The Greentree Foundation, owners of the former Whitney estate in Manhasset, will appear before the North Hempstead Town Board on August 12 to request a site plan review for proposed alterations to stables and garages. According to Richard Schaffer, president of the Greentree Foundation, the purpose of the renovation is to decrease wear and tear on the main house and increase the use of the outbuildings for most of the meetings held on the property. Once the proposed renovations are completed, there will be 23 bedrooms in the former stables, as well as meeting rooms. The roofline will be no higher than the existing roofline and there will be smaller lot coverage. Currently paved areas will be re-landscaped as lawns, gardens and reflecting pools. The garage and stables were built in 1915. If the board approves the application, work is expected to begin early in 2004 and take about a year to complete. There will be parking for about 20 cars, although Mr. Schaeffer says that most participants in the Greentree meetings are brought to Long Island by limousine.

Because of the size of Greentree, more than 400 acres, the stables and garages are not visible from either Community Drive or Shelter Rock Road.

During the past year, Greentree has been used for gatherings of international leadership groups and philanthropies devoted to the furtherance of peace, human rights and cooperation. This was, as expressed by Kate Whitney at last year's hearing on the property, the vision that Jock and Betsey Whitney had for the estate. The main house will be reserved for special luncheons and dinners at which there will be greater attendance.