The Oyster Bay Civic Association has proposed a moratorium on development until the Quality Communities traffic plan for the hamlet is completed. The suggestion was made to Town of Oyster Bay Supervisor John Venditto, and he seemed interested in the idea.

The reason was made clear as members questioned the effects of the Roosevelt School addition and parking problems, at the intersection of West Main Street and Lexington Avenue; the proposed Lizza S-2 (Golden Age) senior housing on Underhill Road and Mill River Road which empties out on Lexington Avenue; and the proposed expansion at the Hess gas station on Lexington Avenue.

The Hallock/Legion building is the first Island Property site to be developed, and it too is in the general area being heavily impacted, at the top of South Street as it intersects with Lexington Avenue. The area is being viewed as for middle income seniors. It would offer a suite of rooms, quite different from the proposals of Oyster Bay Manor and Lizza. It might have a small restaurant and maybe a spa or gym. About 50 units are being considered for the plan, less than half of what the assisted living facility proposed to offer.

Marie Knight, president of the OBCA since March 16, when Tim Archdeacon resigned, introduced Frank Scolera, their newest board member. Mr. Scolera, an attorney, was a Nassau County assistant district attorney. He grew up in Malverne, and is the husband of Oyster Bay Town Councilwoman Christine Preston Scolera, also an attorney. Mr. Scolera is with the firm of Rivkin, Radler and Kremer. He specializes in municipal law and said his concerns are the same as other members: He wants Oyster Bay to look and be the best it can be.

OBCA Vice President Jerritt Gluck gave a synopsis of the Quality Community Steering Committee meeting. (See article on page one.) Board member Ed Rahilly reported on the Sea Fund. (See last week's Enterprise Pilot for a complete story.) The Hess station expansion and mini-mart was discussed and will be in detail at the OBCA meeting on May 17.

The Lizza S-2 proposal was discussed. The S-2 applicant families, with one spouse over 62-years-of-age, will first be taken from the Oyster Bay-East Norwich School District area; families with children in the OB-EN School District; Town of Oyster Bay residents, and then Nassau County residents. There are also S-2 income restrictions.

The Lizza plan will raze the hill to lower the land 40 feet; take out all the trees, and put up five two-story high (30 ft.) buildings on the site. They will conform to the existing property line bordering the Mill Pond. Residents discussed the traffic problems they see as imminent in that area.

The OB-EN School District bond issue was also of interest. It will mean replacing six portables that are old and in which mold has been discovered; normal roof maintenance of the roof at Roosevelt; repairing the east and west facades of the Oyster Bay High School, built in 1929. The front facade of the Roosevelt School will be improved as part of the plan, to conform to the revitalization of the hamlet, said Ms. Von Novak.

Ms. Knight has been meeting with P.O. Janet Boyd to try to solve the traffic problems at the Roosevelt School. Parents are aware of traffic problems around Roosevelt and drive their children to school, creating more congestion problems.

As the meeting ended, someone commented that, the only way Oyster Bay will change is if people stop sitting around like sheep waiting to be slaughtered. It was a lively meeting with a great deal of give and take.

Including, a group vote to support a United Civics of North Oyster Bay project to create a safe path for bikers to go from Bethpage State Park north to the Syosset train station. It will be funded by the NYS DOT. Jerritt Gluck reported that East Main Street is looking better since the back door garbage pick up has begun at the initiation of the civic group.

Ms. Knight explained the purpose of the OBCA saying, "In lieu of being an incorporated village, we need an enlightened board and numbers of members." She encouraged people to sign up for membership. Their phone number is 922-5068. She will have 100 applications from KeySpan at the next meeting, May 17. The unincorporated villages are being offered a 10 percent discount on gas and 2.5 percent discount on electricity. That was the night of the Hess forum, she said.