Development plans for the hamlet of Oyster Bay were the major focus of discussion at the April 18 meeting of the Oyster Bay Civic Association. The discussion highlighted the need for the town board to complete the Hamlet Plan for the area. The discussion on a new down zoning request for property opposite the Roosevelt Elementary School, and the proposed S-2 senior housing development on the Lizza property on Mill River Road ended with the decision to ask the developers of the project, Mill Pond Overlook, to speak at an upcoming meeting.

OBCA President Ms. Knight quoted from a letter from Town Councilwoman Bonnie Eisler in response to a question about the Hamlet Plan. Ms. Eisler said, "The plan is not set in stone nor does it supercede our zoning laws. It should give us more clout if a case goes to court." The second letter was from Louise Harrison, who joined Friends of the Bay as its new executive director on April 8. Denise Woodin, former executive director, now works in NYC's private sector for a public-participation consulting firm.

When asked for the FOB position on the proposed S-2 housing, she wrote, "Our position remains that new development in the hamlet should not proceed until a generic environmental impact statement (GEIS) is prepared, and accepted in a final form, for the Hamlet Plan the town has proposed."

The OBCA discussion included an update on the proposed Lizza development, Mill Pond Overlook. It is being planned as a Town of Oyster Bay S-2 senior housing development, which calls for a public hearing to create the new zoning required for the project. The developers hope to take over the top portion of Underhill Place (which is called Underhill Avenue on the street sign), which exits on Mill River Road.

The proposal includes the land from one house short of Lexington Avenue on Mill River Road, to the house opposite the exit from Top of the Harbor. The plan calls for razing the hill to street level and housing 70 units in six buildings on 4.7 acres with plans for 91 parking spaces.

Ms. Knight gave the history of the Golden Age S-2 housing that started in 1995- 96, with Central Park Estates in Bethpage. There is a maximum cap on earnings and age, one person in a couple must be 62. A single person can have an income of no more than $43,000 and a couple $50,000. The next S-2 in Woodbury allows singles at $62,000 and $69,000 for a couple. It has gone up based on the Consumer Price Index. Her third example is Cambridge in Hicksville with singles at $55,000 and couples at $61,000. Those apartments cost $155,000 for a basic unit with upgrades possible.

To be entitled to purchase a unit, a list is used. Here, that would mean first, people living in the Oyster Bay East Norwich School District area; next, their parents; then township residents and then county residents. "They said in none of the units built have they had to go to the county list. They were all filled with people in the township," said Ms. Knight.

She had a list of questions about the proposed Lizza development that included concerns of the environmental impact on the Mill Pond and the neighboring wetlands; the increased flow of sewage; impact on the aquifer; need for fire hydrants; and increase in traffic. A resident said there was already a contract out for taking down the existing hill, but she couldn't confirm that.

OBCA Vice President Frank Scalera read some specifics of the proposed development. The developers say they are not over a special groundwater protection area or a special flood hazard area. There are grades of 15 percent or greater next to wetlands which may need a permit from the state. They plan to remove existing vegetation and trees and have them landfilled or incinerated. The plan should take 12 months. They plan to hook up to the Oyster Bay Sewer system although they could also have proposed a cesspool or septic tank. They estimate 3.5 pounds per person per day of solid waste to be taken to the town's solid waste disposal area in Old Bethpage. They estimate water usage as 790 gallons per day.

Jane Montgomery asked when the documents they were reading were dated and Mr. Scalera said Oct. 27, 1999 and Aug. 4, 1999.

OBCA member Vinnie Bellisimo said when the first S-2 started in Bethpage a great many things changed in that area, things not covered in an environmental impact statement. When the 50 to 60 units went up on Powell Avenue in Bethpage it had been the location of a three family house and therefore the new complex had a big impact on the police and fire services, something they never expected. There were four or five medically related calls a day to the police department, he said. Added to that, the elderly people's driving skills were not as good and resulted in "tons of car accidents in the area," he said. In Bethpage the police run the ambulance service he said, while in Oyster Bay it is the fire department that does so.

OBCA member Vinnie Aquilino, speaking for himself and not as a spokesperson for the Oyster Bay Fire service, said Bayville has received a county ambulance (24 hours and 7 days a week) and said it would be a great help for Oyster Bay. He said the fire companies are talking about getting a "county bus" informally.

He said the Oyster Bay fire departments are working very hard to take care of calls from Oyster Bay Manor and Harbor House. They end up being 1 1/2 hours to 2 hours a call, and while no one is opposed to providing the service it is hard for people to leave their jobs to attend the calls. The Lizza proposal is not an assisted living facility, but there will be a great many people over 62 years old, living in the 70 units.

Mr. Aquilino said, "When bringing all these seniors into Oyster Bay, someone has to think about it (the impact on the volunteers)."

Firefighter Bob Bagan, also speaking as a resident, said the fire company has 600 to 700 calls a year. "I love old people, but why are we bringing in more?"

He said when Harbor House had its hearing, one of the things suggested was having Mr. Wagner, the owner, provide his own ambulance service. Added to that, if the Hallock property is developed for assisted living, for which it has a permit, "It's only going to get worse," said Mr. Bagan. That includes the quality of life issues in town as the facilities are located on the busiest roads in town. "Just try to come out of Simcoe or Orchard Street, it's hard to pull out."

He said when the fire company was asked if it could handle Harbor House and Oyster Bay Manor they suggested a new larger elevator for gurneys, which was done. He said, "they were willing to do the job, but it will tax us."

Mr. Aqualino said, "I'm not complaining about running the ambulance that's our job. Bring more people into Oyster Bay and our job gets tougher and tougher. No one is breaking down our doors to volunteer."

Mr. Bagan said, "We are relying more on the retired members. It used to be the young kids coming up the line but it's getting harder and harder. You don't have the young kids coming in any more."

Jerry Weber, representing Top of the Harbor, said the proposed required parking is too little. He said more than one person in each of the S-2 housing units will be drivers. He said 90 percent of the people will be driving and add to that parking for staff and visitors and he asked where will the overflow cars park.

Speaking of traffic, he said there are young children in the area and there is a tight parabola on Lexington Avenue and Mill River Road. "The curb is gone because of cars going around that curve."

Ms. Knight suggested the OBCA have an open forum with the Lizza representatives. She said she didn't want the OBCA to be a NIMBY (Not In My Back Yard) organization, but, "We want to keep an eye on it, move it, or reconstruct it to make it better."

Mr. Lindsay added that he is now an avid reader of the legal notices watching to see if a public hearing is announced for the Lizza property. He was concerned that the material people were talking about was almost three years old and the planners could be doing work behind the scenes.

They talked about sending letters of concern to town hall. Ms. Knight, from her experience with town hall said, "If you write a letter and say 'cc it to the Supervisor and Town Council' it is ignored by all except Bonnie Eisler (who answers letters). Send individual letters, it doesn't happen!"