Report on Town Hall Visit: Campgrounds, CITGO and LIRR Parking Permits

My neighbors joined me at the Hempstead Town Hall on Tuesday, July 10, 2012 to ask the Town of Hempstead to address issues that affect our community.  Approximately 20 Merrick and Bellmore residents came down to Town Hall to voice their concerns.  Although the following three issues were not on the Town’s calendar, we asked the Town to address them during a public comment period.

CITGO Gas Station
- 1206 Bellmore Avenue Realty Corp., the owners of the CITGO Gas Station
located at the Intersection of Jerusalem, Bellmore and Park Avenues in
Bellmore, had an application before the Town Board on June 16, 2012.  Residents within 200 feet of this location had received notice about the June 16, 2012 hearing, but were not made aware of all the details of these proposed renovations. 

Specifically, even though an ordinance was passed last year that required applicants of a 24-hour convenient store to come before the Town Board for a special exception, neither the Town’s public notices, nor the letter sent from the proprietor’s attorneys to nearby residents, mentioned that the new convenient store intended to be open 24 hours.  This will affect the quality of life of the
people in this community.

Over the years, the NCMCA has had reports that Citgo had been selling cigarettes to minors and illegal drug-related activity was taking place at the store.  We had asked the 1^st Precinct for increased police enforcement and surveillance.  Subsequently, the owner and an attendant were arrested for selling drug paraphernalia out of their gas station and for selling cigarettes to minors.  Neighbors continue to find drug paraphernalia in front of their homes.  Residents are concerned that illegal drug activity will increase if the store is kept open for 24 hours.  NCMCA Pres. Claudia Borecky asked that the Board consider the owners’ past history when looking into whether it will grant or deny its application and consider revoking its license to do business at this location.  She further asked that in the future, all notices of applicants who were applying for permission to open
a 24 hour operation, should mention that proposal in their notices and require
the proprietor’s notice to the community mention that fact.

Residents also were concerned with Citgo’s request to remove trees that provide privacy and a noise and fume buffer to adjoining neighbors.  Residents worried that the positioning of the additional gas pump directs traffic close to its border with
neighboring homes and that the bright light from the overhead canopies will
affect the quality of life of its neighbors.

The Town reserved its decision.

LIRR Parking Permits: Merrick residents went before the Town Board to plead for the implementation of parking permits for the Merrick and Bellmore train stations.  Town Attorney Joseph Ra indicated that he will be having a final meeting with the MTA on July 16th.  We urged Councilwoman Cullin to hold a hearing in the Bellmore/Merrick area so that the people can voice their many concerns regarding the permitted spaces, such as time restrictions, which lots will be allocated for permits and how many spaces will be reserved.  Councilwoman Cullin indicated that she will consider holding such hearings.

The Campgrounds – Phase II:  In 2011, the Town initiated a project to
renovate the western section of the region of North Merrick commonly known the
“Campgrounds.”  The Town had promised that the eastern portion would be paved this spring.  But residents soon realized that Phase II was not going to be done this year and that it was never put into the budget for 2012.  This unique historic community has been neglected for years.  Residents are accustomed to receiving letters that promise to pave their roads sometime in the future, so receiving such a letter this year is taken with a grain of salt.

One woman spoke of having moved to the Campgrounds two weeks ago.  She said that while teaching her daughter to ride a bicycle, her daughter had fallen down twice because of pot holes in the street.  Supervisor Murray spoke about the thousands of miles of roadways in the Town of Hempstead, but that didn’t sit well with Campground residents. They’ve heard it all before. 

As a civic leader, it has been my goal to help Campground residents get this section paved. They’ve been saying for years that it couldn’t be done, but half was
done last year.  Now, we must show a strong presence at the next Town Board meeting on Tuesday, August 7 to make sure that we receive a commitment from the Town Board that it will be paved in 2013. 

Please spread the word to your neighbors and let me know if you could help me distribute fliers and gather signatures to petition the Town to finish paving the Campgrounds.