Town Board Votes That Movie Crews Need Permits

In the wake of complaints from residents and commuters alike, the Town of North Hempstead board unanimously voted Tuesday evening to require movie crews to obtain permits if they will be shooting on public or private property.

According to Councilman Fred Pollack, the problem began about a month ago in Port Washington when a movie crew set up filming in a commuter parking lot at four in the morning, closing the lot. Within two hours, Pollack said, he had received numerous e-mails from residents complaining about the noise and streets being closed, and LIRR commuters wondering why a parking lot was closed.

Despite the movie crew's insistence that they received approval from the police, Pollack said he was concerned that other emergency services, such as the fire department and ambulance services, were not notified. "God forbid an ambulance is going the normal way and that street's blocked and they have to go some other way," Pollack said. "If 60 seconds or two minutes is lost and somebody's having a heart attack, that could be the difference. Whereas if they know, they can go around the other way."

In addition, the crew made a lot of noise, and left garbage in the area, Pollack explained. "They basically made a big pain of themselves and there was no way to control it," Pollack said.

Movies and commercials have been filmed in Port Washington before, including Meet the Parents, and Pollack said the town has never had any problems with movie crews prior to what happened last month. "This one really caused a problem," he said. "I said we have to regulate this."

Pollack also referred to an incident that occurred recently in Bellmore when police were called to an alleged armed robbery at a jewelry store. Upon arriving, he said, the officers found it was only a movie being filmed. Expressing relief that the actor didn't flash the gun at the police officer, Pollack said, "It could have been a very scary and unfortunate situation, which reinforces the need for this particular law so that the police and other emergency services are notified as well as giving us an opportunity to control it."

The new ordinance requires producers to see the Town Clerk if they are planning to film on public or private property anywhere in the Town of North Hempstead. The Town Clerk then seeks approval from the Town Emergency Services and if they decide the area is not safe, the movie crew will be told to go elsewhere.

"It's designed to protect the community," Pollack said.

The ordinance passed by a unanimous vote at the Town Board meeting on Tuesday evening at Town Hall in Manhasset, with no attendees coming forward during public comment to be speak about the decision.

Also at the meeting, a resolution was approved to provide funds to choose a designer for a proposed skateboarding park in Port Washington. Pollack said the location will most likely be Manorhaven Park. At a public hearing in April, around 80 residents expressed a desire for a skate park to be built in the area.

If all the plans go through, Pollack said construction will begin on the skate park around Labor Day, coinciding with the other renovations Manorhaven Park will be undergoing. The construction is expected to be completed by Memorial Day 2011.