North Hempstead · issues
Civic issues
Topics getting the most attention in North Hempstead public meetings, ranked by how frequently they come up.
Commercial Parking Lot Expansion into Residential District
A paving and construction business is seeking legal status to operate a commercial storage and dispatch yard in a residential neighborhood. Neighbors and board members are evaluating the compatibility of commercial truck traffic and outdoor storage near residential homes.
Commercial Parking and Signage Standards
The board reviewed several commercial sign applications for shopping centers along major corridors like New Hyde Park Road and Union Turnpike. The discussions focused on balancing national corporate branding requirements, such as backer panels and larger letter sizes, with local zoning uniformity codes.
Indoor Children's Playground Parking and Access on Voice Road
A proposed child care center on Mineola Avenue received approval with parking variances and a 35-student cap, addressing local demand for child care while managing tight on-site parking.
Redevelopment of 200 Hillside Avenue Service Station
CVS is redeveloping a long-vacant corner on Hillside Avenue in New Hyde Park by demolishing three empty buildings and building a modern pharmacy with a drive-through. The project includes improved parking and landscaping that will revitalize a tired commercial corridor.
80 Longview Road three-lot subdivision
A developer wants to split a nearly one-acre Port Washington parcel into three lots, each about 10 feet narrower than the code's average lot width. Neighbors packed the hearing citing traffic on the blind-curve road, loss of mature trees, drainage, and the precedent it would set for Beacon Hill.
Real Estate Development
North Hempstead just approved the Inspiration Wharf project, bringing new development right to the waterfront. You'll want to keep an eye on how this changes local traffic and the overall neighborhood vibe.
Development Approval
The town board finally approved the Inspiration Wharf project after a long public debate. This means big changes are coming to our local waterfront once construction kicks off.
Inspiration Wharf Mixed-Use Development Review
A major redevelopment of Inspiration Wharf in Port Washington proposing 38 luxury condominiums, retail space, a restaurant, and public promenades sparked massive public debate over building size, environmental cleanup of brownfield site toxins, flood risks, traffic, and loss of traditional maritime character.
Caribou Coffee Drive-Thru in New Cassel
A proposed drive-through coffee shop at 1149 Old Country Road in Westbury was reviewed for traffic flow and aesthetic landscaping improvements at a town gateway.
Senior Housing Building Design and Massing at 12 Irma Avenue
Residents and board members questioned the evolving design of a 10-unit senior housing project in Port Washington after the builder constructed a large rooftop bulkhead and relocated common amenity spaces and apartments from the original approved plans. Concerns focused on building bulk, street canyon effects on narrow Virginia Street, and value-engineering changes made mid-construction.
Restoration and Compliance at 69 Roslyn Road
Builder Robert Beer presented a plan to fix water leaks, replace rotten soffits and Yankee gutters, install proper shutters, and refine the front door at the historic 69 Roslyn Road property.
Potential New Town Landmark Designations
Flower Hill Village Historian Mitchell Schwartz proposed several significant local properties for future landmark designation, including the Stepping Stones Lighthouse, Haviland Family Burial Ground, Valley School, and Port Washington Post Office.
Day Care Center Expansion in Floral Park
A proposal to convert a former retail store into a major daycare center highlights community discussions on traffic congestion, parking availability, and pedestrian safety along busy corridors.
Goddard School Traffic and Daycare Expansion in Manhasset
A new Goddard School daycare received approval for the former Staples site on Northern Boulevard, accompanied by major county-backed traffic improvements on Shelter Rock Road to curb illegal turns and ease congestion.
Sunoco Convenience Store Expansion in Albertson
Residents and the Albertson Civic Association raised strong concerns about parking overflow, traffic cut-throughs, and dumpster odors from expanding the Sunoco convenience store at 993 Willis Avenue. The town board successfully negotiated operating conditions restricting hours from 5 a.m. to midnight, requiring dumpster screening, fencing improvements, and traffic controls.
Commercial Parking Deficiencies Along Northern and Hillside Corridors
The board evaluated multiple commercial applications seeking parking variances due to strict municipal parking formulas that often exceed actual modern parking demand, highlighting shared parking dynamics.
Amazon Distribution Center Expansion and Traffic Concerns
Amazon requested an amended site plan to add an automated vehicle inspection building at 2 Westbury Avenue. Residents voiced concerns about illegal truck routing, van overflow, and poor landscaping maintenance.
Waterproofing Contractor Facility Outdoor Storage Screening in Albertson
A local contractor requested variances to construct a new production office and storage building with outdoor aggregate bins, addressing neighborhood screening and drainage concerns.
Amnesty Program for Erroneously Issued Building Permits
The town approved a program to help homeowners resolve building permit issues from 2000 to 2006 without having to tear down parts of their homes, though residents debated the fairness of fines and timelines.
Bowl 360 Parking and Landscaping Buffer Expansion
Bowl 360 in New Hyde Park requested permission to remove a mature landscaping buffer to add parking spaces after losing leased parking due to a subdivision and CVS development. Neighbors and board members strongly pushed back, protecting the green buffer that separates commercial and residential properties.
Commercial Redevelopment at 440 Old Country Road
Developers received approval to transform the former Chateaubriand catering hall site into a multi-tenant retail and restaurant hub featuring Nassau County's first Raising Cane's and a bank with drive-throughs.
Carle Place Commercial Redevelopment
Developers received approval to transform the former Chateaubriand catering hall site into a multi-tenant retail and restaurant hub featuring Nassau County's first Raising Cane's and a bank with drive-throughs.
Pickleball and Golf Simulator Facility Approval
Residents and developers debated whether an indoor pickleball and golf simulator facility fits the town's zoning definition of a recreational building or a place of amusement. The board ruled it is a permitted recreational use, clearing the way for the facility.
Port Washington Yacht Club Campus Renovations and Parking
The Port Washington Yacht Club sought approvals and variances for clubhouse additions, an outdoor dining deck, athletic facility upgrades, and parking interpretations. The board reviewed extensive parking calculations and floodplain management rules for storage sheds.
Affordable Accessible Housing for Individuals with Disabilities
United Cerebral Palsy Association seeks a use variance to convert a Port Washington property into accessible apartments, highlighting the regional shortage of affordable housing for disabled residents.
London Jewelers Manhasset Expansion
London Jewelers is adding a second-floor expansion and a third-floor addition to its Manhasset building on Northern Boulevard to enhance the customer experience. The project requires no parking relief due to a surplus at the Americana shopping center and was unanimously approved by the board.
Retail Cannabis Opt-Out Reconsideration Request
A resident petitioned the town board to revisit local legislation prohibiting retail cannabis dispensaries, arguing that regulation provides safety and economic benefits while black market sales persist.