Roslyn mulls special district plan

A proposal for the Town of North Hempstead to buy most of the Roslyn Country Club property in Roslyn Heights, then turn it over to a special district that would pay for improvements to the property, is gaining traction.

In a letter sent last week to the 668 homes in the Roslyn Country Club development, Town Supervisor Jon Kaiman and Councilman Thomas Dwyer offered a basic outline of the proposal, slightly expanding on information the two first provided at a private, informal meeting in August with a small group of Roslyn Country Club homeowners.

Under the plan, the town would buy 7.385 acres of the 10-acre property for $2 million, then would turn the property over to a special-improvement district that would encompass the Roslyn Country Club homeowners.

The district members would be taxed for the estimated $7 million to $9 million in improvements to the currently shuttered club, and in return would automatically become members of the restored club without additional membership fees. Taxes for homes within the special district would be roughly $1,000 a year, depending on how many amenities are added to the club or how many additional homes are added to the district from outside the Roslyn Country Club area, according to the letter.

The cost of operations would largely be borne by proceeds from lessons and concession fees, as well as from town residents outside the district who opt to pay membership fees. Kaiman said those fees have not been established, but likely would be more than $1,000 a year.

The town has been working on establishing a map of the boundaries of the proposed district -- a necessary first step before a public hearing can be scheduled, which could happen as early as Oct. 23, Kaiman said Tuesday. Kaiman also said the town plans to hold a public meeting with the Roslyn Country Club homeowners to go over the plan before it goes to the town board to set the public hearing date.