The Village of Roslyn's dealings with LCS, Inc., the Syosset-based firm which sought to build a Stop & Shop supermarket in downtown Roslyn, may be starting up again. According to Village Attorney John Spellman, LCS has entered into a contract of sales with Phillips International with the intention of proposing a site in accordance with the village's new Master Plan and Zoning Code.

Mr. Spellman said that Phillips would be coming to the village with a new application within the next two months. The proposed construction plan is not going to be another supermarket or any other commercial development, but instead a residential plan to build 140-160 townhouses or rowhouses on the site off Skillman Street. Mr. Spellman said he has worked with both LCS and Phillips to help to consummate the agreement.

The recent success of Forest City Daly in getting their own residential housing development near final approval may have influenced LCS's recent actions. Forest City hopes to build 250 senior housing units in the same downtown area that LCS has wanted to develop. So far, the village Board of Trustees, Site Review Board, and Planning Boards have all approved the plan. All have stated that the housing plan, which includes some waterfront development, would "strengthen the linkage between Roslyn's downtown and waterfront, and will project the waterfront's harbor, natural features, and vistas."

The Daly plan still needs approval of the village's Board of Zoning Appeals and Historic District Board, but as opposed to Stop & Shop, it has faced only limited public opposition. Throughout public discussions on the proposed site, BOT members have noted that the land in question had been zoned specifically for such a senior housing plan.

All this is happening despite the fact that LCS still has two lawsuits against the village pending in New York State Appellate courts. The lawsuits, which stem from LCS losing earlier suits in lower courts, would be withdrawn if the proposed residential housing plan is introduced and eventually approved.

LCS has been in court with the village for at least the past five years. It all started when the Board of Trustees, in late 1994, approved a site plan to allow some construction for the proposed Stop & Shop site. Roslyn residents then filed an Article 78 lawsuit to stop the construction. That lawsuit charged that, among other things, a proper traffic and environmental study concerning the supermarket plan was not given.

Over the years, lower courts ruled in favor of the plaintiffs. Courts have also ruled that the village's new Master Plan and Zoning Codes apply to the LCS project, even though LCS made their bid before such laws were enacted. Two years ago, Edwards Supermarkets made their own unsuccessful attempt to build where Stop & Shop had been denied. While the LCS plan had called for an 86,000 square foot shopping center, Edwards was willing to knock that size down to 47,000 sq. ft.