As public hearings go, the one held to review the Chabad of Great Neck's application to build a school and synagogue at 400 East Shore Road in the Village of Kings Point, was fairly tame and courteous although clearly feelings run high on the issue.

Chabad members, fiercely loyal and grateful, one by one came to the microphone to testify to what Chabad means to their families, especially their children and teenagers. Although Mayor Michael Kalnick repeatedly stated that the purpose of the hearing was to determine the impact of such a structure and program to the health and safety of the surrounding neighborhood rather than judge the intrinsic worth of the organization, members were obviously inspired to sing the praises of Chabad and its spiritual leader, Rabbi Yoseph Geisinsky .

Meanwhile, many Kings Point neighbors rose to speak of their dismay regarding the projected increased traffic, both vehicular and pedestrian, to an area already heavily traveled and their fears about the hassles of many cars parked on narrow village streets for congregants not allowed to park in the parking lot on Shabbat. Since the Draft Environmental Impact Statement (DEIS) was not yet available to the public for review, the Board of Trustees of Kings Point will set future meeting(s) for further public comment.

Steven Limmer, attorney for the village, began the meeting by explaining the process for reviewing the environmental impact under state law. He also noted that state law requires municipalities to look favorably on houses of worship and schools being located within their communities because those institutions are seen to enhance the public good and welfare. He briefly acknowledged the federal law recently passed, Religious Land Use and Institutionalized Person Act of 2000, but said that the village would address the issue of the Chabad application, as if the federal law had not been passed since New York State law already guides the actions of the village in such matters.

The site, referred to as the Bender estate, is 8.74 acres with 5.43 usable acres as some of the property is considered tidal wetlands and is thereby protected by the Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC). In 1987, Kings Point had approved a subdivision of four residential lots for the parcel. In 1994, Chabad of Great Neck purchased the land and the existing structure of 6,854 square feet was used for its programs. In the proposed plan, this structure would remain as the rabbi's residence and the new building would be constructed to the east of it.

As the land slopes down rather dramatically to Manhasset Bay (from an elevation of 108 feet at East Shore Road to 6 feet above sea level at Manhasset Bay), the proposed building, rectangular in shape would be stepped into the topography of the area. The oblong building, 290 feet long and 80 feet wide, would be perpendicular to East Shore Road as envisioned by the architectural firm, Angelo Corva & Associates. The footprint of the building would be 23,503 square feet.

The building would have four levels. The main level, with 23,500 square feet, would contain the sanctuary, a multi-purpose room, a kitchen, the lobby and a library. A mezzanine, with 6,736 square feet would house another kitchen, offices, storage spaces and mechanical equipment. The school level, which is partially underground, would have 23,450 square feet and the lower level with 15,795 square feet is planned for a future activity space and would also house storage areas. The total square footage of the proposed structure is 69,481.

The plan calls for 164 parking spaces with a primary parking lot of 100 spaces and a grass-paver lot for the remainder for overflow parking. The lot will be closed on Shabbat and certain holidays.

Although it was not announced during the hearing, the plan calls for clearing 1.5 acres by cutting down 107 trees with a 6-inch or larger caliper. In order to mitigate the clear-cutting, the plan calls for the replanting of "hundreds" of evergreens and "dozens" of deciduous trees to buffer and soften the effects. In addition, the DEIS acknowledges that many birds, both residents and migrants, will be displaced by the construction. Currently, 56 species of birds have been sighted in the area.

Application had been made for sewage hook-up to the Great Neck Water Pollution Control District; however, the application was rejected since the water district is cooperating with the Long Island Sound Study (LISS) that is urging policy makers to limit the discharge of nitrogen into the Sound. The water district is concerned that more users would "hasten the need for upgrades" in their treatment facilities. Therefore, the plan calls for a system of septic tanks, leaching pools and a surrounding sand filter, called a "collar," to protect the groundwater from effluents.

Water consumption as put forth by the DEIS is estimated to be 14,975 gallons per day. Landscape irrigation is gauged at 4,000 gallons per day during the growing season utilizing a drip-method system. The DEIS specifically states that there would be no facilities for showering, thereby ruling out a future underground swimming pool since state law requires showering facilities for pools.

The DEIS anticipates that 200 children would be served in the school. At the meeting, Peter Mineo, attorney for the Chabad, stated that the school would be for grade 1-8; however, this part of the application is confusing since the DEIS states that there will be a program for nursery school children as well as elementary at the Kings Point facility. It also mentions a preschool Chabad program on Cuttermill Road, but the board of trustees of Great Neck Estates has not yet approved the application. The application also states that between 50,000 and 60,000 Jews live in Great Neck. Although the 2000 census has not been released, prior figures have hovered around 40,000 residents total.

The driveway is projected to be located 50 feet north of the current driveway, which would be 250 feet from the intersection of Hicks Lane and East Shore Road. The traffic engineer, Robert Eshbacher, predicts that during the morning peak hours between 8 a.m. and 9 a.m., 76 vehicles would enter the property and 56 would exit. It is projected that 80 percent of the youngsters would arrive by bus. During the peak afternoon hours of 3 p.m. to 4 p.m., 167 vehicles are expected to enter and 132 to exit. Mr. Eshbacher suggests that signal timing modifications would be needed at the intersections of Hicks and East Shore Rd. as well as Arrandale and Middle Neck Roads.

For the Saturday morning services, 125 to 226 people might attend services according to the DEIS and 600 might attend during the High Holy Days. It is anticipated that 45 percent of the families who will be attending Chabad programs live well within walking distance.

Opponents of the plan raised questions about the safety issues of pedestrians walking 5 abreast in the street as families walk to services while proponents counter with concerns about the lack of adequate sidewalks and lighting in the area. There were inklings of concerns about the effect of the structure on property values nearby. But one proponent received a loud round of applause when he stated, "We want to pay extra for houses next to Chabad!"

The date for the next meeting regarding the application is not finalized as we go to press, but the Record will follow the story as it unfolds.