During a hearing at the Nov. 28 meeting of the Town of Oyster Bay Town Board, Sunrise Assisted Living Inc. along with Elizabeth W. Reynolds and Carolyn W. Skidmore put a petition forth requesting a special use permit and a change of zone.

The special use permit would allow Sunrise Assisted Living Inc. to construct a convalescent home, assisted living resident for frail seniors, in Syosset. The area in question is on the property located on the east side of Jackson Avenue, north of Teibrook Avenue. This hearing had been adjourned from Oct. 3.

The change of zone request, from a D residence District to an F Business District or neighborhood district, was troublesome to some residents who attended the hearing and voiced their opinion. This change of zone, theoretically, means that if Sunrise Assisted Living did not follow through with plans, there is a piece of property that is zoned F Business and a small strip mall could come in there as a matter of right.

Other concerns that residents voiced at the hearing were traffic and also the size of the proposed facility. It is, to some, considered a large building that would be standing in a residential neighborhood.

The Syosset Chamber of Commerce is one group that is in favor of this project. In a letter that was read to the town board at the hearing, Frank Urso, president of the Syosset Chamber of Commerce said: "It is the opinion of the Board of Directors of the Syosset Chamber of Commerce that the proposed Sunrise Assisted Living Facility located on Jackson Avenue will be a major asset to our community. The value of this facility will greatly benefit not only the elderly, but will add to the town a major focal point for our town and community to build around. The added benefit of having visitors frequent our businesses, for flowers and gifts or to dine in our restaurants or to use any number of our established professional service firms, will greatly enhance out economic redevelopment.

"The Sunrise Organization is a highly respected and community-minded professional organization willing to give to this community what it sorely needs and that is a major landmark to identify itself within the 21st century.

"We welcome this facility and greatly appreciate the Sunrise Organization for selecting our great community for their next residence.

"We would greatly appreciate that the town board approve this proposal and use this as the first step in developing a master plan that centers around the progress we anticipate in moving into the 21st century."

The town board did not reach a decision at the hearing and the record will be left open for two weeks to give the community an opportunity to voice their opinion in writing. After the record is closed, the board will go into negotiations. There is no deadline for them to reach a decision as the hearing went over three hours and there is an extensive amount of information for board members to sort through.