On July 17, the Glen Cove Planning Board held a public hearing regarding a proposed expansion project at the North Shore-LIJ hospital. The project calls for an addition of 6,560 square feet to the hospital's existing emergency room and 220 square feet to the existing physical therapy and rehabilitation facility. Twelve parking spots will be added to the 14 designated for use by emergency room patients. Counsel for the hospital, Stanley Sibell, said the expansion was needed to bring the hospital's emergency room into compliance with new state department of health code regulations with the added benefit of ensuring better, more efficient care for emergency room patients. Mr. Sibell said the expansion would not increase the number of staff nor would it affect an increase in traffic in and around the hospital. Once completed, the emergency room would have eight more examining rooms, bringing the total to 24. Several of those rooms will be designated for pediatric emergency care; others will be used solely for geriatric care. Ambulances will access the ER through a new, direct entry. Twelve parking spots will be added to the 14 emergency room parking spaces currently in use.

During the hearing, homeowners living on St. Andrew's Lane, Trubee Place, Dosoris Way and Franklin Avenue-the hospital's "backyard,"-expressed concerns with which the hospital administration is quite familiar. Many of the issues brought to the planning board were not directly related to the application at hand. Parking, rather the lack of ample parking, delivery truck noise and the use of neighborhood side streets by hospital personnel in a hurry to get to work were at the foremost of residents' minds when addressing the planning board about the hospital's proposed expansion. At the prodding of Building Department Administrator Anthony Maurino, it was learned that the hospital's boiler plant is being renovated. Three 40-year-old boilers are being replaced with new, quieter, cleaner-burning units and new pipes, pumps and fans will be installed. The HVAC system, located in the basement of the 1970 building, will be upgraded. Several residents said that the parking situation at the hospital is intolerable as is the noise, between 4 a.m. and 6 a.m., from delivery trucks backing up to the hospital. One resident said he hoped the noise from the hospital's air conditioners didn't worsen and that Dosoris Way is being used as a private parking area for hospital personnel. One resident brought up the issue of traffic and parking during the construction phase of the project. Planning Board member Robert Benazzi suggested that construction workers use a municipal parking lot and then be taken by shuttle bus to the hospital site. Mr. Benazzi also suggested that a before and after noise level comparison be submitted by the hospital once the new boilers and HVAC work are completed.

Mr. Sibell said the hospital would go back and review the time of deliveries and will remind employees to use main roads. He said the hospital and planning board would be meeting in committee in the near future to consider the entire parking situation at the hospital.

The planning board anticipates rendering a decision on the hospital expansion during their August meeting.

The planning board also considered a proposal for "The Orchard" neighborhood. Architect and, in this case applicant, James O'Grady hopes to obtain a special use permit and construct a five-unit cooperative apartment development at 34 Grove Street. Currently situated on the 13,320 square foot site is an 80-year-old, three-family dwelling in terrible condition. Mr. O'Grady envisions five owner-occupied townhouse units, each over two-car garages with guest parking available around the back of the site. The co-ops would sell for $140,000 each and include one bedroom, a living room/dining room, deck, kitchenette, loft and laundry room. First-time homebuyers would benefit from a grant obtained by the Glen Cove Community Development Agency for this project. The city designated this property for urban renewal and had issued a request for proposals, (RFP). Prior to his appearance before the planning board, Mr. O'Grady had submitted a proposal for eight units, reduced to five after discussions with the city. During his presentation, Mr. O'Grady said the project falls under the zoning code's dream catcher provision.