The Village of Great Neck took a step toward approving a proposed Mashadi Jewish Community Center at 189-195 Steamboat Road on Tuesday night, officially adopting lead agency status for reviewing the project.
Darrell Morrow, an attorney for the village, said the move is not a final approval but a first step.
“This is not a final SEQRA determination, this is not approval by the project in any means,” Morrow said. “This is a step in the process.”
Mayor Pedram Bral said that there has been a great deal of public input on the proposed project so far.
“I know that we wanted to have people comment on it,” Bral said. “Based on my understanding, the board has looked at it, discussed it with the community, and it seems like it’s a great project that’s going to benefit the community.”
The move follows the presentation of a traffic and parking study on the potential impact of the proposed 81,800-square-foot recreational center, which would include an auditorium for cultural programming, gyms, fitness centers, a swimming pool and other features.
That traffic study, conducted by Cameron Engineering, found that there would be enough parking for more than 700 people between on-site parking and other sites, which could be connected to the proposed community center by shuttle bus.
Additionally, the study said the traffic generated “will not have an adverse impact on local roadways” given the capacity of Steamboat Road.
Some residents have raised concerns about the concept of the project and its scope, as well as the impact that could occur during high traffic events with the Great Neck Park District over the summer.
The $18 million project, proposed by the United Mashadi Jewish Community Center of America, would be exclusive to members of the Mashadi community.
“We’re looking forward to working with the village on the successful completion of the application,” said Keith Archer, a partner at Harras, Bloom and Archer, who is representing the applicants.
