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The East Norwich Civic Association is taking over the lead on the proposed AvalonBay Communities proposal to build a 300-apartment complex on the former Hallock Chevrolet dealership site, now owned by Island Properties. The Town of Oyster Bay is holding meetings with local stakeholder groups along with their consultants Vision Long Island, to see what residents think about the proposal.

The town is planning an informal public hearing for AvalonBay Communities to present their case and for the public to respond. The Town of Oyster Bay held a scoping session for a draft environmental impact statement for AvalonBay on Dec. 13, 2005. Since that time, Matthew Whalen, VP of development of AvalonBay Communities, has offered three new changes to his original plan. They are offering a density revision from 300 units to 270 units; an open space preservation deal, in which AvalonBay will be credited with the added density and sewage allowance of a site to be determined by the town - one the town intends to purchase for open space or an industrial cleanup; and the addition of some second generation housing - affordable housing. They have had architectural historian John Collins do a new rendering of the complex which will still have a three story building in front and a four story house in back. They have increased the amount of setback from the road and changed the ration of studio and two-bedroom apartments to reduce the concern about the number of children coming to the school district.

East Norwich Civic Association President Matthew Meng and civic association member Rob Brusca attended the meeting at Town Hall held by the planning department and a representative of Vision Long Island, their consultants, at which Mr. Whalen made his presentation telling of the changes he plans. The civic association representatives continued to talk to the group for about an hour.

At the East Norwich Civic Association meeting on March 23, the town hall meeting was discussed. Mr. Brusca said that it was a good meeting with the town listening to their concerns. He paraphrased Mr. Whalen as saying he appreciated the time they took to have the meeting and that he liked the dialogue instead of exchanging comments in the newspapers and that it was nice to clear up misunderstandings.

Mr. Meng said he told the town, "We said they were not misunderstandings but that they were lies. He said residents in Upper Brookville were in favor of the project and they are not."

There have been other comments in this newspaper about the disagreement about figures from AvalonBay experts.

The important thing to think of is that the town will be holding an informal public meeting about AvalonBay and also the proposed carousel. Presently, the town is talking to stakeholder groups including, the East Norwich Civic Association, Friends of the Bay, the Oyster Bay Sewer District, the Oyster Bay Water District, the OBEN school district, the Oyster Bay Civic Association and the Main Street Association.

If you want to have your opinion expressed, you can send a letter to the town stating your opinion. Please send letters to the attention of Town of Oyster Bay Supervisor John Venditto, 54 Audrey Ave., Oyster Bay NY 11771.