Once again, the East Norwich Civic Association proved itself as an excellent forum to find out what is going on in the area. The board and the membership had input into the plan for the development of the upscale Sbarro's shopping center - in the mode of the Americana we are told - that will conform to code and have adequate parking. There are still details to be worked out but things are going well in East Norwich.

Several members of the Theodore Roosevelt Museum Citizen Advisory Team came to the Aug. 28 meeting and a free flowing discussion ensued that helped take some of the tension out of the air. Seated around a large tabled area it is easy for people to talk to one another. Previously the ENCA had expressed concerns about the committee including the fear that people had been chosen to "rubber stamp" the proposal.

TRMCAT members attending included Bill Sheeline, Bill Von Novak, Ralph Fumante, Bill Burke, John Bonifacio ... There was a free flow of information as Mr. Fumante explained the group sees itself as a conduit for information from the community to the Theodore Roosevelt Association and the town. They will ask the questions posed by the community and get the answers from the TRA. They have told the TRA that they need the traffic and environmental studies before any decision is made.

Mr. Fumante said he wants to see more renderings of the back of the museum and the museum in relation to the building nearby. They too are concerned that the building should fit into the streetscape.

One of the major concerns everyone in the room shared was the possibility that the success of the museum - which TRA President Jim Bruns suggested might mean 500,000 visitors a year - might be the demise of the quality of life in the hamlet and the area. Mr. Bruns has said he needs 100,000 visitors as a break even point.

As George DeMartino pointed out with a copy of the Oyster Bay Build Out Study in front of him saying that too many visitors would overwhelm the hamlet. Add to that the other areas still to be developed. During the discussion there was a mention that AvalonBay Communities was not willing to sell their property for the museum but that they have other plans in mind. That means, said Mr. DeMartino that traffic in the area will be cumulative when what happens at the East Norwich development; the AvalonBay site; the Mariner's Walk site which still isn't filled; the waterfront areas, as well as other sites still to be developed - all come to fruition.

Mr. Fumante said when a developer is willing to spend $100 million in the town, the plan should be given a chance. Answers are needed, he agreed, but before they say no, they want to look at the proposal carefully.

Mr. Fumante said they are taking the list of people who are using Firemen's Field from the Save Firemen's Field website and will be meeting with all of them. They are willing to go to any community group to answer questions. They are gathering questions they will get answers to from the TRA developers, he said.

Mr. Fumante and Mr. Bonafacio went to the Oyster Bay-East Norwich board of education meeting to present their ideas of what they can offer the school district. Claire Louise Meng said, "Nowadays with long distance learning we don't need another museum. I believe in internships but why sacrifice the fiber of the community that uses Firemen's Field?"

Mr. Fumante commented that Firemen's Field is environmentally unsound and whatever happens, it should be fixed. Maybe it should be a park, he added.

"But when someone offers $100 million to invest here, we owe it to ourselves to get answers. If it is not right for us, okay. We can say 'We did our homework'. We should at least explore it."

John Wallace commented that during the past weekend the annual Triathlon was run out of Oyster Bay. He said that for the Junior Trathlon there were 250 cars in Firemen's Field and 68 in TR Park. For the senior Triathlon there were over 500 cars. They were in Firemen's Field and everywhere. There were 800 cars parked on West Main Street, Audrey Avenue, South Street, the train station. There were a total of about 1,300 cars and you couldn't park anywhere, he said.

Mr. Sheeline questioned if the Triathlon benefited the hamlet.

Mr. Wallace added that Supervisor Venditto said he is adding more playing fields to TR Park and that will increase the need for parking.

In summary let us say that the TRMCAT committee has its work cut out for them. With all the valid questions being asked by members of the community and the committee's statement that they are a conduit for questions and answers, they have a great deal to do.

Isaac Kremer, Main Street Association executive director summed it up by saying, that we have to get the results to the studies. He said, "We need a venue or forum to get a response. We've had a deliberation and an honest dialogue. They will take this to get the answers you want. Can we speed it up? Maybe. Maybe this is the best/worst options we have but this is the way to compel answers to the questions."

That about sums it up. There are questions that have been asked by the community for several months. It is time those questions were answered. Thanks to the dialogue at the ENCA the community is talking together and proving that they are willing and eager to dialogue.

Just one caveat: the committee noted that in spite of their plans, the "loyal opposition" should keep working on their end of the debate. This is after all a Democracy and we need opinions on both sides of the aisle to come to a fair and just decision.

The work has begun. That is a good thing. - DFK