Garden City residents debated, once again, the proposed construction of an assisted living facility on the site of Cathedral House during the Sept. 9 board meeting. Many senior residents urged the board to grant a zoning change so Sunrise Senior Living's (Sunrise) petition could move forward while others prodded trustees to rethink the proposed location, a site they believe is too centrally located.

Proponents of the idea argued that Cathedral House should be used for the benefit of community members, many of which have lived in Garden City their entire lives. Forty-three year resident Blanche Miller of Pell Terrace argued that the plan for Cathedral House is "very well designed, very tastefully planned and needed very vitally" in the area. She encouraged trustees to keep Garden City viable.

"Change is never easy to see," she said, "and we don't like things that happen in our own backyard or front yard. But for the benefit of this village, I trust that you will move the question, look at this and look at it from a very positive point of view."

Sal Catania, a village resident since 1957 and currently associated with Senior Connections as well as the Garden City Senior Project, told trustees at the August meeting that he was surprised to learn that 22 percent of Garden City's population is made up of seniors (approximately one-quarter or 4,600 people).

"Gentlemen, you are now in a position to make a decision about the Sunrise assisted living facility," he said. "For many months, nay, for many years, you have been bombarded with statistics and arguments about the proper zoning, the impact on the environment and so forth ... I respectfully request, speaking for the 4,600 citizens of Garden City, that you reach a decision and reach it in the immediate future. We hope the decision will be yes. However, if you decide that the plan cannot go forth, we will live with that decision and then make our own decisions whether to tough it out or go to a facility in Westbury, Lynbrook or Rockville Centre or go live near a child. Like the proverbial sword of Damocles, this decision has been hanging over our heads for almost 15 years. It's time to make a decision."

Other residents feel that although an assisted care residence would certainly benefit Garden City, the proposed site is too central for this type of facility. It was argued that a Sunrise assisted living facility would drastically alter the community and the board was urged to consider moving the site to another area within Garden City.

Garden City resident Ed Finneran, who has publicly stated in the past that Sunrise's application "flies in the face of what this village is all about," noted he and several of his neighbors in the Central section do not want such a facility in their neighborhood - not because they don't believe there is a need for one but because it's not an appropriate use of the proposed site.

The application, which Sunrise filed with the village back in 2003, seeks to amend the village zoning code to allow for the facility's construction, operation and maintenance on at least three acres in a R-20 District. R-20 districts allow for one-family residences. Other uses, like this type of facility for example, are allowed by special permit. Sunrise, together with the Cathedral, requested that the facility be permitted as a special exception use in this zone.

After modifying their original proposal, Sunrise hopes to erect a 56,000 square foot, 74-unit facility on the property, which they want to lease from the Cathedral of the Incarnation.

It is important to note that although the board has taken no action on Sunrise's petition, they are under no legal obligation to do so. According to Building Superintendent Mike Filippon, trustees are not bound to make any decision. If, however, they opt to entertain the petition, the entire process could take anywhere from 10 months to two years to complete.

Either way, residents on both sides of the debate want the board to consider both the benefits and implications the building of a Sunrise assisted living facility could have on the community.