An overview and brief history of this land can be viewed in a prior entry at:

http://bayvilleblog.com/2006/11/23/mill-neck-bay-marina.aspx

The nomination itself is all but complete and we are waiting for letters of support that we have solicited from local user groups, community groups, elected officials, and people whose livelihoods depend on the bay.  It is our intent to attach these letters to the nomination prior to submission.  The nomination cover letter is printed below.

In addition, we are counting on a substantial number of individuals to mail in their own letters of support to follow the submission of the primary nomination.  This former boatyard has now been designated a New York State Superfund site primarily due to heavy metal contamination, including lead and mercury.  It is directly adjacent to the Creek and has water flowing continuously from the contaminated ground and into the bay.  There is little doubt that this water, along with any stormwater that runs off the property, is leaching these contaminants into the bay and subsequently into the food chain.  Every day that this is allowed to happen results in more of these contaminants accumulating in the bay.

Unfortunately, this property has now been nominated for acquisition for all three prior bond acts from the Town and County, but has been passed over each time.  I have now been working on this for over eight years and this may well be its last chance for acquisition for many years.  An overwhelming outcry from the local community is the best chance we have to start the process of cleaning up this property and converting it from an imminent threat to the environment and public health, to a beautiful addition to the Oyster Bay/Cold Spring Harbor Estuary.

I have also printed a sample letter of support below for everyone to copy and paste into your word processing program.  You can then do as little as add your name and address etc., print, sign and mail.  Or you can change it to make it your own.  The point is to do it. 

It is our hope to get at least twenty to thirty letters of support from the readers of this blog alone and so we would appreciate it if those of you who choose to get involved (as opposed to those who just gripe about what everyone else is doing wrong) would check in with us when the letter is sent.  That can be done by posting a comment under this entry, or via e-mail at: ResidentsforMNC@smalltownblog.com 

Letters to the Editor and feature stories (L.M. and Dagmar are you out there?) in the local papers would also help to bring this issue to the attention of the general public – not everyone reads this Blog (yet).  If you are willing to take a crack at submitting an editorial to the local papers, that would be a huge help – let us know.

This blog was started as a way to keep people informed and help them organize themselves to proactively address the issues that are important to them instead of complaining about them after the fact. A number of people have expressed a willingness to help out on these types of issues, and now is the time to do just that.  Or you could do nothing and complain about why others didn’t fix this problem when they had the chance.  I couldn’t have made this any easier – lick the damn stamp.

The nomination letter and sample letter are below.

Thanks,

Barry E. Lamb

Bayville

The Nomination Letter:

Residents for the Protection of Mill Neck Creek

7 Arlington La.

Bayville, NY, 11709

ResidentsforMNC@smalltownblog.com

March 3, 2007

Nassau County 2006 Environmental Bond Act Program

One West Street

Mineola, NY 11501

Attn:  Thomas F. Maher, Director of Environmental Coordination, Room 326 A

Dear Committee Members,

We are writing to you to ask that you please consider the former Mill Neck Bay Marina property as a candidate for acquisition to preserve as open space.  This parcel has been previously nominated under both Town of Oyster Bay SEA Fund programs, as well as for the first Nassau County Environmental Bond Act.  We have attached Barry Lamb’s cover letter from the first Nassau County program for your review.  Please take the time to read this letter, as it addresses much of the history of this parcel and a comprehensive understanding of its history, in my opinion, will be as vital to the consideration of this property as the physical and environmental attributes.  We have also attached several other documents that demonstrate the developments regarding this parcel since the last nomination, as well as several letters of support.

Several important changes have taken place since the other three nominations however, and so it is our hope that it will be finally acquired and subsequently cleaned up and converted to a passive park with access to Mill Neck Bay and the rest of the OB/CSH estuary.

The first thing that has changed since the other nominations is that we now know for sure that the primary landowner acquired this property from Nassau County in the first place.  Attached are copies of the deeds that were recorded with the County Clerk’s office.  The price paid for this waterfront property (at least four building lots) in 1996 was under $114,000.00.

Two new pieces of information have also come to light that affect the value of the property considerably.  First, the Tidal Wetlands permits that were originally issued by the NYSDEC have either expired or have been placed on hold and are not currently being considered for renewal.  This was the result of concerns addressed in the attached letter from Cashin, Spinelli & Ferretti, LLC, dated August 16, 2005.  In addition, after initial soil samples taken during negotiations with the Town of Oyster Bay SEA Fund Committee, the site was designated a New York State Class 2 Superfund site in early 2006 (DEC letter dated March 31, 2006 attached).  According to the DEC, the Class 2 designation means that “this site poses a significant threat to the environment or public health and action is required”.  While a comprehensive analysis of the contamination has not been conducted, the preliminary tests show that the contamination consists primarily of heavy metals concentrated in the top layers of the soil.  In all likelihood, the cleanup of this site will consist of the removal and replacement of that soil and state funds will be available for this purpose.

Finally, and perhaps most significantly, the owner of the property has recently expressed an interest in divesting himself from the property. Perhaps he has come to terms with the fact the original owners of the marina knew all along; the property is unsuitable for development.  It is unfortunate that Nassau County did not come to the same conclusion when it held title to the land and was in an excellent position to make sure the site was properly cleaned up and protected as open space, but in 1996 allowed the property to slip away for so little.  The NYSDEC also had an opportunity to do the right thing, but in 2000, they issued permits to the property owner(s) to convert this former industrial site to residential housing.  The DEC issued these permits without ensuring that a plausible environmental assessment was conducted; despite this being standard operating procedure in these circumstances.  Should the developer prove difficult to negotiate with, eminent domain is still an option that should certainly be considered in this particular case.

We fully understand the County’s caution in regard to acquiring this property; the potential cost involved in cleaning up the property is still an unknown.  We would encourage you however, to make an effort to work with the DEC to fully investigate the extent of the clean up and the funds available to come up with a plan for acquisition and restoration.  We may very well find out that the clean up will consist of nothing more than removing the first two feet of contaminated soil and replacing it with clean soil and that the liability is quite manageable.  Since the County was the prior deed holder, and transferred the property without doing an environmental assessment, liability may be unavoidable anyway.

We are hoping that all of the mistakes of the past can finally be corrected and this beautiful little piece of land can be returned to the public domain, cleaned of all contamination and be returned to a more natural state.

Please do not hesitate to contact us if you have any questions or concerns.

Sincerely,

Barry E. Lamb                          Carla Panetta                         Jeri Cavagnaro

Founding members, Residents for the Protection of Mill Neck Creek.

And the Sample Letter:

March 3, 2007

Nassau County 2006 Environmental Bond Act Program

One West Street

Mineola, NY 11501

Attn:  Thomas F. Maher, Director of Environmental Coordination, Room 326 A

Dear Thomas Maher:

I am writing to express my/our strong support for the nomination of the former Mill Neck Bay Marina property in Locust Valley in the category of open space acquisition through Nassau County’s 2006 Environmental Program Bond Act.  Not only does this project nomination satisfy the vast majority of the evaluation factors for open space acquisition, but it also meets many of the evaluation factors for both brownfield remediation and stormwater quality improvement.

As the nomination notes, it would be astounding if any other single property nominated were to more closely represent these evaluation factors. 

The project will greatly benefit the Oyster Bay/Cold Spring Harbor estuary, which boasts a number of important designations including, but not limited to the Oyster Bay National Wildlife Refuge, a Regionally Important Natural Area, Significant Coastal Fish and Wildlife Habitat areas, and an Audubon Important Bird Area.  In addition the project will benefit the local neighborhood by cleaning up a visual blight and enhancing property values that have been adversely affected by the presence of a contaminated property, which in 2006 was, designated a state superfund site. The benefit extends all the way to the county and regional level by protecting a body of water that is critical to the regions economic, recreational, historic and aesthetic character.

Thank you for taking my support into consideration.

Sincerely, 

Landmark in Oyster Bay, Destroyed By Fire in January 2005, Set to Re-Open

Reconstructed with a Focus on Sustainable Building

Oyster Bay, New York, March 3, 2007 – The Nobman family announced today that Nobman’s Hardware Emporium, their newly rebuilt retail hardware and home goods specialty store in downtown Oyster Bay, has re-opened. 

The Road to Reconstruction

In the early morning hours of January 24^th, 2005, the building that had been the home of Nobman’s Hardware Emporium since 1910 was destroyed by fire.  The loss of the historic building and of Nobman’s Hardware was devastating to the Nobman family and to the larger community.  Family owned and operated since inception, Nobman’s Hardware was steadily expanding under its fifth generation proprietor, Derrick Nobman at the time of the fire.  Despite this loss, the Nobman family has spent that last two years rebuilding. 

For more than 95 years Nobman’s Hardware has been a fixture of the community, and a prominent driver of business and foot traffic in downtown Oyster Bay.  The Nobman family pledged to remain in Oyster Bay and to restore this community icon, even while the ashes were still smoldering.  The official opening, which took place on Friday February 23^rd, 2007, was the long anticipated culmination of two years of hard work on the part of the Nobman family to keep that promise to their neighbors – and to the employees who were such an integral part of the business – with the support of the local government and community.

Proprietor Derrick Nobman: “Our family was devastated by the loss of the building, particularly my Grandfather, Walter R. Nobman, Sr., who owned and ran Nobman’s for 40 years with his brother in law George Hammond.  We have had quite a ride getting the building back up and running, and consistent with today’s code, but we are glad to be back in Oyster Bay. We plan to dedicate the building to my Grandfather “Pops” who passed last year but was himself, along with my Grandmother Elizabeth Nobman, a fixture of the Oyster Bay community.

The Return of a Unique Retail Experience

Nobman’s Hardware is a full-service hardware, home furnishings and specialty store serving Oyster Bay and the outlying communities with products of exceptional quality at competitive prices, and with outstanding customer service.  Customers can once again count on Nobman’s to provide them with a unique blend of merchandise, including everyday hardware and home improvement supplies, a new selection of interior decorative hardware for cabinetry and doors, specialty housewares and the handmade works of local artisans. Nobman’s will again feature custom designed and painted estate signs, handcrafted driftwood furniture and interior accents, custom made bird houses and feeders, and meticulously reproduced custom prints of Long Island’s many lighthouses.

A Gold Coast Relic

Oyster Bay is an historic center on the North Shore of Long Island with history dating as far back as the pre-colonial era.  Known for its central location on Long Island’s Gold Coast, Oyster Bay was home to the great estates of the Industrial Revolution era captains of industry, and to former US President Theodore Roosevelt.  Nobman’s began its long history as a supplier to the large estates owned by these historic figures.  The Nobman’s Hardware tradition is imbued with a sense of this history, and to the residents of the area, Nobman’s represents one of the last remaining relics of the Gold Coast – a source of continuity through the generations. 

Because the Nobman’s Hardware building has tremendous historic and sentimental value to the community, and is such a visible part of the downtown streetscape, a great deal of effort was put into reconstructing the building to preserve the character of Oyster Bay’s traditional waterfront community, while focusing on the challenges that lie ahead.  

Building for the Future of Oyster Bay

Oyster Bay’s proximity to the many beaches, estuaries, marshes and other important natural features that characterize the north coast of Long Island makes an emphasis on helping to preserve these treasures an imperative. Building with a focus on sustainability, the Nobman family succeeded in using green materials and practices through the many phases of construction. The new building features durable composite clapboard siding in place of traditional wood clapboard; a recycled composite that resembles slate tiling utilized on the exterior steps and as an interior decorative accent; and an efficient solar powered radiant heating and cooling system.

Property Owner Richard Nobman: “We wanted to build a building that complemented the downtown and retained the character of the old building.  We also wanted to build the greenest building possible within our budget.  The net result is a great new building designed to carry us through the next 100 years of business.  We are thrilled to be back!”

Looking Forward for Nobman’s Hardware

Nobman’s Hardware is dedicated to providing its customers with hardware, home furnishings and artisinal products of exceptional quality. Nobman’s unrivaled commitment to solid craftsmanship and extraordinary customer service has made it a fixture of the Oyster Bay community, and has contributed to its ability to compete with the large home centers and big box retailers that have sprung up throughout the area since the early 1990s. This dedication provides a strong foundation for Nobman’s Hardware to continue to build new shared community experiences around downtown Oyster Bay as a link between its past and future.  Nobman’s looks forward to serving the needs of its customers, and after nearly a century of service its policy remains, ‘We strive everyday to exceed your expectations!’

# # #

Please visit the Nobman’s Hardware website, in the process of being updated, at www.nobmanshardware.com. Feel free to contact Derrick Nobman at 516-922-6233 with any questions, or if you would like any additional information.

Arrogance and Power

The Town of Oyster Bay Parks Department posted in Newsday, Friday, January 26, 2007 a Request For Proposal (R.F.P.). This Request For Proposal is for the construction and operation for an enclosed Theodore Roosevelt-themed carousel at the Theodore Roosevelt Memorial Park, in the hamlet of Oyster Bay.  The Citizens For The Preservation Of Theodore Roosevelt Memorial Park want to know why, with the overwhelming opposition to the carousel by the public, is the Town moving forward with this proposal?  The Town is demonstrating their arrogance and power and turning themselves into pretzels over this proposal.

The original deed dated December 24, 1942, was to make a Perpetual Memorial to Theodore Roosevelt. It provides there shall be no amusements, which are dependent upon mechanical operation in any part of the park, specifically the “carousel”. The deed provides that the agreements, covenants and restrictions can be modified by a written “agreement of modification”.   Modification, as defined per Blacks’ Law Dictionary, is a change or alteration, which introduces new elements, details or cancels some but leaves the general purpose and effect of the subject matter in tact. 

A carousel would not be a modification but a substitution. A carousel in Theodore Roosevelt Memorial Park would constitute an act of nullification and abandonment of the restrictions in the deed. Parties do not have unrestricted legal right to toss away major restrictive covenants of the deed and destroy clear intent and purpose. If they can put a carousel in the park this year, next year will it be a T.R. themed roller coaster?

We The Citizens For The Preservation of Theodore Roosevelt Memorial Park, the public, our several hundred supporters who sighed our petition, The Florence Park Association, the East Norwich Civic Association, The Oyster Bay Civic Association, have an interest and right to the preservation of open space and maintenance of Theodore Roosevelt Memorial Park as a  “place of rest, recreation, quiet enjoyment” (deed quote) as a passive park without mechanical rides or structures.

Citizens for the Preservation of Theodore Roosevelt Memorial Park

E-mail: info@citizensforTRpark.com

If you would like more information regarding the Bond Act, here are a few links:

01-19-2007 County Press Release: Suozzi Seeks Community Input on Future Open Space and Environmental Projects

http://www.nassaucountyny.gov/agencies/CountyExecutive/NewsRelease/2007/01-19-2007.html

Environmental Program Bond Act Website

http://www.nassaucountyny.gov/agencies/bondact/index.html

Sincerely,

Kyle

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Kyle Rabin

Executive Director

Friends of the Bay

P.O. Box 564

Oyster Bay, NY  11771

Tel: 516-922-6666

E-mail: k.rabin@friendsofthebay.org

Website: www.friendsofthebay.org

Friends of the Bay's mission is to preserve, protect and

restore the ecological integrity and productivity of the

Oyster Bay/Cold Spring Harbor estuary and the 

surrounding watershed.

Interested in getting involved with Friends of the Bay? 

Here’s how: http://friendsofthebay.org/get_involved.htm

WHAT: Sound Stewardship: Preserving Long Island Sound's Special Places

WHEN: March 3, 2007, 9 a.m. to 3:15 p.m.

WHERE: Planting Fields Arboretum, Oyster Bay, NY

Mark your calendars to attend this exciting event on March 3, 2007, focusing on the stewardship and preservation of critical areas around Long Island Sound.  Tim Profeta, the Director of the Duke University Nicholas Institute for Environmental Policy, will provide a national perspective on ecosystem-based management.  Elected officials will discuss the implications of the recently approved Long Island Sound Stewardship Act and ways to take action for funding and implementation.  Case studies will highlight successful work underway in New York and Connecticut, and a panel of local experts will consider ways that the Stewardship Initiative can effectively connect with and complement other land conservation efforts.

Refreshments, lunch and parking will be provided, conference details and registration information to follow in January.

Contact Emily Schaller at eschaller@savethesound.org for additional information

Use this to post ads to sell, swap or give away just about anything, or to advertise services. Used cars, babysitters, yard sales, kids looking to shovel snow, or a lightly used bicycle that your kid outgrew and you can’t bear to throw away – give it to someone who can use it. If you over estimated the amount of paint or other household chemicals that you needed and have a couple of gallons left over, maybe someone can use it rather that throwing it into the waste steam.

It could also be used in conjunction with classifieds printed in the local papers. Briefly advertise your yard sale or car and give them this web address for a listing of items that will be offered or more details about the car.

Again, the possibilities are endless.

Thanks,

Barry E. Lamb
Bayville

This was originally posted on the BayvilleBlog, but since it affects the water quality of the entire bay, I am re-posting it here along with the comments made to date on the Bayville site.

The Mill Neck Bay Marina is an old boat yard that is located at the end of Hernan Ave. in Locust Valley. This property was has recently been designated a New York State Superfund site and now sits in limbo while the various government bodies decide what to do with it.

Once again, in order to bring people up to speed on this issue, I have provided some previously written material below (with some appropriate editing). The first is an E-mail that I wrote to John Rather, a reporter from the New York Times who was researching an article on the development of former marina sites, and the second is a nomination letter to the Nassau County Environmental Bond Committee. Please take the time to read them, as the history of the site is quite interesting.

Hey John,

Kyle Rabin of Friends of the Bay gave me your E-mail address and phone numbers and I thought I should touch base with you.

I have been involved with the Mill Neck Bay Marina property for over 6 years now and probably have more information and documentation than anyone else. This includes the entire DEC file for the original tidal wetlands permits (I haven't FOILed the Superfund documents yet), deeds, and numerous letters written by myself, various agencies and elected officials. I don't know the exact context of your story, but the MNBM segment should be entitled "The Anatomy of an Environmental Boondoggle".

The details are far too involved to get into in an E-mail but I will give you a brief history of the site to give you an idea of what has transpired. Please take the time to read it because even if it doesn't fit your story it may make a great follow-up piece.

The property was originally used as a marina for as long as anyone can remember. Sometime in the late 80's-early 90's the Marina went out of business and owners failed to pay property taxes because they considered the land to be unsuitable for development.  The County then took title of the land.

1996 - Land was acquired by current owners primarily through Nassau County Treasurer Deeds (tax foreclosure) and in one instance privately for "no consideration". I have the deeds for 5 of the 6 parcels and the total paid for these parcels is $113,141.00 – not bad for four waterfront building lots if you can get around DEC regulations and get permits to build.

1998 - Current owners apply for Tidal Wetlands permit. Permitting process is conveniently flawed in the developer's favor- perhaps because the expeditor, Land Use Environmental, does alot of work with the DEC. No soil samples were required or submitted despite the fact that it involved converting an industrial site, known to produce contaminants, into a residential area. There were also no tests performed to ensure a functioning septic system was feasible despite being in an area where failing septic systems have been a major environmental problem for years (The Birches). It should be noted that there is ground water flowing continually out of the ground on this site, which then flows directly into the bay. Please read the attached letter to the N.C. Environmental Bond Committee for a very basic idea of some of the other deficiencies - there are far more that I did not address in that letter (letter provided below).

2000 - Tidal permits issued in July. Developers later demolish buildings, fill property and crush and remove derelict boats (without emptying fuel tanks) all without the proper permits from the Town of Oyster Bay. Area residents see what is happening - this is their first indication of any plan for development - and call FOB, the Town and myself. The illegal work at the site is stopped. Pressure from us to do a more thorough investigation puts project on hold due to developers lack of cooperation.

2001 – The property is nominated by myself as well as FOB for acquisition through the SEA Fund Bond. I do not know this to be fact, but I am told the developer was offered over $900,000.00 for the property provided it was tested and found to be without contaminants. Developer refused. Please remember the amount originally paid and from whom it was acquired.

2005 - The property is again nominated for acquisition through both the SEA Fund II and the Nassau County Environmental Bond Act. DEC permits expire in July. Developer allows Town to conduct soil tests, which are found to contain unsuitable amounts of a number of contaminants despite the developers assurances that his tests showed levels were well within limits.

2006 Site is designated as a Superfund site.

At this point, with the developer having shown a total disregard for the law or the well being of the public, and being totally uncooperative, the only viable option to solve this problem is for The Town or County to acquire (re-acquire) the property through eminent domain. Pains should be taken to ensure that the developer be paid no more than the initial investment with a small return (5%/yr. ?). The property can then be cleaned up and restored and used as a passive park and access to the Bay. The health of area residents as well as the health of the Bay and possibly the area shellfishing industry is at stake.

Please don't hesitate to call me if I can be of any assistance. Any article that brings this issue to the public can only help and I will do whatever I can to help.

Barry E. Lamb

And the nomination letter.

While I do not know this to be fact, I was told that much of this property was acquired through Nassau County tax liens. This could easily have been avoided had the county had a policy in place to compare properties in arrears to their inventory of environmentally sensitive lands as outlined in the 1998 Nassau County Comprehensive Plan. (I now know this to be true and have copies of the deeds)

I obtained much of the DEC file on this property through the Freedom of Information Law back in 2001. This process took more than five months and ten letters due to DEC resistance and the fact that they conveniently lost the file. They then managed to obtain a replacement file from the developer’s consultant after I appealed to the Committee on Open Government. I originally began this FOIL request after being told by Pam Lynch, a DEC employee, that a compliance hearing about this project was closed to the public to protect the privacy of their "client", Harvey Weisman (I was under the impression that the public was their client and that he would be better termed "defendant"). It is all very interesting to say the least. Unfortunately, I could not possibly include all the details in a letter without causing your eyes to glaze over. I would however welcome the chance to share what I have with any or all of you.

With the passage of the latest Nassau County Bond Act, it would be a grave mistake to not use some of the resources to acquire and clean up this property. As mentioned in the above letter, this is the perfect candidate for eminent domain. This developer has shown absolute contempt for the law and the environment and should not be rewarded for this environmental extortion.

Barry E. Lamb

Bayville

Re: Proposed Sewage Treatment Plant - Mill Neck Bay

As reported in the March 16^th edition of this paper, on January 23^rd, The Village of Bayville held a public meeting to present and discuss the Final Draft Report of the Non-Point Contamination Source Study.  As many of you are aware, the development known as Continental Villa has been continually discharging raw sewage into Mill Neck Bay for decades.  These homes were constructed with on site septic systems that were poorly designed and constructed for the soil conditions present at that site.  Due to the failure of these systems, these homes were inappropriately connected to a lateral under-drain system which discharges untreated sewage into the bay.  The only attempt at treating this sewage is a contact chlorination tank that cannot handle the volume that regularly flows from this development.

This condition has been allowed to exist for far too long.  The Non-Point Contamination Source Study clearly shows it is a major factor in the closing of Bayville's Creek Beach to swimming and the closing of all of Mill Neck Bay to shell fishing.  It is obvious that the effects of this point source extend beyond Mill Neck Bay, contributing to impaired water quality throughout the Oyster Bay - Cold Spring Harbor estuary. The Study also shows that water quality improvements have been made through road drainage projects designed to limit runoff.   With the construction of a sewage treatment plant, and a continued effort by surrounding municipalities to reduce storm water runoff, water quality in Mill Neck Bay and the entire Oyster Bay - Cold Spring Harbor Estuary will undoubtedly see significant improvement.

It is astonishing to me that we can continue to allow untreated sewage to discharge into wetlands and waters that fall within the boundaries of a National Wildlife Refuge, a Significant Fish and Wildlife Habitat and a Regionally Important Natural Area.  It is of little wonder that this refuge has also been designated one of the ten most endangered National Wildlife Refuges, out of a total of 545 in the nation, by Defenders of Wildlife, a well-respected national environmental organization.  

It is also astonishing that after decades of discussions on this problem, that the design of the plant is still not complete and that there is no firm date scheduled for start of construction. This, despite the fact that the Department of Environmental Conservation had mandated the plant to be operational before September 15, 2005.  The timely completion of this plant is far too important to delay due to foot dragging and the inability of government to agree on cost sharing details.  The overwhelming passage of recent environmental bond proposals in the Town of Oyster Bay and Nassau County should be the clearest indication of the priorities of the constituents of both the Town and the County.

It is time for our elected officials to take the lead and ensure that the construction of this plant begins immediately.  We have waited long enough.   

And we are still waiting. 

Barry E. Lamb
Bayville

on

THE HAMLET OF OYSTER BAY

RESIDENTIAL MORATORIUM STUDY

    
                   Date:           Tuesday, November 28, 2006

Place:         Town Hall, 54 Audrey Avenue, Oyster Bay, NY

Time:          7:00 p.m.

Bring:         ▪  Family, friends and neighbors

                   ▪ Wear your ‘Save the Jewel’ Buttons

Save the Jewel By the Bay encourages residents within the Hamlet of Oyster Bay to come and hear what has been learned during the Residential Moratorium Study period, and what is being recommended for our Hamlet. 

On Tuesday, November 28, 2006, at 7:00 p.m. in Town Hall, 54 Audrey Avenue, Oyster Bay, NY, the Town of Oyster Bay consultant, Frederick P. Clark Associates, will present their findings and recommendations to our community and Town Board, on ways to protect our Hamlet.   The consultant based their findings on a comprehensive compilation of Hamlet building and variance information dating back 10 years, a careful review of current zoning laws, as well as recommendations and photographic surveys submitted by Save the Jewel By the Bay.

Save the Jewel By the Bay is a grass-roots movement of the residential community in the Hamlet of Oyster Bay.  It was formed in the Summer of 2005, in response to the demolition of homes, the subdivision of residential properties, the building of over-sized homes on sub-standard lots, and the cutting down of mature trees within this historic community.   Save the Jewel By the Bay led a petition campaign for a Moratorium on these activities, and the Town of Oyster Bay Town Board responded by enacting a Moratorium in October, 2005. 

The situation in our historic Hamlet is serious, with recognition of the situation escalating from local and regional concern to national attention. The National Trust for Historic Preservation now nationally recognizes the historic Hamlet of Oyster Bay, as one of 300 historic communities nationwide, threatened by teardowns.

Throughout the fifteen-month Moratorium, scheduled to end January 23, 2007, there have been tremendous efforts being made by both the Town and Save the Jewel By the Bay, to protect and preserve the Hamlet of Oyster Bay Residential Community in a thoughtful and informed way.  These efforts are now leading us toward an opportunity for legislative changes, which will be an important first step toward preserving our historic neighborhoods within the Hamlet.

It seems that Nassau County will be moving forward with plans to reconstruct West Shore Rd. with construction starting in September of ’07 and continuing through May of ’08. This is a $16.5 million project that will apparently be undertaken specifically without public input.

The following is a link to Nassau County’s "Capital Improvement Plan 2007 – 2010".

www.nassaucountyny.gov/agencies/OMB/Docs/PDF/2007_Nassau_Capital_Budget.pdf

Welcome to OBHamletBlog.com. The purpose of this site is to provide a community forum for the discussion of issues that are important to our community.

In order to get the ball rolling, we will be posting general entries for each of several issues we feel are important to the community right now. We will also be contacting various active members of the community to give them authorship rights to the site, which will give them the ability to post entries on the main page. Other members of the community can sign on to comment on any of these entries. If you would like to become an author, or would like to request an entry for a topic not yet addressed, please contact the site administrator at admin@obhamletblog.com. If you would like to subscribe to OBHamletBlog, simply enter your E-mail address in the window located in the sidebar and you will be notified of any new entries on the main page.

Over the next several weeks I hope to make more comprehensive entries on as many of these issues as I have time for and will invite others to do the same. However, I would like to ask that all posts be responsible and based in fact, or identified as rumor, and that they be constructive. At this point, all comments will be screened by the administrator before posting, resulting in varying time delays. We reserve the right to edit or remove any material deemed inappropriate. The rules of etiquette and common decency apply. Posts deemed inappropriate will not be posted. However, we will not censure the opinions and ideas of our community and are not responsible for the content of postings. We hope to allow instant posting in the near future, but this is dependent on the restraint demonstrated. Please remember that we are all neighbors.

For an idea of how this works visit www.BayvilleBlog.com