By Jessica Chin and Noah Manskar
A plan for a Harley-Davidson motorcycle dealership in New Hyde Park is “tentatively stalled” because the applicant must choose a new engineer for the project, Lawrence Montreuil, the village’s mayor-elect, said last Thursday.
The applicant, Amir Jarrah, agreed to choose a new engineering firm after VHB Engineering, which submitted a study of the proposed dealership at 1324 Jericho Turnpike, hired a principal of Cashin Spinelli & Ferretti, which the village initially hired to review the study.
The village felt the ties between the two firms created a conflict of interest, Montreuil said.
“They’re looking for a new engineering company; that engineering company is going to look at the state of the work that VHB did and say, ‘we agree with that or we will submit another environmental impact assessment,’” Montreuil said at the March 23 Board of Trustees meeting.
Jarrah, the owner of Miracle Mile Harley-Davidson in Great Neck, is also seeking a new architect after the “untimely death” of John Notaro, who had first presented the plans to the board, Montreuil said.
Notaro reportedly succumbed to a heart attack while shoveling snow during the recent snowstorm, Montreuil said. The board gave its condolences to the Notaro family.
Jarrah presented plans in October 2015 to build a new 8,000-square-foot motorcycle showroom and 6,200-square-foot basement repair shop at the current site of Miller Bros. Plumbing & Heating.
The village hired the engineering firm Nelson, Pope & Voorhis to review the study VHB submitted on his behalf last August, which found that there would be no harm to property values, noise levels, traffic or quality of life in the village.
But New Hyde Park residents have opposed the dealership, saying it would cause traffic safety problems and hurt the village’s character.
Jarrah may have to submit a further environmental study if Nelson, Pope & Voorhis finds flaws in VHB’s initial review, village officials have said.
Jarrah did not return a phone call seeking comment.
Also on Thursday, the Board of Trustees unanimously voted to submit an application for a $250,000 Community Development Block Grant for its streetscaping project on Jericho Turnpike.
The grant is federally funded and administered through the Nassau County Office of Housing & Community Development.
The streetscaping project, which has been in progress for 10 years and is known as “Operation Main Street,” involves putting in new sidewalks, benches and trash cans, Montreuil said.
The board and community also said goodbye to outgoing Mayor Robert Lofaro, who served 18 years on the board, including four as mayor.
Montreuil was elected as the new mayor on March 21.
Trustee Donald Barbieri said he has never met anyone as “devoted” and “hard-working” as Lofaro.
Barbieri, Lofaro and Montreuil have served together on the board for 16 years.
Montreuil said he will miss Lofaro’s friendship, and “his untiring effort” the most.
Barbieri was re-elected to his trustee position. He, Montreuil, Trustee-elect Rich Pallisco and village Justice Chris DeVane will be sworn in on April 3 in the Village Hall.
