Community Corner
NCMCA July 20, 2013 Community Update
North and Central Merrick Civic Association
July 20, 2013 Community Update
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Citgo Meets Community’s Requests – The North Bellmore/North Merrick community won! 1206 Bellmore Avenue Realty Group (“Citgo”) sought a permit from the Hempstead Town Board to open a 24-hour gas station/convenient store at the corner of Bellmore and Park Avenues at its intersection with Jerusalem Avenue, where a Citgo station currently operates. After collaborating with the North Bellmore Civic Association and hosting and attending meetings with Citgo’s attorney, writing letters, getting petition signatures and visiting Town Hall; the North and Central Merrick Civic Association (“NCMCA”), with the help of Legislator Dave Denenberg, worked with concerned residents to fight for the protection of the character and nature of our community. Because of the steadfast determination of residents such as Coleen Millosky of North Merrick, the Town Board ruled against a 24 hour gas station/mini mart. Instead its hours will be from 5:00 a.m. until 11:30 p.m.
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The Board approved Citgo’s new application that had been revised to meet the demands of our community and rejected Citgo’s request to move the direction of the pumps and put a driveway in the back of the store.
Thank you one and all for working together to protect the character and nature of our community. We look forward to seeing that intersection improved upon with a business that the community is happy with.
Phase II of the Campgrounds Rehabilitation Road Project – Hempstead Councilwoman Cullin, who will lose the Campgrounds in January 2014 due to redistricting, has already relinquished Phase II of the Campgrounds Rehabilitation Road Project over to Councilman Gary Hudes who is up for election in November. Hudes has informed us that Phase II of the Campgrounds will begin during the first week of August.
At the Hempstead Town Board meeting on June 4, 2013, the Board approved the bid by Roadwork Ahead, Inc. to complete Phase II of the Campgrounds Rehabilitation Project as mapped out in a letter that was sent out to Campground residents. The map had been since corrected to include paving Hedding Avenue.
However, the plan still excludes both Thomas and Waugh Avenues because they are not town roads. I met with Councilman Hudes since the Campgrounds has been redistricted out of Councilwoman Cullin’s district and she will only represent that portion of North Merrick until the end of this year. According to Councilman Hudes, Thomas and Waugh Avenues are privately owned and he is researching their ownership. Hudes further stated that if the roads do not meet the criteria of a legal roadway, the Town may not be able to accept ownership of these roads.
Pawn Shop in North Merrick - NCMCA Pres. Claudia Borecky joined Leg. Denenberg’s aide Dan Yngstrom, Barclay’s attorney Marc Schneider and Past Fayette PTA President Trish Appello, and about 15 concerned residents who came down to Town Hall to request a fall adjournment of Estate Pawn Brokers Ltd.’s application before the Town of Hempstead’s Board of Zoning Appeals (“BZA”) to open a pawn shop at 1391 Jerusalem Avenue, North Merrick.
The NCMCA is concerned with the effect a pawn shop may have on our community. The pawn broker business provides individuals a means to sell stolen goods in return for cash. As cited in the petition linked below, an Analysis of 2011 Rochester-City Pawn Shop Transactions conducted by the Center for Public Initiative found that 62.5% of active pawners had arrest records in the county. The arrests were for theft, drugs, automotive, disorderly conduct, prostitution and dangerous weapons charges.
After receiving hundreds of letters and emails in opposition to this pawn shop, the BZA adjourned the hearing until September 12, 2013 at 2:00 p.m. to give residents a chance to discuss it further. We are in the process of scheduling a meeting with the proponent to learn the details of their proposal. We will keep you updated in this regard.
Ten Tires Slashed on Johnson Street and in the parking lot behind Foodtown -On Friday night, June 7, 2013 during the torrential rain storm, ten tires were slashed on two vehicles parked on Johnson Street and one vehicle parked in the adjacent parking lot behind Foodtown on Washington Drive in North Merrick. The three vehicles were owned by a limousine business and no other vehicles had their tires slashed. No other vehicles in the lot had their tires slashed. That same night, during that same rain storm, those same three vehicles that had their tires slashed were ticketed by the Nassau County Police Department. No other vehicles were ticketed. These incidents were reported to the District Attorney’s Office and are currently being investigated by the 1st Precinct. These were not believed to be random acts, but rather the act of a tow truck driver who is doing business in Merrick, who had threatened the life, property, business and home of the owner of these vehicles.
