The in Port Washington is once again a hot topic in the .
Forest Hills-based Cord Meyer Development Company wants to build a 32-unit, three-story senior housing facility on that property that includes parking beneath the building. Yet at Tuesday's North Hempstead Town Board meeting, the proposal was met with worries about flooding, parking and traffic.
The board spent nearly 90 minutes at Tuesday's meeting debating and listening to discussion about the impact that property would have on the community and its resources. Further debate will continue on Feb. 15.
As proposed currently, the facility would include a 41-seat restaurant. Bill DiConza, an attorney for Cord Meyer, pointed out that the community had asked for some commercial usage from this property. The site would also offer a promenade that would be available to to both locals and visitors, enforceable by the town.
The proposed facility would feature 65 parking spaces for the residents, restaurant workers and patrons. But many at the meeting asked what would happen when these parking spots flooded and questioned whether that would be adequate parking without causing spillover onto local streets.
And while representatives from the property asserted that they are making flood mitigation plans – such as a tank to collect rain water and a gate to stop water – meeting attendees raised concerns about flood waters coming down from higher elevation and how this property's design would impact the community.
Other residents cited that Port Washington already has plenty of senior housing.
Still, some at the meeting liked that the design for the facility pays homage to Port Washington's waterfront heritage. Other positive comments included the observation that the area could gain more tax revenue without adding more children to the school district. A representative for the developer noted that tax paid would increase by nearly 380 percent to $534,000 as a senior housing facility.
Councilwoman Dina DiGeorgio read a letter from Residents for a More Beautiful Port Washington, which stated that it would like the facility to go back to its original plan that did not include a restaurant. A letter from the also expressed concerns about safety.
The next Town of North Hempstead meeting will begin at 7:30 p.m. on Feb. 15.
