The third meeting to discuss Glen Cove's Master Plan, the meeting focusing on the waterfront, was sure to attract more residents than the two previous meetings, and Mayor Ralph V. Suozzi was aware that Glen Cove City Hall chambers would not be able to accommodate the anticipated crowd. The Glen Cove Mansion was booked for the evening, but the crowd that arrived at its door was overwhelming for even the estate.

Cars began arriving about 5 p.m. for the 7 p.m. meeting. Not the usual Glen Cove meeting attendees, the early arrivals proved to be members of various trade and labor unions, on hand to show support for the proposed mixed-use development by Glen Isle Developers of a piece of Glen Cove's waterfront. Mayor Suozzi had repeatedly stated that the meeting was a master plan meeting, not a Glen Isle meeting, but the message apparently was not heard, understood or accepted. Part of the reason for the misunderstanding could well have stemmed from postcards sent from Glen Isle to city businesses encouraging them to "attend the Feb. 8 meeting and let your voice be heard" and calling Glen Isle "the only solution that will prevent" future tax increases. According to Brandon Palanker, spokesman for Glen Isle, the postcards were sent out through the Chamber of Commerce member mailing list, available to Glen Isle, as they are members of the chamber. Stating that "the Glen Isle project represents an immense opportunity for the local business community," including complementing, not competing with, the downtown or other existing business districts, the postcard quoted large financial figures Glen Isle asserts will benefit the city, although none have been substantiated.

Don Monti and Michael Posillico, principals in Glen Isle Developers, were on hand. Mr. Posillico took the opportunity to tell this reporter that he was looking forward to working with the city government and the community to put formerly polluted property back on the tax rolls, and to do what's best for the future of Glen Cove. "Everything we plan to do here, we have done many times before," he said, and the developers are prepared to do their work with a minimum of disruption to the community. "People resist change," he added, but said there is a time and a place for change. Glen Isle's development will restore the "decrepit mess" that was Glen Cove Creek and bring a "consciousness to the creek" with full understanding that pollution is wrong.

"Ideas may differ," Mr. Posillico said, "but we need to work at those differences with constructive debate." It is essential, he added, not to stop the progress that has been made, but to evaluate the situation honestly and with solid action, not in a resentful or disheartened way. "We need to persevere," he said. "It is an important project."

More than 400 union workers showed up for the meeting, causing a deal to be brokered between Mayor Suozzi and four labor union representatives to allow 50 union members to attend, 25 residents and 25 non-residents. Without the hundreds of union workers, however, the main hall was still packed to standing room only capacity with residents of Glen Cove and surrounding neighborhoods. The mayor welcomed all residents, remarking that he is very aware that anything of import that is undertaken by his city impacts on surrounding municipalities. He also made it clear at the start of the meeting that the city is in no way anti-union, and that when the Glen Isle development does go forward, union jobs would be available.

John Shapiro and Tracy Sayegh of the planning firm of Phillips Preiss Shapiro Associates presented their visioning plan for the development of the entire Glen Cove waterfront, which covers almost 10 miles of shoreline, from Pryibil Beach to just south of the Glen Cove Creek, where Glen Cove borders on Sea Cliff, with acres inland of the shore. The Glen Isle development covers approximately 50 acres of the north side of the creek area.

The master plan is a design for the next 20 or so years of Glen Cove's future. Mr. Shapiro addressed the Glen Isle proposal, explaining that many aspects of the proposal are "not a given, " including the height of buildings to be constructed, density, and retail and other commercial space. He did comment, however, on the halo, or spillover effect and said that what Glen Isle ultimately develops may set a precedent for what is developed on the south side of the creek. He acknowledged the community's concern for urban versus suburban life, explaining that the image does not depend on "density, but more on architectural style." Mr. Shapiro addressed the subject of moving the Glen Cove Firehouse, an issue that was supposed to have been resolved more than a year ago with the construction of the new roadway, but continues to come up in any number of conversations with the developers, the planners, or just among concerned residents. Mr. Shapiro said that unless sufficient benefits to the city could be found for the move, it would not be done.

Mr. Shapiro praised the work of the Glen Cove task force in the master plan process, but reminded all that the group is only an "advisory body" to the Glen Cove City Council, Planning Board and Zoning Board, where all decisions sit. He added that Phillips Price Shapiro is working with Stu Turner Associates, Urbitran and Cameron Engineering, all of whom have history with Glen Cove.

Following Mr. Shapiro's presentation, attendees broke into separate groups, with this reporter attending the workshop presided over by Mayor Suozzi, where residents were encouraged to speak on economic issues.

John Kennedy of the Nassau/Suffolk Building Trades thanked the 400 members who showed up and thanked Mayor Suozzi for hosting the meeting. "We're middle class, and we're worried," he said. "Any dream that will make life better for our children" is important, he continued, stating that nothing outstanding has been done for the middle class on Long Island since the construction of Levittown. In his travels, he said, he has seen progress made in cities like Boston, which has managed to reinvent itself into a prosperous city. The labor unions are made up of civic-minded individuals, he said, who donate labor and time to projects both large and small. "We are looking for work," he said. "Please don't put this project off for 10 years. We will help the process along." He added that the unions want Long Island to "do better" than it currently is.

John Ryan of Sea Cliff echoed Mr. Kennedy, and said that the Glen Isle project is a "diamond in the rough" which the mayor and city council can make into "the Hope Diamond." He agreed that the project should "get going sooner, not later."

Adding to the diamond in the rough concept, a Glen Head resident said he believed the waterfront has "great potential to be mined," that it is a "gift to Glen Cove" and that the city needs to make itself an "avenue of destination." His suggestion was for all parties to put their heads together and find a solution from which everyone will benefit.

Kevin White stated his concern that the project has turned into a project for greedy builders and suggested that the unions turn their attention to Nassau County and New York State, and see about turning Glen Cove Road into a highway. He also suggested the Long Island Rail Road electrify the Oyster Bay line.

Diane Lankler of Sea Cliff expressed concern that the public does not seem to be clear on what is going to be developed. "Do people realize how massive 16-story buildings are?" she asked. "It's an insult." She said she understands that a residential component needs to be included in the process, but not "skyscrapers." She stated she finds it "unbelievable" that the project has come this far, adding that no one knows what the development will look like and that residents are having the "wool pulled over their eyes."

Neil Kittridge, an urban planner and architect working for Glen Isle, explained the idea of the buildings being stepped, shaped and terraced, so they will not seem as high as they sound. He acknowledged that the renderings offered by Glen Isle were not an adequate representation of the appearance of the plan.

To those who feel the Glen Isle project will alleviate tax increases, Mayor Suozzi stated that tax increases are a problem all over the country, and that Glen Cove can get out of its financial mess without Glen Isle. His concern, he said, is the future of the entire waterfront; Glen Isle has its own course to follow, but that its part in the future of the city is not the whole picture.

Longtime Glen Cove resident Luigi Capobianco complimented Mayor Suozzi, saying it was "about time someone looked into strategic planning" for the city. He expressed concern for people who find it necessary to leave because they cannot afford to live here. He suggested that the Glen Isle project could be good, but "we don't have all the answers." He encouraged the mayor to continue to look into the plan, and to "keep going."

Mayor Suozzi said he himself has not yet seen what exactly is being proposed by Glen Isle. "I'm trying to get visuals from them. I'm also looking at other waterfront towns" to see what options and ideas have been utilized by other municipalities. While Glen Cove is committed to develop part of the waterfront with Glen Isle, what will be built, sizes of constructions and other factors are yet to be determined.

The topics of environmental concerns in the area, as well as traffic and taxes were addressed, as they are at every city council or task force meeting. The mayor reiterated that his reason for instituting a moratorium on residential sub-divisions and for developing a master plan for the city's future has come, in part, from these concerns. "We cannot avoid our city's growth, and we have to do what is best for the most residents," he said, adding, "We can't have just one opinion drive the city." He stated that "what the waterfront becomes will define Glen Cove" in the future.

For information on Glen Cove's master plan, visit www.glencovemasterplan.com. Information can be found on previous presentations and future meetings, and residents can find useful information to help make educated conclusions and formulate intelligent questions on what they feel should be the future of Glen Cove.