The Village of Great Neck Plaza is one step closer to approving a law that would allow new residential development above retail stores in the business “B” district- with unanimous approval on May 4 of a motion to send the bill to the Nassau County Planning Commission for comment.
The law is subject to the State Environmental Quality Review, a process that explores a project’s impacts on the environment.
Trustees determined that the project will have no significant impacts on the environment, based on an evaluation by Cameron Engineering. New projects would require approval from the board of trustees on a case by case basis.
“We’ve been reviewing this for a number of months,” said Village of Great Neck Plaza Jean Celender. “Right now we don’t see any tremendous impact from it.”
Celender said it is unclear how many projects will be proposed, but there has been some interest from the local business community.
“I truly don’t know what we are going to get,” she said. “The real estate market is picking up but it is certainly a very slow recovery.”
Under the proposed zoning changes, residential units could occupy the top floor of any building.
Residents could park in municipal lots at night, or forego cars altogether by walking to the train.
Goals of the law include increasing the number of residents living in the business district, giving property owners greater flexibility, stimulating economic activity downtown, promoting mass-transit oriented development, and more affordable housing for retirees and younger adults.
After comment by the Nassau County Planning Commission, the next step could be an up or down vote by Village of Great Neck Plaza trustees.
