The New Hyde Park Village Board reserved decision on William Rose of Milrose Consultants’ plan to alter the second floor of a building at 1301 4th Ave. in New Hyde Park on Tuesday, June 17.
Patrick Sweeney, vice president of finances with World Courier Inc., which currently occupies 1313 4th Ave., is seeking to move World Courier employees into the 1301 location should the application be approved, and spoke at the village board meeting.
According to Sweeney, the second floor has approximately 6,800 square feet, and has “just been sitting there empty—we want to make it into office space for information technology personnel.” The incoming personnel will be moved from World Courier’s Stamford, Conn. location.
Sweeney said there will be 12 employees in the office space, but it could grow to between 20 and 25.
The primary concern of residents and the village board was parking.
Sweeney explained that employees would be parking in the interior of the 1301 location, and with the recent purchase of 1111-1115 Second Ave., New Hyde Park, Sweeney said World Courier is seeking to demolish the buildings on that property and put up a fence for employee parking.
There will be 13 new spots in the current building, which will add to a current 14 in the front section. At the 1111-1115 location, 22 parking spots have been mapped out so far.
Sweeney said World Courier has leased 10 parking spots next door, which they will keep as long as needed.
“Having the lot at 1111-1115 should certainly have enough space for everyone,” Sweeney said.
The hours of operation would be 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., with potentially some working until 8 p.m. or arriving at 7 a.m. Current employees are parking in a lot, however some have parked in the street for convenience, which Sweeney said World Courier is trying to end.
“We do recognize that it is a congested area, and we have gotten pretty vociferous with people in telling people where it will be grounds for termination if they are parking on the street and there is space inside for them,” Sweeney said.
Trustee Donald Barbieri thanked Sweeney for World Courier being a primary employer of village residents.
The board will consider the testimony made by Sweeney and make a decision at the next meeting, on July 8.
In Other News
Barbieri offered an update on helicopter noise complaints in the village, announcing that the village had recently met with FAA (Federal Aviation Administration) representatives from the Farmingdale location for over an hour. A letter was sent to FAA Regional Administrator Carmine Gallo containing suggestions that Barbieri said, “We think that if they choose to, they could act upon.”
New Hyde Park is asking helicopters that are flying at a lower altitude due to the wind blowing southwest and aircraft flying over the village to JFK airport to use other routes on those days.
“It doesn’t sound like a request that is ridiculous,” Barbieri said. “There are things that can be done to reduce the noise in our village. We’re requesting that they do the best they can.”
The village is also requesting that on days where the wind is not blowing southwest, that planes or helicopters that fly over the village use a higher altitude.
Mayor Robert Lofaro shared his thoughts on the issue, saying, “the bottom line is we’re not going to be able to change these flight paths, all we’re doing is trying to get equitable distribution.”
Operation Main Street
Lofaro issued an update for Operation Main Street. He stated the village recently informed J. Anthony Enterprises the village has been approved to restart the project—it had been suspended by New York State a few weeks ago due to an issue with federal funding.
“That had to be corrected, so as of May 31, we officially stopped the project until we had assurance from the federal government that they would give New York State the money to give us so we could pay the contractor,” Lofaro said. “We did get an acknowledgment the project has been extended, so we’re waiting for J. Anthony to give us a request to extend the project.”
Lofaro said it is the village’s hope for the project to be completed by the end of June or mid July.
Road Improvement Talk
The 2014 Road Improvement Project has commenced and a pre-construction meeting was recently held. According to Lofaro, contractor Laser Industries has begun street markings, and crews will be heading out doing cement work on certain roads.
Lofaro estimated the project covers 1.8 miles of road and $1.5 million worth of work.
Retirees Honored
Mayor Lofaro recognized the retirement of village employees Charlie Jesel and John Jurgielski, as well as the resignation of Richard Belziti. Jesel has been a garbage collector with the village for 20 years, Jurgielski was a senior code enforcer and Belziti worked in the village’s building department.
“We thank all of you for your service to the village,” Lofaro said.
