"This is not an adversarial relationship," said legislator Peter Schmitt repetitively to a crowd of close to 120 residents, most of whom were bitterly opposed to plans for a proposed soccer field on the current site of a Nassau County Drainage Sump on Linden St. in Massapequa.

Members of the community who attended the public forum at Marjorie R. Post Park on Tuesday shouted in outrage against the proposal, chanted "we don't want it," and urged that the plans be rescinded. The plan even drew public criticism by Town of Oyster Bay Supervisor John Venditto.

Venditto, who spoke at the meeting said, "The right thing to do tonight, and I have no power to do anything over this, is to take what was obviously a well intentioned plan by Peter... and by the end of the night this plan should be withdrawn."

The forum was called by Schmitt to present to the public a plan to clean out the old sump, located in the Farmingdale School District, and convert it to a soccer field to be maintained by the Massapequa Soccer Club.

Schmitt said that he was committed to finding more soccer fields for use by the Massapequa Soccer Club, which has 3000 children in the league. "If we find an alternative sight... we'll look into it," said Schmitt. "No decision will be made behind your back."

But Venditto argued back that the plans for the current proposal should not be contingent upon whether another site is available. "I don't think this goes here whether you have a sight or not," said Venditto.

Venditto urged the community to continue to press forward if the plans aren't withdrawn.

"It's just a proposal," said Schmitt. "It is not a done deal."

"The plans that you have in your hands are very rough," said Schmitt, "because we didn't want to spend any money on this proposal until after we got your input."

John Penza, a resident living close to the proposed field, presented Schmitt with a petition bearing 275 names in opposition to the proposal. "I really don't think he did his homework before making a proposal like this," said Penza.

Some of the concerns that residents in the area had, included fears over increased traffic in the area, inadequate parking to accommodate soccer games, and the lack of bathroom facilities on the site.

The plan also calls for on-site parking to be installed to accommodate 25 vehicles. But, according to Mark Goldberg, a local resident who conducted a survey of local soccer fields and their usage, said that at least 100 cars would attend the field on a Saturday or Sunday.

"You don't know how many times I've gotten people knocking on my door asking me if they can use my bathroom," said Penza, who lives across from a small town park next to the proposed site.

Residents in opposition to the plan argued that people would have to relieve themselves somewhere on the field during a game.

"This is not the South Bronx," said Schmitt. "I do not believe that the members of the Massapequa Soccer Club will urinate in the streets."

Penza argued that Schmitt went behind the backs of local residents when he presented the proposal. "Mr. Schmitt has told the local papers that he has the support of the Pepper Circle Civic Association, which does not belong to this community," said Penza.

The Pepper Circle Civic Association endorsed the plan in February after Schmitt presented the proposal to them. The group serves the community east of Carman's Road. The proposed field is located on the west side.

"I went to the Pepper Circle Civic Association. My mistake. I thought it was the closest civic association to the area," Schmitt said. "I now know that this civic association doesn't serve this area."

"If you have legitimate objections we'll try to do the right thing," said Schmitt in a recent interview, "but this 'not in my backyard' stuff doesn't work with me."