On Aug. 4, the environmental group Friends of the Bay formally announced its opposition to AvalonBay's proposed 300-unit luxury apartment complex within the Hamlet of Oyster Bay.

"After carefully considering AvalonBay's proposal, Friends of the Bay has concluded that the proposal - which has caused concern within the Oyster Bay community - would exacerbate the rapid and poorly coordinated development that is already afflicting this community and, subsequently, the local watershed and estuary," said Friends of the Bay Executive Director Kyle Rabin. "The apartment complex, if permitted, would adversely impact the Oyster Bay/Cold Spring Harbor Complex.

"On two separate occasions members of our board met and shared our concerns with AvalonBay representatives," said Rabin. "We appreciate the time they gave us while we studied their proposal. In the end, though, our assessment was that the proposal's drawbacks far outweigh its benefits."

A policy recently adopted by the Oyster Bay Sewer District helps address one of the major concerns Friends of the Bay has about AvalonBay's proposal, as well as overall development within the Hamlet of Oyster Bay. This is the adverse impact that additional treated effluent discharged into the harbor will have on the estuary, its water quality and the commerical shellfish industry that it sustains.

The sewer district's new policy addresses the irrefutable fact that the Oyster Bay waste water treatment plant - which is permitted by the NY State Department of Environmental Conservation to discharge a maximum monthly average of 1.8 million gallons of effluent per day into Oyster Bay Harbor - is currently discharging a daily average of 1.2 million gallons. The sewer district's new policy explains that it would not be feasible to enlarge the plant to accommodate additional sewage flow in excess of the present state permit. Given these limiting factors, the sewer district has adopted a procedure to review, modify and if necessary, limit all new requests for service connections to the Sewer District so as to allow future service to current vacant properties while regulating service to properties seeking additional service.

According to Rabin, "Friends of the Bay strongly supports the sewer district's new policy. While the sewer district is simply doing its job, its innovative, new policy is one of the few available 'safety nets' when it comes to protecting the hamlet and the local watershed from 'haphazard and uncoordinated future development'. The new policy goes hand-in-hand with the sewer district's efforts to reduce the amount of nitrogen entering into harbor and Long Island Sound, a top priority of the Long Island Sound Study. Friends of the Bay expects that some developers will try to find a way around the policy. To be clear, Friends of the Bay will oppose any application by any developer, including AvalonBay, seeking an exception to the sewer district's new policy.

"We appreciate that high density housing is important to the future of this area, and Long Island, in general, but we strongly believe that the density of the project that AvalonBay is currently proposing for the Hamlet of Oyster Bay is excessive and would undermine future development and have adverse environmental impacts," said Rabin. "There may be more suitable locations for an apartment complex the size that AvalonBay is proposing, but not within the Hamlet of Oyster Bay and not likely within the entire watershed area that surrounds the Harbor Complex."

The OB/CSH Complex - approximately 6,000 acres in size - is recognized as a vital natural, economic, cultural, historical and recreational resource. The OB/CSH Complex contains a National Wildlife Refuge, State Significant Coastal Fish and Wildlife Habitats, and a Regionally Important Natural Area. In addition, the OB/CSH Complex is connected to Long Island Sound, an Estuary of National Significance.

What's more, the OB/CSH Complex is the site of one of the most economically-important shellfisheries in the state. The Frank M. Flower Company, along with more than 80 independent commercial baymen, annually harvests up to 90 percent of New York's oyster crop and up to 33 percent of hard clams from the heart of the National Wildlife Refuge. Most of the waters of Oyster Bay are classified SA, the highest and best water quality determination for shellfishing - an unusual distinction given its proximity to New York City and the fact that harbors to the west have been closed for more than 30 years.

Friends of the Bay's mission is to advocate for the protection, preservation, and integrity of the Oyster Bay and Cold Spring Harbor estuary, from Mill Neck Creek to Cold Spring Harbor, and its watershed.