Both sides of a dispute over an Italian ices store located in back of Matteo's Restaurant, 88 Mineola Avenue, recently aired their opinions on the condition of the establishment and its effect on the Roslyn Heights neighborhood.

Opponents of the store have complained about traffic congestion, illegal parking, safety concerns, and the lack of accessibility by emergency vehicles, all leading, they claim, to a "deteriorating quality of life" in the neighborhood.

Owners of Matteo's claim that traffic problems are caused by trucks at nearby establishments. They also add that the store is legal and they are willing to discuss any problems with civic association officials.

According to Roslyn Heights Civic Association officials, 85 local residents attended a June 23 meeting on the subject. At the meeting, residents showed photographs of double-parked cars and trucks, cars in Ralph's lot blocking the sidewalks, overflowing dumpsters, and kleig lights shining into residents' homes.

Roslyn Heights residents voiced their opposition to traffic and safety problems on Elm Street by signing a petition to the Town of North Hempstead to "take measures which will terminate....Ralph's Italian Ices at its present location."

The petition also claimed the store has caused "harm to the citizens of Roslyn Heights" by "obstructing access to [the] neighborhood by emergency vehicles"; by threatening the safety of residents; and by "potentially causing the depreciation of property values" in Roslyn Heights.

At the meeting, a number of Elm Street residents told of problems resulting from the presence of the store. Jane Valentine said that lights from Ralph's shine into her bedroom windows, and that the smell of garbage is so bad that she can't use her backyard. She pointed out that Ralph's is an outdoors business, so the impact on the neighborhood is more "offensive" in the summer.

Louise DeMar wondered how the TONH could have allowed so many eateries to open on and near Elm Street and then later expand. She claimed that the stench in the summer from uncovered dumpsters was "horrendous" and that delivery trucks and cars come all day and into the night, making the traffic dangerous.

On the legal front, Jonathan Kaiman, commissioner of public safety for the TONH, said that the town attorney and commissioner of building gave the building's owners two weeks to produce a permit showing the shed was legally erected. When they did not appear, they were issued a summons to appear in court for using an illegal structure. Commissioner Kaiman said Ralph's must apply for a permit from the Board of Zoning Appeals to make the building legal.

Concerning use by emergency vehicles, Delphine McLean, president of the civic association, said that on two occasions fire trucks were unable to proceed due to numerous vehicles being parked "illegally" on Elm Street disregarding air horns and sirens being sounded by the fire truck. In addition, an EMS captain told Ms. McLean that "it is only a matter of time before a life is lost."

Chris Tarsi, general manager of Matteo's, gave his establishment's side of things in a recent interview with The Roslyn News.

Mr. Tarsi said Matteo's has been in Roslyn Heights for seven years. Ralph's Italian Ices has been in operation since April and is only open six months out of the entire year. The entire operation, he said, is legal "as of now."

On the traffic situation, Mr. Tarsi said the Italian ices store is off the corner of Mineola Avenue. Other establishments on the avenue sell Italian ices from their stores, he noted. The traffic, he claimed, is coming from business establishments located directly on the corner of Mineola Avenue. For instance, trucks that are double-parked are near other establishments, not Matteo's. Mr. Tarsi said Matteo's has valet parking and that the neighborhood traffic problems occur during lunch hours, not at night.

Mr. Tarsi said that the restaurant has complied with the TONH's cease and desist order to prevent Ralph's from selling ices from the window. He added that the restaurant is willing to abide by the legalities set down by the TONH. At the civic association meeting, Ms. Krukowski said Matteo's "sometimes ignore" the cease and desist order.

Concerning the garbage problem, Mr. Tarsi said Matteo's has added on another garbage pickup to its weekly schedule. In all, the restaurant makes three garbage pickups a week. Mr. Tarsi added that "every night" Matteo's employees sweep the street "halfway up the block" which stands in back of the restaurant.

Finally, Mr. Tarsi said Matteo's is willing to work with the civic association to address resident concerns. He said restaurant officials have made "repeated attempts" to sit down and talk with civic association members.

"Anyone with complaints should enter the front door with their gripes," he said. "We would be happy to sit down and talk."

While Matteo's has contacted civic association officials on "numerous" occasions, no one from that organization, Mr. Tarsi said, has gotten back to the restaurant.

"We don't know why it's come to this," he said. "We want to work with everyone. We don't want to fight."

Mr. Tarsi also said the restaurant has been "abused" by civic association members, most especially through taking photographs.

He also claimed Matteo's has broad community support. "We can get 2,000 names in the area supporting [the restaurant]."