Politics & Government

No End in Sight to Town's Mall Fight

TOBAY NOTEBOOK: Judge could decide Monday on a referendum, which could spark further litigation.

Admittedly, we're coming a little late to this party, but this past week, Patch readers got a detailed glimpse into an 18-year legal slug-fest over a barren brownfield known as the former home to Cerro Wire.

The battle between two mall giants and their respective supporters is complicated enough to require a scorecard; (see our story here.) But the stakes for town residents involve millions of dollars over the years in legal fees, and there is no end in sight to the court cases to come.

We may know Monday whether the Town of Oyster Bay will be required to hold a referendum Aug. 20 on its decision to sell as "surplus" town land now being used by the town's DPW.

The land was sold to mall giant Simon Properties, developer of Roosevelt Field, Walt Whitman Shops and other major malls across the country. The DPW land is adjacent to an empty lot owned by mall giant Taubman, another national mega-mall developer. Taubman's campaign is drawing support from the building trades, which would see lots of jobs during the construction phase, insiders said.

A judge is deciding whether the wording of the referendum meets state requirements. If OK'd, the town might have to hold the referendum, which could be costly and spark a get-out-the-vote campaign in the dog days of August.

Or, the town and/or Simon Properties could go back to court and appeal: Thus, more legal fees.

Supervisor John Venditto has long opposed a mall on Robbins Lane and vowed again at Tuesday's meeting that one won't be built on his watch. He has repeatedly said the mall is inconsistent with the suburban quality of life enjoyed by local residents.

If you were close enough Tuesday to see his eyes, you'd know he meant it. We'll keep you posted.

Children's Safety Day is Next Saturday

The town's annual Children’s Festival & Safety Day will be held on Saturday, July 20, at John J. Burns Town Park on Merrick Road in Massapequa.

The popular event, scheduled from 1-4 p.m., features free activities for children and safety-related demonstrations. The event is free for Town residents and is coordinated by the Town’s Departments of Community and Youth Services and Public Safety.

Safety Day will feature displays from the Nassau County Police Aviation, Mounted Police, K-9, Special Ops, and Motorcycle units. State police and the U.S. Coast Guard will join local fire departments, as well.

Homeowner Cleanup Set For Saturday at Old Bethpage Landfill

The fourth of eight 2013 Homeowners Cleanup programs for Oyster Bay residents is scheduled for Saturday, July 20. Homeowners within the Town’s Solid Waste Disposal District can take unwanted, non-hazardous refuse to the Town’s landfill at 101 Bethpage-Sweet Hollow Road, Old Bethpage, from 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Proof of district residency must be shown.

Bushes, tree limbs, fence posts and similar items will be accepted as is and need not be broken into smaller pieces. Used tires, large metal items in excess of four feet, clean fill, clean broken concrete, and boats and boat trailers will also be accepted. Passenger cars, vans, pickup trucks and small trailers are admitted to the program. Six-wheel or larger vehicles are not permitted.


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