Nassau next to decide on Levittown zoning plan
A controversial plan to build four single-family homes on the site of the former Vanderbilt Motor Parkway in Levittown will go before the Nassau County Planning Commission this week.
The commission will hold a public hearing Thursday at 10 a.m. in the Theodore Roosevelt Executive & Legislative Building, 1550 Franklin Ave. in Mineola, to consider a petition from Josato Inc. of North Bellmore to approve a subdivision of land.
The Hempstead Town Board of Appeals unanimously approved the plan in April with conditions, despite arguments from some residents that approval could set a precedent for "spot" zoning.
"It is the same identical plan," Josato attorney William Cohn said.
The town's appeals board granted the variance for Josato to build four homes on separate parcels 5 feet short of the 60-foot width required under special zoning meant to preserve the area's history of detached single-family homes.
The board's decision allows Josato to subdivide the 2.5-acre property on Crocus Lane into two 42,380-square-foot plots and two 13,200-square-foot plots. The conditions set by the board stipulate that owners cannot subdivide those parcels or make any alterations to the approved site. The decision also allows the building of a private road leading to the four homes on the site.
"They received the approval from the town, now they are seeking to subdivide the parcel into four lots," said planning commission senior planner Donald Hohn.
Josato has been battling since 1984 to change the town's zoning for the site. The town board rejected the company's plan to build a 46-unit condo complex last year.
