Much attention is always given to our school budget, the bay, parking, etc. However, many of us are totally missing the boat when it comes to what has been happening in this architecturally interesting and historic hamlet.

Have you driven around the village streets lately? Trust me... you will be shocked. Houses! Houses! Houses! All are on very small, substandard lots. An interesting "antique" on Orchard Street is gone and replaced by two rather non-descript new homes that are literally an arm's length apart. New homes were squeezed onto property on Kellogg Street behind Dodd's just a few years ago.

If you had attended the meeting at town hall regarding those variances, you would have felt for sure that they were going to be turned down, but were they? Three new homes on Burtis and Kellogg will be replacing the wonderful old Young's property.

At the top of Summers Street, two new homes have been built and they are literally 10 feet, if that, apart. When speaking with the surrounding neighbors, they were opposed to the variances. As of this writing, another house on Summers Street is being torn down and I understand, but have not yet verified, that two homes are to replace it. Berry Hill Road has seen similar situations in the past and another substandard lot has been given approval and construction has begun.

I know housing is a big concern here and all over the Island. I am a 22-year veteran in the real estate business and I am still amazed at our present market and the prices. I know more houses yield more taxes, but, at what cost to our village?

We can no longer sit back and let a zoning board give approvals to every variance request that is before them. There are minimum lot sizes with set guidelines for front, rear and side yard setbacks.

We are all too quickly letting others give away our once beautiful village with its, now, all too few wide front yards and breathing room between our homes. It is time to preserve more than just our beautiful bay and open space for environmental reasons. We need and must gather together, as concerned homeowners and local organizations, and insist that the Town of Oyster Bay Zoning Board stop granting variances for these non-conforming, substandard building lots. Oyster Bay, come out! Your neighbor may get closer than you want. Once it is gone, it is gone!

Rita Pecora