Sentinel - Cautious Development in Port Theme of Public Forum-11-17-00 - Port Washington North NY Civic Association

"Cautious Development in Port Theme of Public Forum

By Eric Zausner
(appeared in the 11-17-00 edition, page 3)

Cautious development was the message that was being sent at a public forum on development in Port Washington entitled "How much development is too much?" sponsored by Residents For A More Beautiful Port Washington on October 19th.

Featured speaker Professor Elizabeth Brabec from the University of Michigan was not in attendance. In her place, Dr. Peter Kumble of Land Ethics, a community?planning firm based in Ann Arbor, Michigan was the keynote speaker.

Preceding Dr. Kimble, Residents' vice president Curtis Trinko in his presentation stressed that the aquifer on the peninsula from which Port Washington draws its water is already maxed out and that if development is not slowed, salt water intrusion will force the closure of 9 of the 13 water wells which supplies our water. Residents has spearheaded the formation of the Port Washington/ Manhasset Peninsula Aquifer Committee which includes among its members the three water districts that supply water to the peninsula and certain public officials who have responsibility for water protection.

Dr. Kumble summarized four parcels primed for development in Port Washington: the 11?acre Thypin Steel property on Manhasset Isle, the 460 acre Morewood property, part of which has been improved by the Harbor Links golf course on Roslyn West Shore Road, the 41 acre Dallas Realty property and the 7.8 acre Lewis Oil property, both of which are in the Village of Port Washington North.

The Thypin Steel property in the Village of Manorhaven was discussed first. It is currently zoned for 88 units of clustered housing. The site was originally the home base for the Pan Am clipper airships' transcontinental flights.

The Morewood property is made up of four parcels of land, one of which is the golf course which has been completed. The plan for the other parcels is for senior housing to accommodate 1,270 residents.

The Dallas Property, all of which is undeveloped is currently zoned Economic Development A but an application for a change of zone to senior housing is pending before the Village of Port Washington North's Board of Trustees.

Unlike the other properties, a change of zone is being sought to develop the Lewis Oil Company for business use in order to expand the adjacent Delco Shopping Center, anchored by Grand Union.

Dr. Kumble had suggestions for each of the pieces and what needed to be done to promote responsible development. For Thypin Steel, he recommended that the historical significance of the property not be discarded and that any development maintains access to Manhasset Bay. For Morewood, Dr. Kumble suggested that new development be limited to 540 new residents and the rest of the property be preserved for open space for non?golf course use to ensure the future of the water supply in Port Washington. For the Dallas Realty property, he recommended that half of the 40.9 acres be dedicated park land because Port Washington North falls short of the national recommendations for park land which is 9.6 acres for every 1,000 residents. For the Lewis Oil property, he suggested that an environmental clean up would be required due to the fact that 15 oil storage tanks have occupied the space for well over twenty years and the extent of environmental contamination is as yet unknown.

Port Washington Civic Association board member Hank Ratner commented that the "Lewis Oil property was a done deal." That sparked an instant reaction from Village of Port Washington North Mayor Thomas Pellegrino who stated that if Ratner were to attend the public hearing on November 13th regarding the rezoning application,. he would see that this was far from over.

Other comments from the audience included a complaint by former School Board member Nancy Cowles who complained that Residents failed to take into account any figures on school population when they calculated required park space.

Peri Zausner, also a Port Washington North Civic Association Board member, said, "An environmental impact statement should be required before proceeding with the Lewis Oil property."

On a positive note, most people in attendance seemed to come out of the forum more informed about development in Port Washington

Port Washington Sentinel
Please send your

Name, address, city, state, zip and a check for $12.00 to

The Port Washington Sentinel, Inc.
PO Box 1378
Port Washington, NY 11050

Port North Civic Assoc Printed on this site with Permission of the Sentinel
	"Cautious Development in Port Theme of Public Forum By Eric Zausner (appeared in the 11-17-00 edition, page 3) Cautious development was the message that was being sent at a public forum on development in Port Washington entitled "How much development is too much?" sponsored by Residents For A More Beautiful Port Washington on October 19th. Featured speaker Professor Elizabeth Brabec from the University of Michigan was not in attendance. In her place, Dr. Peter Kumble of Land Ethics, a community?planning firm based in Ann Arbor, Michigan was the keynote speaker. Preceding Dr. Kimble, Residents' vice president Curtis Trinko in his presentation stressed that the aquifer on the peninsula from which Port Washington draws its water is already maxed out and that if development is not slowed, salt water intrusion will force the closure of 9 of the 13 water wells which supplies our water. Residents has spearheaded the formation of the Port Washington/ Manhasset Peninsula Aquifer Committee which includes among its members the three water districts that supply water to the peninsula and certain public officials who have responsibility for water protection. Dr. Kumble summarized four parcels primed for development in Port Washington: the 11?acre Thypin Steel property on Manhasset Isle, the 460 acre Morewood property, part of which has been improved by the Harbor Links golf course on Roslyn West Shore Road, the 41 acre Dallas Realty property and the 7.8 acre Lewis Oil property, both of which are in the Village of Port Washington North. The Thypin Steel property in the Village of Manorhaven was discussed first. It is currently zoned for 88 units of clustered housing. The site was originally the home base for the Pan Am clipper airships' transcontinental flights. The Morewood property is made up of four parcels of land, one of which is the golf course which has been completed. The plan for the other parcels is for senior housing to accommodate 1,270 residents. The Dallas Property, all of which is undeveloped is currently zoned Economic Development A but an application for a change of zone to senior housing is pending before the Village of Port Washington North's Board of Trustees. Unlike the other properties, a change of zone is being sought to develop the Lewis Oil Company for business use in order to expand the adjacent Delco Shopping Center, anchored by Grand Union. Dr. Kumble had suggestions for each of the pieces and what needed to be done to promote responsible development. For Thypin Steel, he recommended that the historical significance of the property not be discarded and that any development maintains access to Manhasset Bay. For Morewood, Dr. Kumble suggested that new development be limited to 540 new residents and the rest of the property be preserved for open space for non?golf course use to ensure the future of the water supply in Port Washington. For the Dallas Realty property, he recommended that half of the 40.9 acres be dedicated park land because Port Washington North falls short of the national recommendations for park land which is 9.6 acres for every 1,000 residents. For the Lewis Oil property, he suggested that an environmental clean up would be required due to the fact that 15 oil storage tanks have occupied the space for well over twenty years and the extent of environmental contamination is as yet unknown. Port Washington Civic Association board member Hank Ratner commented that the "Lewis Oil property was a done deal." That sparked an instant reaction from Village of Port Washington North Mayor Thomas Pellegrino who stated that if Ratner were to attend the public hearing on November 13th regarding the rezoning application,. he would see that this was far from over. Other comments from the audience included a complaint by former School Board member Nancy Cowles who complained that Residents failed to take into account any figures on school population when they calculated required park space. Peri Zausner, also a Port Washington North Civic Association Board member, said, "An environmental impact statement should be required before proceeding with the Lewis Oil property." On a positive note, most people in attendance seemed to come out of the forum more informed about development in Port Washington






	For a 1 year subscription to the Port Washington Sentinel Please send your Name, address, city, state, zip and a check for $12.00 to The Port Washington Sentinel, Inc. PO Box 1378 Port Washington, NY 11050

"Cautious Development in Port Theme of Public Forum

By Eric Zausner (appeared in the 11-17-00 edition, page 3)

By Eric Zausner
(appeared in the 11-17-00 edition, page 3)