RSS 2.0 FeedAugust 5, 2011, Wantagh Seaford Citizen
Aqua BZA hearing may be postponed
Group looks for October meeting date.
Ella Stevens, president of the Wantagh Seaford Homeowners Association (WSHA) told The Citizen that the Town of Hempstead’s zoning Board of Appeals August 10 hearing on the proposal for Aqua New York to build a water tower in Wantagh may be postponed until October.
“We have been advised that Aqua is prepared to request that their hearing be moved from August 10 to October,” wrote Ms. Stevens in an e-mail to The Citizen.
“WSHA will be there to ensure it is in fact postponed. One of our strongest arguments was that this hearing should not be held in the middle of the summer when residents are on vacation. The extra time will allow for more residents to be apprised of the situation and to get involved.”
The proposal before the BZA is to build a 158-foot water tank, along with a small building that will house a new well and electric transmission system on Aqua’s property located on its five acre wooded site on DeMott Avenue in Wantagh.
Matt Snyder, president of Aqua New York told residents at a July 12 meeting that the elevated water tank is the most economical way to address water pressure problems in the system that may cause water pressure to fall to low levels during hot summer months when water usage doubles and pressure is just at the New York State Department Health standard of approximately 20 p.s.i.
But residents had several concerns, including the diminution of home values as well as a change in the character and nature of the Wantagh and Seaford communities. Pam Dempsey, president of the Wantagh Civic Association (WCA) also raised concerns about whether the water tank would house cell antennas once the sale of Aqua New York water company is finalized and the system is transferred to Long Island American Water.
Residents also asked Mr. Snyder to present more data to prove there is a pressure problem in the system and to offer alternative solutions.
Mr. Snyder said at the July 12 meeting that Aqua “would not shove any project down the throats of the community.” He offered an alternative that would be 15% to 20% higher in costs and would include digging a new well in Merrick and solving the pressure problems in Wantagh/Seaford with more ground storage, booster pumps and a transmission system.
Ms. Stevens added that WSHA and WCA “are putting together a committee to address issues to present to the BZA.”
Aqua spokesman Donald Miller concurred. He told The Citizen “Aqua is working with the community and the town to come up with a solution.”
Jeanine Boiko, spokesperson for WCA, is also hopeful that there is an alternative to the water tower proposal. “Aqua assures us they really are looking into other options. This [postponement] will give Aqua extra time to look at the alternatives and present it to residents.” Ms. Boiko added that she would still attend the August 10 hearing, when the BZA will set the future date for the hearing, “most likely October or early November,” she said.
