Readers Write: Golf club expansion plan a threat to E.W.

The Island Now

East Williston’s Board of Zoning Appeals met on Nov. 20 to hear the Wheatley Hills Golf Club’s request for a variance from the village’s zoning code to create an 18-bedroom wing to house its workers……a massive wing that would include shared bathrooms, common areas, and underground garages (grand total square footage: 8,677 sq. ft.). 

The club’s proposed plans include building a new structure of 6,508 sq. ft. and renovating an additional 2,169 sq. ft. of its existing previously constructed addition (Total: 8,677 sq. ft.)……all, seemingly, to house its mostly seasonal/temporary workers in one-bedroom units.  

The meeting was well attended by residents from throughout East Williston, with most having serious questions regarding potential, negative impacts stemming from the club’s plans.

Residents at the meeting asked salient questions: What would happen if the club’s workers, who might live in the club’s proposed 18-bedrooms, had wives and/or children?  

Would wives be allowed to live in the 18-bedrooms?  

Would workers’ children be attending East Williston schools?

Due to the club’s attorney’s request to postpone the board of zoning appeals’ decision, no resolution was reached at the meeting.   

On Saturday, Nov. 22 I received a second, certified letter signed by the president of the Wheatley Hills Golf Club.   

The letter announced the next East Williston Board of Trustees’ hearing to take place on Thursday, Dec. 4 at 8 p.m. in the Village Hall……less than two weeks away.  

On Dec. 4, the trustees will hear the club’s additional application “to request a conditional use” exception to a  second  section of East Williston’s Zoning Code….Section 160-40….for its proposed, 8,677 sq. ft. housing wing-for-workers.  Section 160-40 of the Zoning Code seems to involve whether or not it is permissible for the Club to create an 18-bedroom wing for the purpose of boarding/living/sleeping quarters for its workers. 

Already, the Club has expanded its commercial footprint significantly…..as is evidenced by its existing, previously-constructed addition.

The club’s proposed plans to create a massive, 18-Bedroom wing-for-workers (including shared bathrooms, common areas, and underground parking) present inherent, serious, negative potentials to stress our Fire Department’s resources, congest East Williston’s traffic further; harbor strangers without vested roots in the community within one block of North Side School; tower-over adjacent, property-tax paying homeowners’ residences; block-out homeowners’ sunlight, air, and sky….replacing their sunlight, air, and sky with the view of a brick wall with garages and windows…..windows through which the Club’s seasonal/ temporary workers can look directly into homeowners’ properties….thereby, presenting numerous, serious privacy/security issues for residents; increase garbage/waste of all types; and, further strain East Williston’s water and sewer infrastructures….just to name a few.

Boarding house/apartment-like/ or motel-like living arrangements must never be approved in the tiny Village of East Williston….due to numerous reasons expounded previously.

While it seems last week’s meeting reviewed the club’s appeal to create its proposed building under one, specific section of the zoning code (160-45), the Board of Trustees’ meeting scheduled for Dec. 4, apparently, will be reviewing the club’s planned, actual intent for use for housing club workers….. under another section of the zoning code (160-40).

It is essential that all East Williston residents be aware that East Williston’s zoning code, section 160-40 expressly states:

“160-40. Conditional uses.

A.  This conditional use review and approval procedure is established in recognition that many uses customarily found in communities may cause severe adverse impacts on a small, nearly completely developed, residential village such as East Williston.”

East Williston  is  a small, nearly completely developed residential village – a quality accurately described in section 160-40 of the zoning code.   

Structures that may be customarily found in (other, larger) communities would never be appropriate in East Williston. 

The club’s planned housing wing-for-workers, indeed, would inflict “….severe adverse impacts” on the quality of life of year-round, property-tax paying homeowners living on Ridge Road, on East Williston Avenue….and, throughout the entire village.

At the Dec. 4 meeting, our village’s Board of Trustees apparently can make the ultimate determination to reject or to grant the club’s appeal for exceptions to long-established Sections of East Williston’s zoning code….zoning code-sections that were designed to protect our Village’s homeowners and to preserve our Village’s  intimate, family-homes’ atmosphere.

There is an important quality-of-life issue involved here:

Preserving the existing quality of life for year-round, property-tax paying, East Williston homeowners…. homeowners living adjacent to the Golf Club and homeowners living throughout our intimate village (many with deep roots in the community for decades)   

Versus  the golf club’s proposed plans to provide 18-Bedroom housing for mostly seasonal/temporary club workers…… which, from my perspective, would be tantamount to creating  a massive, 8,677 sq. ft. boarding house/apartment-like/ motel-like complex within the tiny Village of East Williston.

To me, the choice is simple:  Preserving the existing quality of life for year-round, property-tax paying East Williston homeowners always must take precedence over any entity’s proposed construction smacking of characteristics akin to boarding houses, apartment dwellings, and/or motel-like complexes.

The upcoming Board of Trustees’ meeting on Dec. 4 takes us to a major crossroad – a crossroad that will dictate the future quality of life in East Williston.

I urge all East Williston residents to come to the Dec. 4 meeting and share your opinions with our trustees who, ultimately, will decide which future path East Williston will take.

Kathy Rittel

East Williston

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