Delay In Port Development

Plans to take one of the last empty spaces on Main Street and turn it into a three story building are on hold, at least until January, after the town zoning board did not act on a request for variances for the proposed project.
At a meeting earlier this month, the Town of North Hempstead Board of Zoning Appeals, peppered by objections from residents near the proposed development, and joined by the lawyer they hired, kept the matter open until its next meeting Jan. 7. Either side can submit something until Jan. 7. Also, the lawyers representing the residents and the property owners have committed to meet before that date.
The owners of the property, Laurie and Marty Scheinman, seek four variances: for the height of a retaining wall, the depth of a required buffer, parking spots that aren’t wide enough, and not enough side yard setback. Variances are deviations from rules set by municipalities, in this case the Town of North Hempstead.
Laurie, who is known in Port as the owner of Wit & Whim, a shop that gives all its profits to charity, did not see the board’s inaction as a setback. “This is a big project, so [the zoning board] is going over every step with a fine tooth comb,” she said.
She and her husband also remain open to speaking with area residents about the project, Laurie said.
The property at lower Main Street—next to the Good Year shop and across from Manhasset Bay—is envisioned to contain professional offices on the first floor and six apartments on each of the two upper floors. There is no retail use proposed for the property and all parking is contained on the site.
The Scheinmans say they want a top flight structure in terms of modern office space and market rate apartments. At a meeting, it was said that monthly rents would run around $1,800 for
a one bedroom and $3,000 for a two-bedroom with a water view.
The couple bought the half-acre parcel two years ago for $1 million. Laurie, a child therapist, and Marty, a labor arbitrator, wanted something that “would reflect the future of Port and our lives,” Laurie said.
Laurie and Marty envision moving their professional practices to the 18,000-square-foot building and perhaps even one day living there. “Our standard is a place we want to live,” now that all five of their children have graduated from high school, Laurie said.
The couple has already met with area groups, including Residents for a More Beautiful Port Washington, BID (Business Improvement District) and the Cow Neck Peninsula Historic Society. They have also met with residents, at a session at the Port Washington Library, and with neighbors that live near the proposed project.
The Scheinmans have already made concessions, giving up parking spaces to cut down on emissions and lowering a retaining wall.
But that is not enough for some area residents. Speaking at a meeting in November, Barry Schneider said the reason he purchased his home was for the view of the water and the park, and that the building is just too big and will take away the reason he fell in love with his home.
“The whole problem with this project is the size,” he said. “It’s too wide, too high and too deep. It’s just too big. I am very concerned about it.”
“I am really against it,” said Joel Katz, a longtime Port resident who is known for taking strong stances against development. “Manhasset Bay is a true jewel and the area around it should be kept as uncluttered as possible.”