The Village of Muttontown has begun the process that will result in developers Elliot and Gerard Monter creating the Hamlet Estates of Muttontown. It will be located on the 148 acres of the former Byam Stevens property north of Jericho Turnpike. Mr. Stevens was the mayor of Muttontown for 25 years.

The first step in the process took place on Monday, Oct. 30, to establish the Muttontown Planning Board as the lead agency for the project. The board explained that according to state law, because there are several agencies that will be involved in the process, it is necessary to appoint one to take the lead roll in conducting the needed State Environmental Quality Review, an environmental review.

The Town of Oyster Bay, the Nassau County Planning Commission, the Department of Health, and the NYS DOT are among the jurisdictions involved in the process.

Attorney Herbert M. Balin of the firm of Certilman Balin Adler & Hyman, LLP of East Meadow is representing the Monters of the Holiday Organization, located in Westbury. He explained that the map he presented the board was not one they should approve, that it was a "cookie cutter map" to be used in the beginning of the process. It allowed for 98 lots.

The completed plan will include open space, a buffer zone and will preserve a great deal of the landscape "To save as much open space as we can while developing as much as we can," said Mr. Balin.

Village Trustee Ed Henn, chairman of the Planning Board asked if they could preserve the equestrian trails on the estate. Mr. Balin said they are considering a gated community but will try to put in equestrian trails. "We understand the community here," he said.

Elliot Sylvan, a 48-year resident of Kirby Lane, on the south end of the estate asked what will be done to Kirby Lane, which is off Jericho Turnpike at the south end of the Kirby Hill area. Mr. Balin said they are considering putting three houses on Kirby Lane and are planning on the main entrance to the Hamlet Estates on Jericho Turnpike across from Eileen Way. They are considering putting up a wall along Jericho Turnpike as a buffer for privacy and to keep out noise. There are no plans for traffic to go through Kirby Lane, said Mr. Balin.

Mitchell Barnett asked if a traffic study could be done since there are triple the number of children now living there. He has lived on Kirby Lane for 20 years.

Mr. Barnett asked if the road could be made a dead end. That suggestion of making Kirby Lane a dead end road was repeated by several residents.

Village Attorney Peter MacKinnon said the board would say it wants to become the lead agency in the process and then notify all the other interested agencies. They have 30 days to respond.

Gerry Monter said he thought the project would take 12 to 24 months. "We will work very closely with the village. We want to listen to the community," he said.

The project is not their largest, they have one in Mt. Sinai that is 170 acres and one in Yaphank that is 1,000 acres. This plot is one of the largest in Nassau County, he said.

The Monters of Holiday Organization were involved in the plans for an assisted living facility on the former Hallock property on South Street. He said the decision to sell the site to Island Properties was a result of interest rates going up as they waited for the Special Use Permit, which the town finally granted. He said they liked the site because Marriott company, whom they were working with to become the operator of the ALF thought Oyster Bay had a viable market for one. "When the rates went up it was no longer economically feasible because of the cash that needs to be put into the project," said Gerry Monter.

Mr. Monter presently lives in the Hamlet at Jericho, and said when his project Old Oyster Bay in Plainview is built, he will live there.

At a recent Muttontown meeting, Matthew Meng, speaking as vice president of the Long Island Drinking Water Coalition said the Stevens Estate is being developed on top of the Groundwater Protection area. "It might need protection," he said.

Speaking of groundwater protection, Mayor Murcott said seven years ago the village upped zoning from two to three acres and some five acres. They never down-zoned areas in Muttontown, which is an asset for groundwater protection.

Village Attorney Peter MacKinnon said when the original up-zoning was proposed it was because of groundwater considerations.

The mayor said the Stevens' property is in the groundwater protection area and that it will all be considered in the environmental impact statement that is being developed.

The estate also has two ponds on site.