and one of the authors of the Minority Report, argued the Coalition did not recommend a supermarket. She said that Sutton is a giant supermarket and not a small gourmet shop which was the spirit of the recommendation. She also addressed the guarantee that was made to the merchants of Seventh Street that the Village would not allow a rezoning to permit a superstore.

The problem then becomes how one defines a supermarket and how one defines a gourmet food shop. Also, the introduction of a store that is a self-contained florist, card shop, meat market, bakery, specialty food shop, and drug store could have a significant impact on the shops on Seventh Street. If a guarantee was made in good faith to the merchants of Seventh Street that no such business would be allowed to enter the Village, these issues will certainly have to be addressed at the Dec. 4 Public Hearing. As the discussion of the Nov. 20 meeting turned from the SEQR vote to these issues, Hecken returned the discussion to the need to vote on the approval of the SEQR filled out by the Public Works Department.

Village counsel explained that the SEQR form and the longer environmental assessment form were essentially the same. If an Environmental Impact Study was demanded that would take significantly longer to prepare and would postpone the Public Hearing. The paperwork would be extensive and would all have to go to the Nassau County Planning Commission. Public Works Commissioner Mangan expressed his feeling that his staff's environmental assessment of the area was in fact sufficient.

After Hecken expressed his faith in Mangan and his staff, Trustee Bee called the question and ended the debate. A vote was held on whether or not to vote on the issue then or to delay it. The vote was 6-2 with Torino and Asselta in favor of continuing the discussion. Then a vote was held on whether or not to approve the SEQR form. The vote was again 6-2 with Torino and Asselta voting against the SEQR, so the proposed zoning change will officially go before the public during the Dec. 4 meeting.

Also at the meeting, Commissioner Cipullo informed everyone that the Garden City Police Department was represented at the Governor and MADD's traffic safety awards by Officers Oswald and Bartowski in Albany. The GCPD was one of 8 department in the entire state to be recognized with a special certificate which Cipullo held up to the applause of everyone in the room. Officer Oswald was one of 11 individual officers in the state to be awarded a recognition of excellence. The GCPD was given a new portable breath tester to continue their crackdown on DWIs.

Trustee Collins reported that she will definitely not seek another term as a trustee after her term is up in April 1998. She also restated her great desire to see a Village Roller Hockey Rink. The Traffic Commision removed concrete panels, installed curbs and a shark fin, planted hedges, replaced soil, and will plant 5 pine trees and repave weather permitting, in the St. James Street South area. Markers for the center lane have been installed on Edgemere Rd. She also addressed the Garden City Life interview with Russel Matthews and said while she appreciates his right to express his opinion, in reference to his statements that the Village is proceeding too slowly, she pointed out that the Coalition's were recommendations were just that and final action rests with the board.

The board also approved the site plan applications of Computer Career Center for 200 Garden City Plaze and Waterzooi Belgian Bistro for 850 Franklin Avenue.

The Board adjourned to Executive Session. The next meeting is Dec. 4 at 8 p.m. in Village Hall and all residents are encouraged to attend and participate in the Public Hearing.