| Bagga Property |
| Photo Date: 3/17/08 |
| Photo Date: 3/17/08 |
| Photo Date: 3/17/08 |
| Photo Date: 3/17/08 |
The property is owned by Mr. Darsha Bagga and was originally being developed as a motel. Opposition by the HGCA and hundreds of local area residents
put a stop to the original plans. Construction of stores continued at the location until the owner submitted a second set of plans for the site which included
eleven (11) apartments with a common hallway on the 2nd floor over stores.
8/28/08 - Update
At a meeting of the HGCA Block & Board on August 28, 2008, Jack Libert, Commissioner of Planning & Development informed us that he put in a "stop
work order" on the property because a site cannot have 2 sets of plans submitted at the same time. Construction at the site stopped and there will be a hearing
of the TOBAY Planning Advisory Board on the matter on Thursday, September 25, 2008 - 7pm. Mr. Libert stated that it is legal to have apartments over
stores and that he feels the plans will be approved. Assemblyman Rob Walker was also at our meeting and he stated that the apartments will carry at least a 1
year lease and that he was going to stay on top of the matter to ensure
9/23/08 - Update
At a Town Board hearing on September 23, 2008, HGCA President Henry Goessman was allowed to read the following statement into the public record:
"The membership of the Hicksville Gardens Civic Association is opposed to the development and construction of the 11 apartments being planned for the
former TJ Courtney Property located on Gerald Ave. and South Broadway (Rt. 107) in Hicksville, NY. We believe the 11 apartments being proposed are not
conducive to the community we all call home.
Apartments above commercial properties were common when small mom and pop stores flourished within our community. Those small mom & pop stores no
longer exist and the community therefore questions why such a code which allows apartments to be built above commercial establishments was rewritten in
2006. Two years after the Bagga Property was purchased and one year after 500 angry residents stood in opposition to the hotel that was being proposed on
this site.
We sent an E-mail to Assemblywoman Rose Walker on Monday, September 15th and hard mailed a request to Supervisor Venditto asking to review the code
that was in place prior to the establishment of Code 5.5.5.
5.5.5 Apartments over stores of offices. Residential dwelling units may be permitted on the upper (not grade level) stories of buildings in accordance with
the following conditions: [Amended 4-25-2006 by L.L. No. 5-2006]
5.5.5.1 Such mixed use development shall only be permitted in buildings which conform to the New York State Uniform Fire Prevention and Building Code
for the proposed mixed use.
5.5.5.2 The residence and non-residence uses of the building shall have separate means of access (i.e., the entrance/exit for the residence use shall not be
through the non-residence use of the building and vice versa), except that the reviewing authority may permit the use of a common lobby or plaza.
We ask this to reassure our membership and the community we represent that this code was re-written to protect the community and was not re-written to
allow developers a profitable alternate to develop their failing commercial investments. We ask that the current code that allows the construction of rental
apartments on commercial property in the Hamlet of Hicksville be abolished.
We question the Town of Oyster Bay’s ability to enforce Town Code on an apartment structure with a center hall that so closely resembles the motel we so
strongly objected to. Many feel that no matter what the issue the community of Hicksville seems to come up short and our membership is beginning to take
notice of a pattern that we tried so hard to prove, did not exist.
On February 1st, 2005 the community met with the developer, Rose Walker and Rich Pfaender representing the Town of Oyster Bay. Rich Pfaender publicly
stated:
“this project will not be entertained by the Town of Oyster Bay. There will be no hotel on this site and there will be no apartments on this site.
We made some phones calls during the day to the residents within a 300’ radius of the site to let them know that we’ve listened to the
community, that this is not the right proposal for this site.”
Thanks to the late Frank Goban we have this on DVD. Thanks to modern technology so does the rest of our community.
We ask the Supervisor and the Board of the Town of Oyster Bay to please hear our cry and help us prove to the community we represent that our publicly
elected officials are leaders that will stand by their word. Help us prove that we are not the stepchild of the Town of Oyster Bay as so many perceive us to be
but instead the heart of Nassau County; a strong and vital community; that despite what Newsday says, has risen to its civic obligations and stands united as
one. We ask that you to keep your word to our community; that there will be no hotel and that there will be no apartments on this site."
put a stop to the original plans. Construction of stores continued at the location until the owner submitted a second set of plans for the site which included
eleven (11) apartments with a common hallway on the 2nd floor over stores.
8/28/08 - Update
At a meeting of the HGCA Block & Board on August 28, 2008, Jack Libert, Commissioner of Planning & Development informed us that he put in a "stop
work order" on the property because a site cannot have 2 sets of plans submitted at the same time. Construction at the site stopped and there will be a hearing
of the TOBAY Planning Advisory Board on the matter on Thursday, September 25, 2008 - 7pm. Mr. Libert stated that it is legal to have apartments over
stores and that he feels the plans will be approved. Assemblyman Rob Walker was also at our meeting and he stated that the apartments will carry at least a 1
year lease and that he was going to stay on top of the matter to ensure
9/23/08 - Update
At a Town Board hearing on September 23, 2008, HGCA President Henry Goessman was allowed to read the following statement into the public record:
"The membership of the Hicksville Gardens Civic Association is opposed to the development and construction of the 11 apartments being planned for the
former TJ Courtney Property located on Gerald Ave. and South Broadway (Rt. 107) in Hicksville, NY. We believe the 11 apartments being proposed are not
conducive to the community we all call home.
Apartments above commercial properties were common when small mom and pop stores flourished within our community. Those small mom & pop stores no
longer exist and the community therefore questions why such a code which allows apartments to be built above commercial establishments was rewritten in
2006. Two years after the Bagga Property was purchased and one year after 500 angry residents stood in opposition to the hotel that was being proposed on
this site.
We sent an E-mail to Assemblywoman Rose Walker on Monday, September 15th and hard mailed a request to Supervisor Venditto asking to review the code
that was in place prior to the establishment of Code 5.5.5.
5.5.5 Apartments over stores of offices. Residential dwelling units may be permitted on the upper (not grade level) stories of buildings in accordance with
the following conditions: [Amended 4-25-2006 by L.L. No. 5-2006]
5.5.5.1 Such mixed use development shall only be permitted in buildings which conform to the New York State Uniform Fire Prevention and Building Code
for the proposed mixed use.
5.5.5.2 The residence and non-residence uses of the building shall have separate means of access (i.e., the entrance/exit for the residence use shall not be
through the non-residence use of the building and vice versa), except that the reviewing authority may permit the use of a common lobby or plaza.
We ask this to reassure our membership and the community we represent that this code was re-written to protect the community and was not re-written to
allow developers a profitable alternate to develop their failing commercial investments. We ask that the current code that allows the construction of rental
apartments on commercial property in the Hamlet of Hicksville be abolished.
We question the Town of Oyster Bay’s ability to enforce Town Code on an apartment structure with a center hall that so closely resembles the motel we so
strongly objected to. Many feel that no matter what the issue the community of Hicksville seems to come up short and our membership is beginning to take
notice of a pattern that we tried so hard to prove, did not exist.
On February 1st, 2005 the community met with the developer, Rose Walker and Rich Pfaender representing the Town of Oyster Bay. Rich Pfaender publicly
stated:
“this project will not be entertained by the Town of Oyster Bay. There will be no hotel on this site and there will be no apartments on this site.
We made some phones calls during the day to the residents within a 300’ radius of the site to let them know that we’ve listened to the
community, that this is not the right proposal for this site.”
Thanks to the late Frank Goban we have this on DVD. Thanks to modern technology so does the rest of our community.
We ask the Supervisor and the Board of the Town of Oyster Bay to please hear our cry and help us prove to the community we represent that our publicly
elected officials are leaders that will stand by their word. Help us prove that we are not the stepchild of the Town of Oyster Bay as so many perceive us to be
but instead the heart of Nassau County; a strong and vital community; that despite what Newsday says, has risen to its civic obligations and stands united as
one. We ask that you to keep your word to our community; that there will be no hotel and that there will be no apartments on this site."
| This property is located at 594 So. Broadway at Gerald Avenue (the site of the original T.J. Courtney’s Restaurant) |
| No Apartments Campaign |
First and foremost we ask that you view and distribute the short video (1 1/2 min.) to everyone on your E-mail list. See and hear for yourself the TOBAY
commitment to NO HOTEL and NO APARTMENTS on this site. All we are asking is that they hold true to their words:
Click on Link to View Video: http://www.hgcivic.org/bagga_video.html
Other ways you may choose to help are:
1. Download, sign and mail a "Letter in Opposition" to the development of apartments at the site.
2. Download a "No Apartments" petition against the project and obtain signatures. When you are finished you can send us an email at Info@hgcivic.org and
someone will arrange to pick them up from you.
3. Choose to be prepared to join the community in a rally in opposition to the development of apartments on this site if and when it may become necessary. Send
us an email at Info@hgcivic.org and supply us with your name and contact information and you will be placed on a "Rally Supporter" list. You will then be
contacted if the community needs you to rally in mass again to oppose this development.
4. Share this information and its contents with your neighbors and friends who do not have internet access.
The HGCA firmly believes that the balance of a fair tax base of community homeowners is at stake with the possible approval of this project and you will be
helping yourself and your community in supporting our efforts.
We thank you for your attention, consideration and support of this effort.
commitment to NO HOTEL and NO APARTMENTS on this site. All we are asking is that they hold true to their words:
Click on Link to View Video: http://www.hgcivic.org/bagga_video.html
Other ways you may choose to help are:
1. Download, sign and mail a "Letter in Opposition" to the development of apartments at the site.
2. Download a "No Apartments" petition against the project and obtain signatures. When you are finished you can send us an email at Info@hgcivic.org and
someone will arrange to pick them up from you.
3. Choose to be prepared to join the community in a rally in opposition to the development of apartments on this site if and when it may become necessary. Send
us an email at Info@hgcivic.org and supply us with your name and contact information and you will be placed on a "Rally Supporter" list. You will then be
contacted if the community needs you to rally in mass again to oppose this development.
4. Share this information and its contents with your neighbors and friends who do not have internet access.
The HGCA firmly believes that the balance of a fair tax base of community homeowners is at stake with the possible approval of this project and you will be
helping yourself and your community in supporting our efforts.
We thank you for your attention, consideration and support of this effort.
Approximately 3 years ago nearly 500 residents of the community turned out to protest the development of a hotel at this site. The result was that the Town
listened and denied the application for a hotel. The Town assured the Community on various occasions that there will be NO HOTEL and NO APARTMENTS
on this site. The community again needs your help to deny the current application for apartments on this site.
"In the six years that I have been president of this civic association, I have never needed your help more than I need it now. We cannot allow this to happen to our
community. Please help us save the community we all call home and become involved in this most important issue." (Henry Goessmann, President, HGCA)
listened and denied the application for a hotel. The Town assured the Community on various occasions that there will be NO HOTEL and NO APARTMENTS
on this site. The community again needs your help to deny the current application for apartments on this site.
"In the six years that I have been president of this civic association, I have never needed your help more than I need it now. We cannot allow this to happen to our
community. Please help us save the community we all call home and become involved in this most important issue." (Henry Goessmann, President, HGCA)
| Hicksville Gardens Civic Association |
| PO Box 624 Hicksville, NY 11802 |
| (516) 499 - 8207 |
| “To improve the quality of life for the Hicksville community by encouraging community awareness, participation, and civic pride.” |
| HGCA Mission Statement |
| Copyright 2006-2011, Hicksville Gardens Civic Asoociation Inc.. All rights reserved. |
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