County planning commission OKs Manhasset Lord & Taylor expansion

Bill San Antonio

The Nassau County Planning Commission on Thursday approved a proposed expansion to the Lord & Taylor store in Manhasset and granted the Town of North Hempstead the ability to proceed as lead government agency on the project. 

The expansion calls for a 31,150 square-foot extension to the 125,600 square-foot building and a variance for 519 parking spaces, rather than the 540 spaces required at the site.

Initially approved by the Town of North Hempstead in 2011, the expansion was not a priority for Lord & Taylor, and the town’s decisions expired.

Lord & Taylor brought the application back before the town’s Board of Zoning Appeals in April, where it was approved.

As part of the county’s approval, North Hempstead will be required to file a report with the county planning commission indicating its handling of the application moving forward.

In early April, Rich Bentley, the president of the Council for Greater Manhasset Civic Associations, said he received notification from Howard Avrutine, Lord & Taylor’s attorney for the project, that the company was ready to proceed with the project.

Bentley at the time said the Greater Council supported the plan at the time, but the project was “placed on the back burner” as Lord & Taylor officials sought to alleviate issues with the borders of its parking lot, causing the town’s approval to expire.

“Lord & Taylor has always been a good community member for Manhasset, a good neighbor, and we’re glad to see their business thriving,” he said.

Following the town’s approval, North Hempstead town spokeswoman Carole Trottere said in an email the zoning board conducted a “careful review” of the project.

Reach reporter Bill San Antonio by e-mail at bsanantonio@theislandnow.com, by phone at 516.307.1045 x215 and on Twitter @ Bill_SanAntonio. Also follow us on Twitter @theislandnow and Facebook at facebook.com/theislandnow.

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