GN Estates OKs increase in size of zoning board

Dan Glaun

The Great Neck Estates Board of Trustees expanded the village’s zoning board of appeals from five to six members at Monday night’s board meeting.

Village of Great Neck Estates Mayor David Fox appointed current board alternate Kim Winn to the newly created permanent seat, with the board unanimously approving the move.

“We always seem to be short and we’re always looking for people, but some of them don’t have the same experience,” Fox said, noting that the new seat could help residents interested in joining the board to get involved.

The board also approved a resolution altering the village’s fees for building demolitions, adding the costs of outside consultants and other expenses to the amount paid by property owners seeking to knock down structures.

“If we have to call in a consultant, we have to know that we are covered for the expenses,” Fox said. 

Trustees said that additional demolition costs should not come at taxpayer expense, and that any demolition is still subject to board approval of building plans.

The village does have one potential demolition coming up, as the owners of the First Playhouse Theater have floated the idea of knocking the defunct theater building down as part of their efforts to turn it into housing. Such a demolition could require more study than that of a single family home, as the theater is adjacent to businesses on Middle Neck Road.

The property’s owners have not yet presented final building plans to the board, and discussion of the project – which has drawn criticism from historical groups who wish to preserve the theater’s facade – was tabled until the board’s next meeting.

The village trustees also rejected a proposal from a film company that was seeking exclusive use of the village pool for a shoot in the last week of July and the first week of August.

Trustee Howard Hershenhorn said the village would not restrict access to its pool during peak summer hours.

“We’ve got a day camp, we’ve got residents,” Hershenhorn said.

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