At the May 28 Town of Oyster Bay Board meeting, board members voted 5-2 to deny the petition for a special use permit put forth by Sunrise Assisted Living, Inc. and Elizabeth W. Reynolds and Carolyn W. Skidmore.

The applicants requested a special use permit to construct a convalescent home, also known as an assisted living residence, for frail seniors. The petition also included a Change of Zone request from a D Residence District to an F Business District on property, which is located on the east-side of Jackson Avenue, north of Teibrook Avenue in Syosset.

Information discussed at the original hearing, which was held November 28, 2000, concerned some residents especially the change of zone request, from a "D" residence District to an "F" Business District or neighborhood district. 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.

"The community was spilt over this application, but local residents made a good case to the town and the town board listened," said Councilman Chris Coschignano, who voted against the petition. "I hope eventually the property can be developed in a smart way, but the town board did not see that this was it. The biggest fear for me was that once the zoning was changed, if the assisted living facility did not make it, what might come there in the future."

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.

Councilman Anthony Macagnone was one of the dissenting votes along with Councilman Angelo Delligatti, and thought petition should have been accepted. "As we all know, we have a graying community," said Macagnone. "We like to keep our senior citizens in the Town of Oyster Bay and see some young people come into the town too. I thought this petition would provide a facility with a good reputation of caring for the elderly and keeping them in the community. This really is not a traffic or noise generator."

This case is closed although the applicants have the right to appeal the decision made by the town board.