Hearing set on Hicksville zoning change

The Town of Oyster Bay has set a May 17 public hearing for a proposed zone change to allow 390 units of senior-citizen housing at the site of an asphalt plant in Hicksville.

Cantiague Commons Llc is applying to change the zoning on West John Street from light industrial to a 55-and-over planned unit development use. If approved, the project would replace the 15-acre Twin County Recycling Corp.

The property owners would also shut down their nearby 2-acre backup facility, Engel Street Asphalt Corp., and turn over the land to the town. Area residents have long complained about noise and pollution from the sites.

Hal Mayer, a consultant to the town supervisor, said Tuesday that the second plant's closing was critical to obtaining environmental approvals for the housing project. The May 17 hearing will be held at 7 p.m. at Town Hall, 54 Audrey Ave., Oyster Bay.

"This is what we want for Hicksville," Supervisor John Venditto said, referring to a transition from industrial to residential development. "This time, I feel we've got it."

The town board also approved a new "abandoned cemetery adoption program," which will seek volunteers to clean up old cemeteries where historic town figures are buried.

The idea developed from Oyster Bay church pastors seeking improvements at an overgrown Baptist cemetery on their block.

Anyone interested in volunteering may contact Town Historian John Hammond at 516-624-4971.

The board also approved a resolution authorizing an $8-million increase to the contract for Laser Industries Inc. for ongoing general reconstruction work around the town, including road and parking lot repairs.