The Village of Port Washington North met for its regular monthly meeting on Aug. 15, to remember Landmark Preservation Commissioner Dr. George Williams who recently passed away, and talk about TJ Maxx updates, lights that are out within the village, Safavieh and beautification.
Mayor Robert Weitzner began the meeting with a moment of silence and a few words about Williams, who has a day (April 24) named after him within the village.
“Dr. George L. Williams was an early visionary for preserving the historic nature, beauty and antiquities of Port Washington, and understanding that the history of its people is integral to its character,” read Weitzner from a proclamation. “Williams dedicated his life to the promotion of history and the people in it, serving as Landmark Preservation Commissioner of the Village of Port Washington North since 1981.”
The village also remembered Myron Blumenfeld, who Weitzner explained was one of the village’s biggest supporters of the baywalk.
“I remember when phase one was done he actually came and started crying that we had done the work, I guess in his eyes, that should have been done,” said Weitzner.
The board discussed a few updates regarding the stores at Soundview Marketplace. Building inspector Robert Barbach explained that TJ Maxx has selected their general contractor, ACE Hardware’s drawings were approved, GNC was issued its building permits and Danceworks is under construction.
“I had the opportunity to talk to management of Soundview Marketplace a few weeks ago and all the documents and lease documents have been officially signed by TJ Maxx, and ACE Hardware is now going to move,” said Weitzner. “I’m told TJ Maxx wants to move in by February.”
We’re going to let them start demolition on either side of the existing ACE space while they finish and relocate ACE so they can just go through,” replied Barbach. “There’s no downside for us.”
The board also discussed the potential replacement of five lights for roughly $17,000 within the village with possible approval in upcoming weeks.
Approved at the meeting was a conditional use application subject to review by the zoning board for Safavieh (2 Channel Dr.) with a renewal in a year to check to see if traffic flow is acceptable and there have been no issues with sound or lighting for the adjacent properties.
“We have an application before the board for an outdoor store,” explained Barbach. “This is a retail operation to the trade in a maritime district. As such it is not a permitted use. It is a use permitted based upon an approval by this board. The applicant came before the board at the last board of trustees meeting and council pointed out they had not erected a sign of notification at the property, so the hearing was adjourned. They have subsequently erected such a sign and the applicant is back before the board tonight to seek approval.”
Regarding beautification of the village, the board mentioned the new signage that will appear in the baywalk including signs that tell residents to put their garbage in trash cans, a rules sign displaying the hours of operation along with rules such as no smoking, no drinking, no shopping carts and a sign facing the water for boaters that says, “Welcome To Port North.” Beautification commissioner Howard Roth said that the village will have weeding done within the baywalk to clean it up a bit while Weitzner expressed hope that the kiosk be completed by Labor Day.
The board approved an intermunicipal agreement with the Town of North Hempstead regarding gasoline and GIS computer engineering support services from H2M.
