Commissioners of the Great Neck Water Pollution Control District have formally supported the proposed Plandome Road sewer project in Manhasset.
In a letter issued Nov. 24 and addressed to Town of North Hempstead Supervisor Judi Bosworth and Town Councilwoman Veronica Lurvey, district Commissioners Jerry Landsberg, Patty Katz and Steve Reiter professed support for the project, which was prompted by a study by the Manhasset Chamber of Commerce earlier this year.
“A low-pressure sewer system installation could create the potential for collaboration with the Town’s indicated future capital plans,” the commissioners wrote. “For example, a low-pressure sewer system could be installed underneath the sidewalks of Plandome Road, thus transferring the installation of these new sidewalks to the sewer project. Also, the connection of Town Hall 2, as well as Town Hall would be able to forego the costly installation of a new septic system, due to its connection to the newly installed sewer. Along with the many financial positives for the low-pressure sewer project, it is also clear that sewering currently non-sewered areas offers a myriad of environmental benefits, i.e. ground water, surface waters, etc.”
The commissioners added that bonding for the project would have to be provided by North Hempstead Town. The chamber’s study estimated the probable total cost to sewer the business district at $16,821,688.
Further, the commissioners said there would be no requirement for businesses on Plandome Road to connect.
“As this area would not be annexed into our political boundary, there would also not be any requirement for businesses to connect,” the commissioners write. “It would truly be a service-if-desired.”
Most importantly, they write, the system could “limit future growth within the business district through pump and force main sizing.”
“This project would solely be about maintaining the current businesses, not increasing the usage or footprints of these buildings,” the commissioners write. “As you can see, the benefits seem to far outweigh the negatives.”
While giving their support, the commissioners also said that the district’s position is that “while we are ready and willing to assist the Plandome Road businesses with sewer service, we will not undertake such a project unless we have the support of the Town, Chamber of Commerce, and residents.”
Copies of the letter went to Manhasset Chamber of Commerce Presidents Stephanie Solomon and Matthew Donno, as well as Richard Bentley, president of the Council of Greater Manhasset Civic Associations.
“The project still has a long planning time frame ahead, currently planning options on how the project can be financed,” Bentley said in an email. “With the current governmental budgets all focussed on getting through the current pandemic, we anticipate future much needed public input and education sessions.”
