(Editor's Note: Carisa Keane contributed to this article.)

County Executive Tom Suozzi announced last week that the Lighthouse Development Group's proposal meets each of his seven core goals for the redevelopment of the Nassau Veterans Memorial Coliseum site and lays out a plan that is consistent with his vision for "New Suburbia."

Among the highlights of the Lighthouse Development Group's $1.6 billion proposal: a $200 million renovation of the Nassau Coliseum; a commitment from the Islanders NHL team to stay until 2025; a canal lined with retail shops and mixed-use residential-commercial development; the creation of a pedestrian-friendly "Nassau Centre;" an investment in a transportation system; the construction of a minor-league baseball stadium and the development of next generation housing.

"After a thorough, competitive and open review process, my evaluation team has chosen the Lighthouse Group's proposal," Suozzi said. "Their plan stood up against top-notch competition, and emerged as the best of the best. It matches the vision I've been talking about for 'New Suburbia.' We can look forward to a new minor-league ballpark, a renovated coliseum, new housing and office space that will create excitement at the geographic heart of Nassau County and create an engine for economic growth. And we accomplish this at no cost to the taxpayers, while significantly increasing the tax base."

In February, Suozzi's evaluation committee - Deputy County Executive Helena Williams, Counsel to the County Executive William J. Cunningham, III and Executive Commissioner of Planning Patricia Bourne - winnowed four proposals down to two. The committee decided that the Lighthouse Development Group best addressed each of the county executive's seven core goals in transforming the site into a lucrative and multiple-use center. The project is expected to generate approximately $160 million in net new taxes through 2025.

County Comptroller Howard Weitzman, in a statement he sent Anton Newspapers, reacted to Suozzi's recent announcement. "The Nassau Centre (HUB) project is central to Nassau County's future. Therefore, I'm happy to see the administration moving forward to make it a reality," he said. "The devil is in the details - but we don't have all the details yet. When we do, the Legislature and the Comptroller's Office will analyze the deal."

Weitzman continued, adding, "The final package appears to combine the best elements of all the existing proposals - renovated coliseum, minor-league baseball stadium, housing with a workforce component, attractive retail and office development, green space, and most importantly, a mass transit system to tie it all together.

"Real questions remain, however, including how to obtain the best possible offer for a minor-league baseball stadium and team; and how the administration proposes to finance, build and operate an adequate transit system - the key to the success of the whole project - with only limited financial participation by the developer.

"These questions and many more must be answered to make sure the Nassau Centre reaches its full potential. The project is too important to the county's future to settle for anything less than the best possible deal."

Garden City Mayor Gerard Lundquist, who sent a letter to Legislator David Denenberg, chair of the Legislature's Planning, Development and Environment Committee expressing his displeasure in that Garden City officials were not notified of a special meeting held with the Legislature March 1 - at which time, the county's Planning Department briefed the Planning, Development and Environment Committee on the HUB Major Investment Study (MIS) final report - attended Suozzi's State of the County Address with Garden City Village Administrator Robert Schoelle, Jr.

"Mr. Suozzi has indicated he would like to move forward ... the key to his plan is going to be promotion of the Nassau HUB. We know the contractor has been notified in terms of the winner for the coliseum complex. They are moving full swing toward that end and we should be meeting with their office shortly to express, once again, our concerns in terms of traffic, congestion and in terms of the other issues that the HUB would supply to the village in terms of the impact to us, which we think is substantial," Mayor Lundquist said.

In part the letter stated, "This subject and the several transportation options, which if implemented, would significantly impact the Village of Garden City are of paramount concern to us. The incorporated village has been represented at each of the Steering and Stakeholder Committee meetings as well as at the respective general public meetings.

"To have learned of your Committee's March 1 special meeting the following day through inquiries from concerned residents ... was inconsistent with the past level of communication between county agencies and the incorporated village. It has also raised doubt and mistrust in the process by residents who are now questioning if Garden City's input into the process was given consideration and will be given consideration during the upcoming scoping sessions."

Gravely concerned with the possibility of a light rail system, Bob Orosz of Grove Street hoped trustees could put his mind at ease. "If they want to put a light rail system through the heart of town I am very fearful of that," Orosz said. Village Counsel Gary Fishberg explained that there's still "a lot to learn" and once the village does obtain all the necessary details it will form a position. "We don't know what kind of transportation system they're proposing. We don't know the exact route. We don't know if it's going to require them protruding on private land or public land," Fishberg explained. Orosz told trustees "being forewarned is being forearmed."

Deputy Mayor Peter Bee clarified that the county's next step entails funding another study and suggested Orosz contact Congresswoman Carolyn McCarthy and express his disapproval in her efforts to get funding. Months back, Congresswoman McCarthy, who represents Garden City, was able to secure $1 million in funding for Nassau County to develop the HUB, stating, "These improvements will significantly help commuters, business-owners and residents of this area so important to Nassau County's economy."

Echoing what Orosz said, former Garden City mayor Harold Hecken, who attended the March 1 special meeting with the Legislature, added, "There's no definite plan yet but I am very concerned about the proposed plan, which does detail the main choices that they have, one of which of course is to go to from the Mineola station right through the heart of Garden City to connect to the Central Extension and then go east from there and also connect from the Central Extension to go to Hempstead. They do detail in their comments that taking public and private property might be necessary ... I think before this thing snowballs and too many people think it's a good idea, we do have to make our thoughts known."

The county's request-for-proposals (RFPs) sought plans for the 77-acre coliseum site but the Lighthouse Group's proposal includes plans for surrounding properties as well, resulting in a 150-acre vision. The Lighthouse Group owns properties adjacent to the 77-acre site, including the Marriott Hotel, Reckson Plaza and the Omni Office Complex. The proposal includes 6 million square feet of hotel, retail, office, residential and coliseum space.

Additionally, an extra $5 million is included in the proposal for community facilities, including proposed sponsorship for a Long Island Sports Hall of Fame.

The Lighthouse Group's control of adjacent properties, plus its ability to guarantee that the Islanders would continue to occupy the newly renovated coliseum were factors in their selection, Suozzi said.

"This proposal makes the best possible use of the coliseum site," Suozzi said. "As the nation's oldest suburb, the county really has no room left to grow. It is vital that we come up with new, creative ways to increase our tax base. This plan does that, while making the coliseum site and the Nassau Centre an exciting place to live, work and play."

Mayor Lundquist, to ease residents' concerns, reiterated that he has gone on record voicing his displeasure with the county. "We will be very diligent as a community," he assured.

County officials will now work to reach a Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) with the Lighthouse Group that would set out the major terms of the deal and establish a period for lease negotiations. Once a MOA is reached, it will be submitted for approval to the Nassau County Legislature. The plan also will need approval from the Town of Hempstead, which controls zoning issues at the site.

The county is hopeful that construction could begin at the site within two years.

Suozzi said the Lighthouse proposal met or exceeded his core goals for the coliseum site, including:

The group proposes to renovate or replace the current coliseum building into a world-class sports and entertainment facility, at no cost to the county. About $200 million is earmarked for a dramatic overhaul of the coliseum, including two new buildings to be incorporated into the coliseum's existing structure. The new buildings will house a basketball court, additional ice rinks, a fitness center, new locker rooms and other sports facilities. The coliseum will also have expanded seating capacity with an additional 2,500 seats, including ice-level luxury boxes.

The group also proposes to build - at no cost to the county - a new minor-league baseball stadium at the nearby Mitchel Field Athletic Complex, and to bring a minor league baseball team affiliated with the Atlantic League to the county. The proposed stadium will be subject to its own request-for-proposal and approval process.

The group further proposes to construct structured parking adjacent to the coliseum to free up land - currently used as parking lots - for other development. Some $120 million will go toward the construction of coliseum parking decks.

Extending the Islanders lease beyond its 2015 expiration, or making a deal with a comparable sports franchise, The Lighthouse Group will extend the Islanders' commitment to play professional hockey in Nassau County until 2025.

Townhouses, apartment buildings and office buildings will be constructed around a picturesque canal, to create a pedestrian-friendly suburban center.

The Lighthouse Group will commit 20 percent of any new residential units to next-generation housing.

New retail businesses and office space, as well as new residential units, will significantly expand the county's tax base, kick-starting new growth that Nassau needs to offset escalating property taxes.

Creating a public transportation system to connect the coliseum site with the greater area known as the Nassau County Hub, The Lighthouse Group has committed to spend $55 million on transportation improvements in the "Nassau Centre" area, including $25 million toward transforming the Centre into a pedestrian-oriented suburban center. The group will also fund a bus-trolley system serving the coliseum and its immediate surroundings, as well as bus service to connect with the LIRR.