Glen Cove waterfront proposal takes step forward

Plans for Glen Cove’s ambitious waterfront redevelopment have taken another step through the review process with the city planning board’s decision Thursday that the final environmental impact statement submitted by the developers is complete.

The next step will be for the board to schedule a public hearing on the environmental report and a special-use permit for the site. While the hearing, expected to be held this month, is not required by law, city officials have said they want to give the public another chance to comment on the plans, which the developers revised in the spring.

RXR-Glen Isle Partners, the development team that would fund and build the billion-dollar project, is seeking 860 residential units, 50,000 square feet of office space, 25,000 square feet of retail and restaurants, a hotel, and leave 19 acres as open space. The project, known as Glen Isle, would be built on more than 50 acres of city-owned former industrial sites along Glen Cove Creek.

If the environmental impact statement is approved by fall, the developers have said they could break ground for a first phase of affordable town homes and rentals next year. Completion of the project would take seven to 10 years.

Part of the new conceptual site plan, approved by Glen Cove’s community and industrial development agencies, calls for RXR-Glen Isle to reduce the height of most buildings to four or five stories, from the proposed 10 and 12 stories.

The developers retained the right to return to the taller heights, approved in a 2008 plan, if the economy supports it and to adjust the ratio of rental-versus-sale properties.