The Town of North Hempstead board gave conditional approval to plans for a major expansion of the Babylonia Jewish Center at its Tuesday night meeting.
The board voted unanimously to approve site plans for the Iraqi Jewish synagogue to expand its existing 3,700 square foot facility at 440 Great Neck Road to 5,000 square feet after setting several requirements regarding parking and other issues.
The board had continued a hearing from its July 31 meeting on the proposed expansion, which includes the addition of a 3,000-square-foot social hall, a 144-square-foot kitchen facility and an 1,800-square-foot space for two classrooms and a library.
Town of North Hempstead Supervisor Jon Kaiman said at the outset of the discussion that the town Board of Zoning appeals had already approved the temple’s expansion plans. He said the town board was seeking to resolve residents’ concerns about temple congregants parking on streets near the temple.
“The temple is going to make a good faith effort to park everybody on this property,” Kaiman said. “The notion that they will park on the side streets causing a problem for the residents, that is unacceptable.”
Temple attorney Peter Mineo said a “series of discussions and meetings” involving residents and temple members had taken place since the July 31 meeting. He said temple congregants would accept the parking restrictions stipulated in the conditional agreement.
“The applicant is in agreement with those conditions if the board grants site-plan approval this evening,” Mineo said.
Michael Levine, commissioner of the town department of planning said the conditions included:
• The temple must provide proof of an agreement with a licensed valet parking service to the town.
• An application must be made to provide space for overflow parking from the temple at 488 Great Neck Road.
• The premises are only to be used for members of the congregation with no rental of the temple to non-members permitted.
• The kitchen is to be used as a “prep kitchen” only.
• No full-time classes are to be held on premises except for weekends and holidays.
Alison Belfiore, president of the Lakeville Civic Association in Great Neck said she was “very happy” with the conditions set, but said she wanted the temple to provide proof of an agreement for an overflow parking lot at 488 Great Neck Road.
Kaiman said without an agreement for overlow parking attendance at temple events would be limited.
“If that condition is not met, they cannot use the facility for 200 people,” he said, adding that events would be limited to 170 people.
Great Neck resident Gerald Chatelain said his concern was “safety in our neighborhood.” He said fire trucks were unable to reach a fire in the area last weekend because of congestion caused by parking.
Kaiman said the town board is seeking to create “options” with conditions it’s setting and would enforce posted parking restrictions in the area.
“It’s in their interest to be on top of their game,” Kaimans said, adding that violations of conditions would result in suspension of all events at the temple for a period of time.
Kaiman said the board would continue to monitor the impact of traffic on the neighborhood surrounding the temple.
In other developments:
• The town board authorized a memorandum of agreement between the Civil Service Employees union local 1000 and the town establishing terms of a five year agreement from Jan 1, 2012 through Dec. 31, 2016 providing for salary increases of 2 percent in the first two years of the deal, 2.5 percent in the third year and 3 percent in the final two years of the deal.
• The town board approved a resolution authorizing agreements with four taxi cab companies to provide discounted rides for residents 60 years and older for non-urgent medical appointments and grocery shopping. It is a continuation of a transportation program established under the town’s Project Independence program aimed at enabling senior residents to maintain independent households.
