Residents continued to oppose a proposal for a 65-unit condo at 200 Middle Neck Road at a Great Neck Estates meeting Monday, Oct. 20. The public hearing was supposed to see a finalized incentive, which lawyer Paul Bloom, who appeared on behalf of the applicant, did not have.
“The applicant has been working on revising an updated incentive that has not yet been finalized,” he said. “We do not have something to present to the board tonight.”
Bloom, who did not inform the board prior to the meeting that he would attend empty-handed, asked for an adjournment continuation.
The public hearing went on without an updated version of the incentive as the public responded to the proposal as it stands with an understanding that it could be revised. The current incentive is $1 million.
“I know many people are for it, but this is my own personal opinion: We don’t want that building, so I don’t care about the incentive. I don’t care how big it is. I don’t care how small it is,” Great Neck Estates resident Oren Barnea said. “We really don’t want this development.”
Barnea said all the residents he has spoken to oppose the development except for one person.
“I don’t want any money from you guys,” Barnea said. “Just don’t build it.”
Jay Korn, a Great Neck estates resident, echoed this sentiment, saying a resident at a previous meeting had asked how the development would benefit the village.
“That question was never satisfactorily answered to me. If this is good for the village, it’s good for the village. If it’s bad for the village, it’s bad for the village,” he said. “If they increase the incentive, it’s still bad for the village. The majority of the residents do not want this building, and that’s really what I think the board should be focused on.”
Some residents also requested projected tax impacts, which the board said the village will figure out on its own and communicate since the applicant is not required to provide that.
Some residents tried to express concerns outside of the incentive, but the board kept the hearing focused solely on the financial aspects of the development. Other concerns could be submitted in writing.
Residents also pushed for transparency in the decision-making of the board.
“The problem is we don’t want to hear it when you make the decision. We want to know what you guys think before,” one resident said.
“You will not hear it before the board makes a decision. They won’t have a decision,” said trustee Howard Hershenhorn. “That’s when you hear each member speak on whatever they wish, to express their personal views, and they will, collectively, by a majority at least come up with a written decision.”
Hershenhorn compared the process to a court case and the privacy the jury is provided while making the decision.
“These are normals. These are the laws,” he said.
Mayor William Warner assured residents the board would make an informed decision.
“Let me assure you that we are looking into that issue very closely to make it so that these condo owners pay their fair share,” Warner said. “I’m going to give you a little teaser there, but that’s all I’m going to say.”
The next meeting is Nov. 10.
