The Mineola Board of Trustees voted last week to reserve decision on a special permit application for a proposed urgent health care facility that would be part of a 50/50 joint venture between GoHealth Urgent Care and Northwell Health.
GoHealth is seeking to erect a new facility at 12 E. Jericho Tpke., adjacent to the site of a new Walgreens going up on the northeast corner of the intersection at Jericho Turnpike and Roslyn Road. “Our whole mission is to build centers in communities where people live their lives, rather than having large hospitals, to create efficient, smaller high-quality urgent care sites,” said Sarah Arora, president, New York market for GoHealth, said.
During the May 11 public hearing preceding the board’s no decision, Arora said her company is seeking to expand from the 21 New York metro facilities it currently operates with Northwell—most of them on Long Island—to 40 to 60 facilities over the next three years.
Arora said GoHealth’s facilities are typically staffed by one physician or physician assistant, an x-ray technician and a third staff member to handle testing and other responsibilities.
She said all staff members received credentials for their positions through Northwell.
She said “mature” GoHealth centers draw 45 to 60 patients per day, and can handle four patients per hour. “You want to see your patients quickly and reduce wait time,” Arora said.
She said prospective patients would be able to check on the wait time at the facility and schedule an appointment online. If the respective center cannot provide treatment, it would provide a referral to a facility where treatment could be provided.
Proposed hours at the 2,700-square foot Jericho Turnpike site would be 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. Monday through Friday and 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Saturday and Sunday.
Peter Mineo, an attorney representing GoHealth and Walgreens on their respective projects, said consideration was given to several uses for the site abutting the pharmacy, “but we settled on urgent health care” as an idea the village board would consider favorably.
He said there would be 78 parking places on the site for both GoHealth and Walgreens, with 70 spaces required to cover parking requirements.
He said state and county approvals had been given for the curb cuts for access to the GoHealth site on Jericho Turnpike. But he acknowledged that the county planning commission had not yet approved the plans—prompting the no decision from the village board—and also noted GoHealth also needs village planning board approval for a subdivision of the property.
Mineola Mayor Scott Strauss encouraged GoHealth to keep its property well maintained to avoid issues the village has had with other businesses in the area, including the existing Walgreens. “Please maintain the property. We’ve been less than successful with CVS and Walgreens,” Strauss said.
Mineo assured Strauss that if the property is subdivided for two different owners, each owner would take care of their area.
Village of Mineola Trustee Dennis Walsh expressed concern about traffic to be generated on the site as well as eastbound access to Jericho Turnpike.
“It’s nearly impossible to make a left out of there,” Walsh said.
John Harter, a traffic expert from Atlantic Traffic Design, said the site would likely draw 10 cars per hour, compared to 75 cars per hour projected for a bank branch previously considered for the site. And he said the state Department of Transportation would not consider placing a traffic signal at the location.
The Mineola village board also reserved decision last Wednesday night on an application from Victor Hatami, owner of Great Neck Games & Productions at 275 Jericho Tpke., to extend weekday hours from 10 p.m. to 11 p.m. for parties—many of them bar mitzvahs—that are held on the building’s mezzanine level.
People who live near Great Neck Games complained of hearing late night noise from the facility with its current hours.
“I have little kids. It’s a residential neighborhood and it hurts our quality of life,” said Wellington Road resident Gregory Simone.
Hatami said “it’s impossible the noise gets out” but he added “we can do something about it.” He also said he pays $132,000 in village taxes annually.
“I don’t think that argument’s helping you,” said Mineola Deputy Mayor Paul Pereira.
In response to questions from Walsh, Hatami said he just wanted to “occasionally” host events that would run late during the week.
“Occasionally doesn’t tell us anything,” said Walsh, who suggested Hatami revise his application.
At the meeting, Strauss also said a suspended public hearing on an application for a Starbucks in the Mineola Long Island Rail Road station plaza is tentatively slated to resume at the June 8 board meeting. The board also unanimously approved a local law to restrict prospective vape shops and hookah bars to the village’s light manufacturing and industrial district.
“We’re not against hookah bars and vape stores. We want to define [them] a little better so they know where they fit,” Strauss said.
