It appears that the very same consultants - Vision Long Island - who worked with the Town of Oyster Bay with regard to community feelings about AvalonBay Communities, Inc. proposal to build a 300-unit apartment complex at the former Hallock Chevrolet dealership - are now representing AvalonBay Communities, Inc.

Vision Long Island was hired as consultants to the Town of Oyster Bay to create a future plan for the hamlet.

The concern is that Vision Long Island owners, Eric Alexander and Ron Stein sat in on all the meetings about AvalonBay as local organizations talked about their views pro and con on the use of the former Hallock Chevrolet site. At the time Matt Whalen, AvalonBay vice president of development made his proposal and then he left the room making residents feel confident to speak openly. Now that the consultants are working for AvalonBay there is concern over it being a conflict of interests - or "Is the fox in the hen house?"

Eric Alexander of Vision Long Island said they are being true to their mission statement, to advance Smart Growth. He said, "We can't get to a broader conversation about the future of Oyster Bay hamlet until the future of the Hallock Chevrolet site is addressed."

He said, "We are on a temporary leave from working with the town for a couple of months. We were trying to work with the town on a visioning plan. The problem is that this AvalonBay issue is so big the town is fearful of having a meeting that was town sponsored. They thought it would be better to have it separately. It is essentially a controversial issue and there will be a town sponsored public hearing but they felt this type of meeting [ a public meeting not town sponsored] would be better served if done privately - so in May and June we will not be working with the town."

Mr. Alexander said there will be two public meetings hosted by AvalonBay. "They are paying for the site and mailings. We are not taking sides, we are neutral facilitators," he said.

Mr. Alexander said they will be at the May 24 meeting to discuss the use of the land as industrial, commercial or the current residential proposal on the table. "If there are other uses, people should articulate their ideas, for instance 20 single family homes there. We are trying to analyze the alternatives, the pros and cons. The current proposal generated a lot of concern but that is only one thing we want to look at. We are reaching out to FOB and ENCA because they have a point of view on the issue. We want to consider such things as a public use including the idea of a community use such as community center and sports center and a pool. We are not encouraging anything," he said.

"We have to get through this AvalonBay issue first. There is no way to work on a visioning plan for the hamlet without it being settled," said Mr. Alexander.

We agree, because this is a very special area. There are very valid objections to AvalonBay because they are real and not emotional. The objections are based on facts and not a whim. They are based on the fact that Oyster Bay exists on the fragile balance including that of having a healthy harbor.

It should be noted here, that the community is facing a sophisticated commercial company that works nationwide. Oyster Bay is a small annoyance in their long-range corporate vision to make money on rental properties. What is important is that you, as local residents, realize that AvalonBay Communities, Inc. is a very professional group and that if the community is to win in trying to preserve the character and quality of life here - that is unique and based on a healthy and vibrant marine environment - we have to band together and work to keep the community viable. - DFK