The Mitchell Farm Neighborhood Association supports the citizens of Manorhaven in their efforts to foster thoughtful dialogue on the ramifications of denser development in their village.
These concerns have most recently been raised in response to an application for a variance by developer Peter Dejana on Manhasset Isle.
Concerns expressed by Manorhaven residents at meetings of their Board of Zoning Appeals include long-standing problems with parking, sewer backups during storms, and other strains on infrastructure, as well as higher taxes for schools and services, should the population of the village continue to increase.
The residents of our neighborhood have expressed many of the same concerns with regard to the proposed mixed-use zoning (commercial and residential in the same building) currently under review by the Town of North Hempstead.
Like our Manorhaven neighbors, we are concerned that higher density development will result in a permanent and detrimental change in the character of the waterfront, including but not limited to loss of water views and access, increased traffic and noise, and increased strain on water-dependent businesses.
This is not just a neighborhood issue. What happens to the waterfront and Main Street affects Port Washington as a whole.
The Town’s initial presentation, delivered at the Port Washington Library in July 2018, took place when many people were away. The presentation may be viewed at https://www.northhempsteadny.gov/waterfront. The moratorium laws and amendments are listed in the November 20, 2018 section of https://www.northhempsteadny.gov/TownBoardAgenda.
Councilwoman Dina Di Giorgio and the Town of North Hempstead have indicated their willingness to hold a second public meeting this spring before school is out. We ask that this meeting take place no later than April so that there is time to process the results before the current moratorium on July 1.
Along with responding to concerns expressed at Town meetings in fall 2018, we ask that the Town specifically address the five following points, which to our knowledge have not been substantively discussed thus far:
1. The waterfront was hard hit during Hurricane Sandy. What are the ramifications of putting additional residences along the water? How would such development impact emergency evacuation on already busy Main Street?
2. What sewer, power, street, and other infrastructure upgrades would be needed to handle the additional population? What is the expected impact of these on property taxes?
3. How many parking spaces (at minimum) would be required for each residential unit under the new code? How would such parking be provided? The Knickerbocker project ran into trouble while excavating for underground parking due to the high water table. How does the Town believe overflow parking (second vehicles and visitors) could be managed to avoid spill-over onto already overburdened neighboring streets?
4. What exactly is meant by “view corridors”? The drawings presented in https://www.northhempstead.com/filestorage/16253/16764/16776/28819/Port_Washington_B-W_Waterfront_Presentation.pdf (Bulk Standards section) are difficult for the average person to interpret. We ask for a “man-on-the-street” scale drawing or model of such a corridor between at least two hypothetical new buildings, built to the maximum dimensions that would be allowed under the new code.
5 How would the proposed code affect plans to extend waterfront public access from Town Dock to Dolphin Green? If a developer either does not provide public access or puts in a walkway but then effectively closes it, how would that infringement be addressed?
We urge the citizens of Port Washington to familiarize themselves with the issues at hand and to express their concerns to the Town in advance of the expected public meeting.
Respectfully yours,
The members of the Mitchell Farm Neighborhood Association
(submitted by Lori Rothstein, Port Washington)
