A proposal to rezone a triangular-shaped block in Massapequa, bounded on the north by Sunrise Highway, on the west by Hicksville Road and on the east by Broadway, will be the subject of a Feb. 24 public hearing by the Oyster Bay Town Board, according to Town Supervisor John Venditto.

"The town board is concerned with respect to the potential future development and possible redevelopment of properties located on this block, which could impact the attractive residential character of the surrounding area," Venditto explained.

In 2002, the town board approved a one-year moratorium on the granting of building permits and other regulatory approvals until a study could be completed by the town's consultant, Frederick P. Clark Associates, Inc., and the recommendations, if any, had been carefully and fully considered and, if determined appropriate, put into place. The moratorium was extended in 2003 because the study was still under way. That study has been completed and the town board, after a thorough analysis of the recommendations, is now ready to implement the zoning changes.

The study found that the zoning on this block is not consistent with that in adjacent and surrounding areas along the southerly side of Sunrise Highway. On the easterly and westerly sides of this block, the zoning along Sunrise Highway is consistently "NB" Neighborhood Business. This block is a patchwork of "NB" and "GB" General Business. More importantly, the neighboring areas to the west and east of this block south of Sunrise Highway are zoned for residential use.

"Because the "GB" zone leaves open a wide range of future commercial uses that could be even less consistent with the character of development in the surrounding neighborhood than the existing uses are, the town's consultant has recommended that the properties fronting on Sunrise Highway be uniformly zoned "NB" Neighborhood Business District, which would make them consistent with zoning to the east and west along Sunrise," Venditto said. "The remainder of the block would be zoned "ORD" Office, Research and Development, which is a zone specifically designed for situations such as this where commercial or industrial areas are in close proximity to established residential neighborhoods."

The meeting will be held in the hearing room of Town Hall East, 54 Audrey Ave., Oyster Bay. Beginning at 7 p.m., the regular town calendar, including the above-mentioned hearing, will be called. Following the regular town business, the town board will be available to listen to public comment on the matter.