Last week, a decision in New York State Supreme Court won significant concessions for the Village of East Hills in its negotiations with the state Department of Transportation over upcoming Long Island Expressway expansion in the area.

"Everyone said it couldn't be done," said East Hills Mayor Michael R. Koblenz, who noted the "favorable resolution and settlement" of the legal struggle. The mayor's only regret was that East Hills could not get more officials in the North Shore area to join their side. Since LIE expansion construction began last summer, North Shore residents have expressed shock and unhappiness over the cutting down of numerous trees on service roads and other thoroughfares.

A new Memorandum of Understanding signed by both officials from East Hills and the DOT called for, among other things, revisions in the size of high occupancy vehicle lands (HOV), no HOV enforcement areas in the village, no separate HOV entrance or exit lanes between Exit 32 and 40, and the lengthening of LIE bridges over crossroads in the village.

This week, the village released other specifics of the settlement. They include:

* Repaving certain roads in the village that are expected to be impacted by the construction.

* Providing the Roslyn School District $216,000 for additional busing services for schoolchildren.

* A contract with the Nassau County police department to provide supplemental police services when needed.

* The construction of "sound walls" for the benefit of the Roslyn Middle School and residents on Woodhollow Road, Potters Lane, and Locust Lane. Similar sound walls have already been planned for the North Service Road.

* Complete LIE bridge construction at Roslyn Road, Locust Lane, and Glen Cove Road before beginning any replacement construction for the Roslyn Viaduct. At the same time, the DOT has agreed to pursue "rigorous" structural inspections and monitoring of the Viaduct.

* Bridge closings will be scheduled in a manner which will be least disruptive to the community and the school district.

* The roadway profile of the South Service Road near the Roslyn Middle School will be lowered to improve sight distance for motorists and increase pedestrian safety for schoolchildren.

* A DOT traffic coordinator will be appointed to work with village and school district officials, civic association leaders and the community in general all to minimize the project's impact on local traffic.

* Institute a graffiti control and elimination program to provide a response to the village within 72 hours. Failure to respond will allow the village to take action at the expense of the DOT.

Mayor Koblenz added that the settlement will leave East Hills residents with "a significantly greater degree of safety, security, and communication." He also reiterated that initiating a lawsuit against the DOT was the only way such a settlement could be reached. The mayor also thanked the Roslyn School District Board of Education for supporting the East Hills BOT during the long negotiations with the DOT.

In June 1995, the Village of East Hills, alone among North Shore villages, decided not to sign the Memorandum of Understanding then being offered by the DOT. That memorandum, the mayor noted, required the DOT to meet legal obligations, but did not "provide the consideration that has now been obtained for our village."

Despite receiving concessions from the DOT, Mayor Koblenz admitted that "living with this project over the next several years will not be easy, especially for our residents who are in close proximity to the LIE."

However, on the financial side, the mayor claimed that in addition to the "significant benefits" of the agreement, the "dollar value of the settlement alone, greatly exceeds the village's litigation costs."

In the meantime, the BOT has appointed a "Long Island Expressway Expansion Committee" to work with the DOT during the construction and ensure that the village's interests are being addressed. The committee is already considering a proposal to temporarily close the community entrances on the North Service Road "at appropriate times."