Renaissance Properties/ Plainview Properties (aka-Old Plainview) recently submitted their Draft Environmental Impact Statement to the Town of Oyster Bay. For those of you who are unfamiliar, several years ago the applicant, Charles Wang, purchased the former 144-Acre Nassau County land situated between Old Country Rd and Round Swamp Rd. Subsequent to that, he purchased an additional 22 acres just north of the parcel at the site of the Plainview Post Office. The post office will relocate off site and build a new facility.

The applicant is seeking a change of zone on the north side from Light Industrial to allow for approximately 87,000 sq ft of retail, grocery store and restaurant use, 21,000 sq ft of office use, and 160 open market rental apartments. On the South side, he is seeking a change of zone and a waiver of the covenants and restrictions that ran with the sale of the land, to build a Planned Unit Development.

In the way of history, prior to 1997 the entire Nassau County land was zoned for 2-acre private homes. This land other than for a few Nassau County Office Buildings has always lain fallow and pristine. In September of 1996 Nassau County attempted to have the property downzoned for 132 units of senior housing, 238 condominium units and 481,000 sq ft of office space on 116.2 acres with the balance of the property to remain open space. Because of the community's outrage, the county revised the downzoning proposal.

The current zoning for the south parcel that was passed by a Resolution of the Town of Oyster Bay in March 1997 with a consensus of the Town Board, County Legislature, and Plainview residents in anticipation of the sale of the former County property include; approximately 80 or less single family residential homesites, an office use facing Old Country Rd. with a maximum of 420,000 sq ft, a perimeter buffer with walking trails, a Town Community Building, sports field improvements, scoreboards, bleachers, and 40+ acres of dedicated permanently preserved public open space including LIJSL Soccer Park.

The applicant's new proposal includes approximately; 499 residential units (133 townhouses, 318 condominium apts-50 percent over 55, 24 Next Generation Units and 24 S-2 price controlled senior units), 182,000 sq ft of office use, 17,000 sq ft of retail and restaurant, 15,000 sq ft Cultural/Educational, 265,000 sq ft-300+ room hotel and conference center with restaurant, spa and drive up lodge, 2000 sq ft soccer clubhouse, 22,000 sq ft resident clubhouse, 36 acres privately owned open space including LIJSL Soccer Park leased fields, and a perimeter buffer with trail. Relocation of current Plainview Soccer Travel Fields to a new location is to be determined.

The target date for the Town of Oyster Bay's formal public hearing is Tuesday, January 23. There will be both a day session starting at 10 a.m. at town hall in Oyster Bay, and an evening session starting at 6 p.m. at POB Middle School in Plainview. For updates and further information please send an e-mail to pobinfo@aol.com.

The purpose of the formal meeting is to allow residents and the town board to hear testimony from the applicant and his technical experts on the Draft Environmental Impact Statement addressing how the applicant plans to mitigate environmental impacts to traffic, parking, noise, local services, schools, recreation, open space, and existing infrastructure in a mature community. In addition, the meeting will also be addressing his request for change of zone and waiver of the covenants and restrictions, the impacts of the proposal, and also the cumulative impact of the combination of all the re-development between the north and south side. All comments heard that day and evening will be recorded into the public record and will be addressed by the applicant in their Final Environmental Impact Statement.

It is imperative that all residents participate in this public process by attending the town board hearing and contacting the Town of Oyster Bay with your thoughts as this prescribed process is the avenue for public comment as required by the State Environmental Quality Review Act. The town supervisor always welcomes resident's calls and may be reached at 624-6350.

This is the largest remaining tract of open space left in Nassau County and its proposed development should be considered by all residents and parents with respect to impacts on our schools, community, services, families and children. At a time when Nassau residents just approved the county's second Environmental Bond by an overwhelming 70+ percent majority, it is clear that our environment, open space and recreational areas are of paramount importance to our suburban location.

Please stay informed and involved, and include your voices in the Town's Public Review process.

Thank you as always for your concern over matters relating to our children and quality of life.

Carol Meschkow, President

Concerned Citizens of the Plainview-Old Bethpage Community, Inc.

And Neighbor-to-Neighbor Watch Program