The mayor and trustees of the Village of Great Neck were presented with a petition containing over 1,000 signatures and were asked at their June 5 meeting to "stand as the community's champion and protect Lot 147 in perpetuity" by supporting a proposal to designate it "Forever Wild." The lot in question is owned by Nassau County and is located adjacent to the landlocked parcel of land owned by developer Frank Lalezarian, for which he has sought rezoning from one-family residential to multi-family.

In a letter written by Jason Applebaum on behalf of a coalition of Great Neck residents, he noted that the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation has recommended that Long Island preserve 25,000 acres in the next decade. He writes, "This equates to saving 2,200 acres a year."

Mr. Applebaum suggests that the lot be sold or gifted to an organization such as the Nature Conservancy.

The board took the request under advisement.

The rezoning request has activated many segments of the peninsula because the wooded, steep property lies between the Village of Great Neck and Great Neck Estates. The developer would construct a market value apartment building with two levels of underground parking and 120 units. He has offered a portion of the land to be used for firefighter housing; however, funds for the building would have to come from other sources. He is proposing that that building contain 20 units and match the outer design of the market value building.

Mr. Lalezarian requested an adjournment of a public hearing which had been scheduled for him to present his plan to the community and to answer their questions.