The Mineola Village Board granted AT&T a 90-day extension at last Wednesday night’s meeting on a permit to install new cell antennas on a building at 250 Old Country Road, with the apparent intention to put the antennas on an apartment complex to be built on the site by Lalezarian Developers.
The board had granted AT&T a permit for the installation in late January, preceding public hearings the village board held on the Lalezarian project in May and August.
The village board deferred voting on the 315-unit Lalezarian project last month pending review by the Nassau County Planning Commission.
But board members expressed no objections to revised plans presented on the project.
Daniel Whelan, village superintendent of buildings, said he supposed AT&T had communicated with Lalezarian Developers about their construction plans on the site.
“We have other things in play right now,” Whelan said.
He noted that AT&T’s request for an extension was submitted in August, one month after its six-month permit for the antennas had expired.
“No harm. No foul. We give out 90-day extensions all the time,” said Mineola Deputy Mayor Paul Pereira, who proposed the board grant the extension.
Pereira said AT&T probably wants the extension to maintain the permit as it waits to see what happens on the site.
“There’s an issue where others are in play. The only one on the hook for it is AT&T,” said Mineola Trustee Lawrence Werther.
Attempts to reach AT&T and Lalezarian Developers for clarification about the cell antenna permit application were unavailing.
On another pending construction project, Whelan told the board Winthrop-University Hospital is proceeding with plans to build a new research center on Mineola Boulevard.
Whelan said the buildings department is reviewing Winthrop’s final plans for the center and a permit is likely to be issued by next week, enabling demolition of the hospital’s community center on the corner of Mineola Boulevard and 2nd Street to make room for the new research facility.
Whelan said preparation of the site for construction of the research facility will likely continue through November.
“We’ve worked out a traffic pattern that should not be too cumbersome,” Whelan said. “This is in the gate and it’s set to begin.”
In other developments:
• Emory Road residents complained about teenagers drinking alcohol and using drugs late at night on a fenced-off field adjacent to a village water station.
“Most people don’t know what’s going on,” said Emory Road resident Kevin McKenna.
Mineola Mayor Scott Strauss said he had spoken with Nassau County Police Department 3rd Precinct Inspector Kevin McCarthy about the problem and was assured the police would patrol the area.
• Residents also complained about a problem with a village resident at 375 Oak Place who has accumulated garbage in vehicles in the driveway, including perishable food.
Strauss said Whelan had recently issued 12 summonses to the property owner.
“We thought that would do it. But obviously he’s done more work since then,” Strauss said.
