As the Island Properties plan for 286 South Street was unveiled, it was easy to remember the additional housing units the company is planning for their over 70 properties in the hamlet of Oyster Bay.

For example, there will be apartments added over the NAPA building and the proposed Uwe's site, including additional property along the parking lot leading to White Street will have a string of stores with apartments over them. While it is good planning to put apartments over retail space, it too is adding to the number of residents using the finite resources of this small area.

What has preserved Oyster Bay Harbor over the years is the fact that the surrounding areas have low density zoning. Large estates bordered the harbor for many years. Today that is all changing as estates are being sold off and developed. This is a wonderful area to live in, and many people are attracted to the area. That's wonderful. The only question is how many people can the area sustain before we kill the "Golden Goose."

After hearing the plans of Island Properties, it sounds like Charles Wang was looking at the hamlet as underdeveloped and ready for turning a profit. A big profit as it turns out.

As many residents object to the development, what they are saying is they want to preserve the area as is. What they are seeing all over, are the gradual changes that happen as development takes over. Everywhere in the hamlet, where there was an open piece of property someone has found a way to put in another house.

It's wonderful that people can move here and enjoy this great area. What everyone is afraid of is that over-development will occur, or what is called build out. Each addition on its own is the proverbial "No Problem." The problem is the development doesn't stop.

There is a lot in the pipeline, so to speak. That is why we are in favor of a generic environmental study of the area: quickly!

The New York State Department of Environmental Conservation has its guidelines available on the Internet. In their "SEQR Handbook: Segmentation" site, they define the need of the environmental review in special circumstances, where activities may be occurring at different times and places in a small area.

The DEC guidelines for making a decision on the need for a GES, includes answering the following questions. Is there a common purpose or goal for each segment; is there a common geographic location; are the parcels under the same ownership or control; is each part a component of an identifiable overall plan. Those questions certainly seem to be answered by a simple "yes." There is more information for you to view on the website.

The hamlet of Oyster Bay is one entire ecosystem and IP owns more than 70 sites that it plans to develop. That is one large bite out of such a little Golden Goose. Let's be sure we don't kill this little Golden Goose in the attempt to revitalize the town.

All we are asking is that we use the tools at hand to try to predict the outcome of a great many projects: each one small in its individual scope, but all will have a lasting effect on this small ecosystem. - DFK