In order for Nassau County's plan of selling the Social Services building as well as the parking lot south of the Supreme Court building located within the campus of the county seat, the Nassau County Planning Commission must subdivide the property for tax purposes in order for the sale to take place.

Since the property was never taxed before, there was no need to create a tax map. But since the property will eventually be used once it has been rezoned for residential use, the county's planning commission must vote to create a tax map.

Although subdividing the property may only be a formality to the sale of the land, Mineola Mayor Jack M. Martins appeared in front of the planning commission at a public hearing held by the planning commission and urged the commission to consider the parking situation. Mayor Martins has been concerned that the vehicles that park for the courts will wind up on the streets of Mineola once the land is sold.

The plan to sell the county's social services building, which would move to Uniondale. as well as the parking lot on the south side of the Supreme Court building, north of the social services building between County Seat Drive and Washington Avenue is part of the county executive's real estate consolidation plan.

The Village of Garden City has already rezoned the property so that it can now be developed for residential use. The county is said to be in negotiation for the sale of the land. However, Mayor Martins believes the process is moving too fast and has been outspoken about the lack of a parking plan. Since the parking lot on the south side of the Supreme Court building, which is currently used for those who visit and frequent the court, will be sold, the mayor fears those cars will wind up parking on the streets of Mineola.

Last month, Mayor Martins announced a lawsuit against Nassau County and said, "The county's lack of planning has a potential impact to the residential and business communities that would be devastating."

Then at the planning commission's public hearing held to consider subdividing the property, Mayor Martins asked the commission to consider insisting on a parking plan before taking the next step necessary to the sale of the land.

The county planning commission apparently does recognize the need to create more parking to replace the lot that is being sold. In the findings of the county's statement of finding on the plan under the State Environmental Quality Review Act (SEQRA), which was passed unanimously by the planning commission, it mentions the possibility of Nassau County Family Court being moved into the complex and the possible construction of a 1,832-space parking structure to serve the court complex.

"It's not a question of if there is going to be a sale. It's when there is going to be a sale. By taking this next step, by allowing this subdivision, what you are actually doing is allowing the opportunity for the filing of a deed without showing where that parking garage is going to be placed, without showing that there are plans in place for the construction of the parking garage, without showing that there was even a parking study done to determine how many spots were actually in question," Mayor Martins told the commission. "All we're asking is to take a step back and allow the county to come forward on an obligation that they've already recognized, which is the need for the parking garage. Let us know where that parking garage is going to be. Let us know when that parking garage is going to be built. If this sale goes forward, the reality is that parking lot is going to be closed."

Mayor Martins believes that even if the county was to build a parking garage, it would not alleviate the problem of the lack of parking once the lot is sold immediately. The mayor said the land where the county would put the parking garage would have to be rezoned and then the garage would take at least a year to build. In the meantime, he is concerned where the cars will park. "You are allowing [the county] to further the sale of this property without taking heed of the impacts to my community and I'm asking you to slow down and re-evaluate what those impacts are going to be," he said.

Nassau County Planning Commission Chairman Lewis Yevoli said the hearing would continue on Thursday, March 3 at 6:30 p.m. in the legislative chamber at One West Street.