A plan to rezone parts of Middle Neck and Steamboat roads in the Village of Great Neck received mixed reviews from the president of the Great Neck Chamber of Commerce who praised the board of trustee’s initiative but questioned if the proposed changes would be economically viable.
“On behalf of the chamber of commerce I’d like to applaud the board for their bold initiative,” said Hooshang Nematzadeh, a developer who is also the president of the Great Neck chamber. “But, I believe you should raise the density.”
Nematzadeh spoke following a presentation by engineering firm VHB, which has worked with the village board of trustees for months on a proposal that seeks to revitalize the core business district.
“This has been a good process,” said Dave Schiff, an engineer with VHB. “Hopefully, we’re closer to the end now.”
VHB engineers have recommended that zoning for Steamboat Road be changed from commercial and residential to only residential and that Middle Neck be changed to only residential at its northern and southern ends, with a central business core.
Steamboat Road residences, VHB engineers said, would be zoned for townhouses and Middle Neck Road residences would be zoned for multi-family apartments.
The townhouses on Steamboat Road, Schiff said, would be zoned for 15 units per acre and the multi-family apartments on Middle Neck Road would be zoned for about 45 units per acre.
The proposal made by VHB would zone Middle Neck Road from Hicks Lane and Arrandale Avenue to Baker Hill Road for business use.
Mixed-use buildings, with commercial properties on the first floor and residential on the second floor, would also be permitted on Middle Neck Road, under the proposed zoning changes.
Schifter said the objective of the proposed changes was to encourage “walkability” on Middle Neck Road.
“[Middle Neck Road] serves this community as a vital center,” Schiff said. “We’re here to really look at how to revitalize the Middle Neck corridor.”
Nematzadeh said he supported a majority of the changes proposed by VHB, but added that if the board wanted to attract developers to build in the area that they should increase the number of units per acre on Steamboat and Middle Neck roads.
“Fifteen units per acre is not possible,” he said of the proposed zoning changes on Steamboat Road. “I don’t think that a developer could tackle this.”
Nematzadeh suggested that the board increase the density of the townhouses on Steamboat Road to about 17 to 18 units per acre.
He warned the trustees that they would have “vacant lots staring” at them if they did not increase the density.
Kouros Torkan, a landlord in the village, also supported the initiative proposed by VHB and the board of trustees.
“We have a great amount of vacancies,” he said. “The stores that are not vacant are experiencing difficulties. I have stores that are not paying rent.”
Torkan suggested that the board of trustees conduct an economic benefit study to see how the proposed changes would bring increased revenue to the village.
“I think this could prove to be very rewarding,” he said.
Village of Great Neck Mayor Ralph Kreitzman said he and other board officials will submit comments to VHB and adjourned the public hearing until the next meeting, which is scheduled for Aug. 19.
