The 15 Bond Street affordable housing project remained in park on Wednesday, as Great Neck Plaza village trustees told a representative to review new concerns over parking.
Great Neck developer Effie Namdar, of 14 Park Place LLC, has been looking to build the affordable housing complex for years. The project was planned to have 61 apartment units, but has steadily ticked down to 55.
Paul Bloom, who represents Namdar, said the parking plan they submitted addressed previous concerns raised by VHB Engineering, the village’s consultant.
He said it redesigned the lower level of parking, moved a support beam and consequently shaved off a unit of housing.
Additionally, the village received a new master plan at 4:50 p.m. but could not review it before the 8:00 p.m. meeting.
“We had an engineer relook at the entire structure,” Bloom said.
However village trustees, citing a separate letter from VHB Engineering, said a simulation showed potential driving issues arising from column locations and problems with nine parking spaces.
Great Neck Plaza Mayor Jean Celender also said that the three spots reserved for people with disabilities were all on the lower levels and far from elevators.
“It may meet code, but it’s not appropriate,” Celender said.
Ultimately, Bloom said they plan to review the board’s concerns and hoped both sides’ engineers could jointly find a solution.
Trustees adjourned the case to Aug. 2.
Bloom, who also represents Plaza Gate LLC, additionally presented a case to convert the former Stanton Cleaners into a “single-user office building” for real estate investors.
Bloom said that, with 15 to 20 parking spots, that it would “more than support” the five full-time and three part-time employees expected.
“This is a very low impact use of this site,” Bloom said.
Village officials highlighted nearby environmental issues, while Village Clerk-Treasurer Patricia O’Byrne noted that the property’s tax debt goes back to 2012.
Bloom assured officials that his clients know the issues and are working with the Environmental Protection Agency to resolve them.
The board decided to adjourn this issue as well, citing a need for more documentation and having all village trustees present to decide. They will have another meeting Aug. 2.
Trustees Gerry Schneiderman and Ted Rosen were on vacation.
Another issue that officials raised regarding shopping carts. 114 carts from Best Market had accumulated in storage and some officials said the business’s $2,500 offer to buy them back seemed low.
But Celender said the issue was the space they occupied and how the village continuously needs to pick them up.
“I don’t want to babysit the carts,” Celender said. “I really don’t.”
Trustees ultimately agreed to Best Market’s offer, but added a condition that their carts must be fitted with locking mechanisms.
Trustees also approved a modification to a Hu Jiang Medical Arts’ conditional-use permit, allowing Faber Orthodontics to share the space. This will add oral surgical services.
