I realize that I must be more specific in responding to the letter from the respected president of The Great Neck Chamber of Commerce, Hooshang Nematzadeh.
True, his function as President, is an attempt to develop business areas in Great Neck, but this is only one function of his responsibilities.
The second must be the community, and this I refer to residents. He cannot lose sight, that other villages in Great Neck have a desired way of life, as well, and he must keep this thought in his advocating mind, when suggesting recommendations of various projects.
His intimation that there was glee and joyfulness amongst the residents abiding at or near the Shop Delight application is totally incorrect.
More aptly, it was relief for a project that just didn’t fit the criteria for this large space.
The village leaders of both Great Neck Estates, and Kensington, studied, and recognized all of the pitfalls that this Supermarket would present.
After almost a year of requests from the Mayor of
Great Neck Estates, and his trustees, just on one issue alone, parking, was never addressed by the applicant. His quote was that the Supermarket would require 125-150 cars per hour.
This parking lot accommodates approximately 200 hundred cars.
Perhaps 90 of them are monthly permit holders, by either adjoining residents or commercial tenants and their clientele. You can do the numbers. In your letter, you claim that you solved the Planet Fitness parking problem. This is quite far from the truth.
Controlling the enormous traffic build up on turns from Middle Neck Road, from and to the narrow entrance and exits would be havoc. I’m not even mentioning the vehicles that constantly enter the wrong entrances.
There is also the problem of huge trailers, and trucks making deliveries who cannot maneuver these entrances, and their only solution would be to double park on the already over trafficked Middle Neck Road.
This major artery, at this point funnels into the heart of our village, and needless to say would impact on the traffic and safety aspect, both to autos and pedestrians crossing.
This would as well drastically impact on the Village of Kensington’s Beverly Road, which would turn into an alternate route to avoid the overcrowded Middle Neck Road.
Try picturing this scenario.
Just the traffic and parking alone, would negate this absurd project. This is already a major issue that exists at their present location, and regardless of how many summons they are issued for code violations of every type, if indeed they are issued, they just charge it up as the cost of doing business.
Let Mr. Hematzadeh be present to witness a huge trailer attempting to make a delivery on that strip, and he will appreciate my comments.
I can spend an inordinate amount of time, writing on other code violations that this supermarket owner is guilty of, i.e: fork lifts running back and forth on the sidewalk, using the storefront sidewalk as an outdoor market, filth of their garbage disposal, exposing it to rats, and vermin, to mention a few.
Most of these flagrant violations, have over time been photographically documented, and I would welcome Mr. Hematzadeh the opportunity to view them himself.
The truly basic conclusion, is from an old saying, “ You Can Never Put Five Pounds of Apples In A Two Pound Bag”
Kindly reconsider your support in this endeavor.
It just doesn’t work for this type of operation. I feel confident that you will use sage judgement. The vast majority of these communities, have expressed their sentiments in exactly the same way.
Bruce Funk
President
Board of Directors
Kenwood Gardens
