The Oyster Bay Town Board held a public hearing on Tuesday night to review a "Vision Plan" for Hicksville. The plan is intended to be used as a guide to set goals, objectives and recommendations for the future of Hicksville and reflects the interests of all segments of the community. In 2001, Supervisor John Venditto appointed a steering committee to work with the town's planning consultant on the plan. As a result, the "Vision Plan" focuses on the future growth and development within Hicksville's hamlet.

In addition to the Hicksville plan, a Comprehensive Vision Plan, referred to as Vision 2020, is currently being prepared for the entire Town of Oyster Bay. With other hamlet plans being prepared in communities within the town, the Hicksville "vision" is just one part of the town-wide vision plans.

For Hicksville, the plan was established by a steering committee comprised of representatives from throughout the residential and business community, including members of the chamber of commerce, Gregory Museum, fire department/district and Hicksville Community Council as well as the Midland, NorthWest and Duffy Park Civic Associations. In addition, input from local elected officials, church leaders, and representatives from the Hicksville Water District, Nassau County Department of Public Works, LIPA, Hicksville Youth Council, Long Island Rail Road and the 8th and 2nd Precincts was also taken into consideration.

The Hicksville Hamlet "Vision Plan," which was prepared by the steering committee and the town's planning consultants Frederick P. Clark Associates, focuses on several key components, including community appearance; downtown and other business areas; residential; parks and recreation; community services and facilities; and transportation. Goals of the plan include creating a consistent, identifiable and attractive theme for Hicksville; ensuring the vitality of the community's downtown and business areas; preserving the quality, character and stability of Hicksville neighborhoods; and preserving existing open space, acquiring new properties for preservation and recreational purposes as well as protecting the community's environmental assets.

The plan also addresses ways to provide recreational programs, services and facilities to meet the needs of current and future populations; promoting and providing diverse services; and calls for maintaining and improving roads and accommodating parking needs as well as creating opportunities for safe pedestrian and bicycle movements and encouraging greater use of alternative forms of transportation.

"As a planning tool, the hamlet plan will be invaluable in assisting the town board as it makes decisions regarding zoning, land use, parking, landscaping, streetscape and façade design, as well as other critical planning issues," said Venditto. "By enacting a comprehensive plan for Hicksville we will ensure that Hicksville remains the unique and very special community that it is."

While a handful of community members who attended the meeting mentioned a few issues they felt still needed to be looked into - such as what type of brick pavers would be used, how to improve the east and west intersections along Routes 106 and 107, and what type of new businesses would be incorporated into the plan - Councilwoman Rose Walker said the overall response to the plan has been positive.

"I felt that everybody was excited about seeing us move forward," she said. "It's not something that will happen overnight, but I am anxious to start seeing us move forward and reap the benefits of the ideas in the plan."

As a resident of Hicksville, Walker added, "I am certainly very hopeful that we will adopt the plan and start moving forward on it. I look forward to us making these changes and bringing some beautification to the Hicksville community. We certainly need to look at it as positive and as something we can do to improve our community."

According to Town Clerk Steven Labriola, "[The plan] takes into consideration the concerns of all interested parties in the community, from the merchants and civics to the residents and many other interested parties." With the preliminary work on "Vision Plan" started before he was elected town clerk, Labriola said his job now is to work with the board to help see it implemented. "Hicksville doesn't have to look like New York City - it can look more like Garden City," he said. "That is the goal of all [Oyster Bay's] elected officials. It is in all of our interests to see that this gets done."

Venditto added, "Hicksville's time has come. I am delighted with the overwhelming, positive response from local residents to the plan which will serve as a guide for future development in Hicksville."

The Oyster Bay Town Board will review the plan and consider the suggestions made by the public during Tuesday's meeting before voting on whether or not it should be adopted. Residents who are interested in reviewing the plans can do so at the Hicksville Public Library. In Addition, the public can continue to offer their comments and or suggestions up to June 19 by writing to Supervisor John Venditto, Town Hall, 54 Audrey Avenue, Oyster Bay, NY 11771.