Plans to construct a gated entrance with a security booth in the Kennilworth section of the Village of Kings Point were stalled Thursday after a resident, whose property is adjacent to the booth, appeared at a village Board of Trustees meeting to voice concerns with the project.
“We are exceptionally upset by this application,” Kings Point resident Jim Gubbins said. “Not that we resent the right of anybody to do what they’re doing, and if I lived in Kennilworth, I might even agree with it. But the impact it is going to have on us is considerable and very upsetting to us.”
The Kennilworth Home Owners Association is seeking to create a gated community to better monitor who comes into the Kings Point enclave, association officials said.
Wayne Edwards, an attorney representing the association, said resident and safety concerns were taken into account when designing the project, which will also include landscaping intended to beautify the community’s entrance.
“Fortunately, we’re not inventing the wheel here,” Edwards said. “We’ve looked at other gated communities and seen how they operate, what systems they used. I think we’ve taken the best of those systems and added to it.”
He also said the applicant had three traffic studies completed by Cameron Engineering to ensure there would be no backup of cars waiting to enter through the gate and spoke with both the Vigilant and Alert Fire Companies to guarantee that fire trucks and emergency vehicles would be able to quickly enter through the gate during an emergency.
Gubbins said he has a gazebo on his property that is approximately 20 to 30 feet away from the proposed gate booth, and feared the placement of the booth would negatively impact his quality of life.
His wife, Millie, said the booth would cause a noise disturbance to their home.
“My greatest concern is the noise that will exist because of a person at the gate discussing with people entering whether they can stay or turn around,” she said. “There will be continual conversation.”
Gubbins suggested moving the booth north from where it is currently proposed to be placed, which he said would deter any noise impact to his home.
“What we’re saying really is, if you move the damn gate house 50 feet, nobody has a problem,” he said. “They seem so reasonable, we hope we can sit down and work this out.”
Village of Kings Point Mayor Michael Kalnick said Gubbins suggestion would not allow for a sufficient turnaround space for vehicles denied entry into the community as provided for under the association’s proposal.
“If we put the gate 50 feet north, there is nowhere to put this turnaround,” Kalnick said.
Trustee Ron Horowitz, who lives in the Kennilworth community, questioned whether the booth could be moved south from its current proposed location.
Gubbins said moving south was “not as good as north,” but would better accommodate his concerns.
Edwards said it would be possible to move the booth south and maintain every other aspect of the plan.
“I always felt there was sufficient backup space,” he said.
Village Attorney Stephen Limmer suggested the homeowners meet with Gubbins and his wife to address their concerns.
“Rather than having this discussion here, I’d suggest you meet with Mr. and Mrs. Gubbins on the property and see if you can together work out a landscaping plan that satisfies the two of you,” Limmer said.
