The Kol Yisrael Achim Congregation proposed an extension on its 429 Middle Neck Road property to Great Neck village trustees on Tuesday, hoping to gain approval for an addition and other changes to the synagogue.
Synagogue representatives said the second-floor addition, which would have a setback, is strictly meant for Rabbi Yosef Alon and his family. There would also be a frontward extension for a children’s play area, as well as facade changes, the addition of stone columns and a reduction of parking stalls from three to two.
Paul Bloom, the congregation’s legal representative, said that with this plan about 2,483 square feet is normally permitted, but 3,328 is being requested.
“This gives an opportunity for the family to be together,” Bloom said.
Village officials ultimately voted to accept the applicant’s request for the board to assume authority for site plan and architectural review, but not a final approval for any changes to the conditional use permit.
The plans must also be sent to the Nassau County Planning Commission for comments, the village’s legal counsel said, because the synagogue is located on Middle Neck Road. The county needs to respond within a month.
Trustees said they will leave the public hearing open until Oct. 17, the first trustee meeting after the one-month waiting period.
Robert Barbach, the village’s building superintendent, said this gives the applicants and the village time to rectify differences between the proposed drawings and what was being presented.
“There is some work to do over the next 30 days,” Barbach said.
In other business at the meeting, village officials approved the extension of their “sidewalk sale” to November’s end. This means that residents and business owners can waive fees for the necessary permits to fix or redo their sidewalks, village officials said, so they are in compliance with requirements of the Americans With Disabilities Act.
“We are really trying to make sure that the sidewalks are safe, especially when the days are getting shorter,” Great Neck Village Mayor Pedram Bral said.
At the meeting, village officials also noted that they received a traffic study for an assisted living facility proposed for 705 Middle Neck Road and that public comment remains open, approved a sign application from Great Neck Chemists and lifted some parking restrictions for Sukkot, Shemini Atzeret and Simchat Torah.
