The Village of Great Neck Plaza's proposed six-month moratorium on restaurants and other eating establishments in the village is still under consideration by Mayor Jean Celender and the board of trustees, as the concept faces strong opposition, especially from property owners. The Plaza officially presented the proposal at the March 7 meeting, with a second hearing on March 21. The mayor has stated that the moratorium would be used to take time to work with consultants to determine a way to attract a more diverse business mix into the downtown area.

The moratorium would only prohibit a non-restaurant site from turning into a restaurant or a food establishment for the duration of the moratorium. However, village attorney Richard Gabriele also stated that, should the moratorium be adopted, any restaurant with a conditional use application already pending,would find that application frozen for the duration of the moratorium.

At the March 21 meeting, Mayor Celender reported that she had met with a consultant who she found to be "appropriate" to study the problem of developing a better retail mix in the downtown shopping district. Stating that she did not want to "rehash" the entire prior meeting, the mayor did say that she is looking for a retail mix that would promote a "thriving downtown."

What has happened in the Plaza, Mayor Celender said, is typical of downtowns, with the wealth of malls and shopping centers near-by, and the proliferation of chain stores. She wants the Plaza to continue to be a model downtown. "We need to take a look at how to improve the mix and we need to be more proactive," she said.

Announcing that she would hold over the hearing for two more meetings, Mayor Celender then asked for public comment. Local architect Edna Guilor spoke representing a restaurant seeking to open at 63 Middle Neck Road. This former restaurant site has been abandoned for over a year, so, in any case, a conditional use permit would be required even if there is no moratorium. Ms. Guilor, who praised the Plaza's desire to improve the downtown mix, explained that her client has already been at work to start a new restaurant, and so she asked for a waiver, should a moratorium be imposed.

Issues developed over this spot when Trustee Gerald Schneiderman noted that the landlord had told the board the use was not to be a restaurant, and the board decided to review the records of that prior meeting before any further discussion.

Charlie Reed from Kaufman Realty (4 Welwyn Road) told the board that he would be willing to join other landlords "fighting" the village should they go ahead with the moratorium.

Property owner and longtime Great Neck resident Jay Corn, who was at the prior meeting but not the March 21 meeting, spoke to the Record after this second meeting. Mr. Corn said that since the March 7 meeting the Business Improvement District (BID) board had met and had unanimously voted against the moratorium, with only Mayor Celender abstaining. Mr. Corn, who has been on the BID board since its inception many years ago, said that he had heard Deputy Mayor Ted Rosen say he would like input, but has asked for none from the BID.

"Why hire a consultant when the BID board has experts?" Mr. Corn asked. He also stated that he believes that the "rise in taxes and parking perception" has hurt the Plaza.

The moratorium will be heard again on Wednesday, April 18. In the intervening weeks, Mayor Celender plans to meet with more consultants.