Last Thursday, over 100 local residents met at the Bryant Library to attend a public meeting that discussed the proposed Harbor Management Plan.

The meeting was sponsored by the Hempstead Harbor Protection Committee, an intermunicipal government body that includes, among other members, the Villages of Roslyn, Roslyn Harbor and Flower Hill, plus the Town of North Hempstead.

The Harbor Management Plan, which committee members are striving to finish by the end of this year, is an ambitious report that hopes to serve as a blueprint for balancing the harbor's environmental, recreational, residential and commercial interests.

In addition to community input, the evening featured a talk by Peter Walsh of the New York Department of State. Mr. Walsh related that the state is anxious for communities, such as the ones who are near Hempstead Harbor, to complete harbor development plans. In the past, Mr. Walsh has addressed the Village of Roslyn board of trustees, where he gave slide shows that illustrated the success other towns and villages in New York have enjoyed due to waterfront development.

A theme of the meeting was the need for harbor area communities to work together, with speakers noting that some issues are truly intermunicipal in their nature. Considering the sheer size of the harbor, both its development and preservation are projects that fit this category.

The major part of the meeting was a discussion of the nine main goals of the Harbor Management Plan. There were suggestions by attendees about meeting the recreational needs of young people, concern over an energy generator recently constructed by the Long Island Power Authority (LIPA), discussions on how best to revitalize village downtowns and increase access to waterfronts without causing traffic problems or jeopardizing the harbor's ecological characteristics. Patricia Lynn Oliva, a member of the protection committee, said more public hearings would be held before a final draft of the plan is completed.

Finally, the nine major goals of the Harbor Management Plan are:

* Ensuring sufficient and safe navigation and operating conditions in Hempstead Harbor;

* Protecting the harbor's water-dependent uses, and promoting the siting of new water-dependent uses at suitable locations, without impacting important natural resources;

* Redeveloping vacant and under-utilized waterfront land on the harbor with appropriate uses;

* Increasing water-related recreational opportunities within the harbor and along the harbor's shoreline, and increasing public access to the waterfront;

* Protecting and enhancing the waterfront's natural environment and open space resources, including surface water quality, wetlands, coastal fish and wildlife habitats, upland natural areas, and important viewsheds;

* Preserving important historical resources along the harbor's waterfront;

* Improving linkages between the harbor waterfront and adjacent downtown areas;

* Engaging in a collaborative effort among the municipalities surrounding the harbor;

* Recognizing the building upon the unique characteristics and circumstances of the harbor and its watershed.

According to members of the committee, Hempstead Harbor is at a critical point in its history, with much waterfront property in transition. They note that heavy industrial activities have diminished over time, gradually giving way to other types of commercial uses and permitting recreation to re-emerge as a significant theme. The Harbor Management Plan, committee members claim, will establish fair and effective strategies for meeting long term goals, which consist mainly of respecting the harbor's natural resources and maximizing its overall potential.