Supervisor John Venditto received a standing ovation from community residents when he announced that the town board will not hear the proposal for the 300-unit AvalonBay Communities apartment complex. In a surprise move, at the Tuesday, June 27 board meeting, the supervisor responded to comments made by Rob Brusca of the Coalition to Stop Avalon Bay who linked the AvalonBay proposal to the Bridge to Rye, which galvanized local residents then with the help of Senator Ralph Marino as their champion. Mr. Brusca challenged the board to show "true leadership" now.

AvalonBay had asked the town for a new zone, a Residence Downtown Revitalization area that would have increased density to 60 units per acre, which is higher than the town's highest density which is presently allowed for their Golden Age senior citizen housing at 25 units per acre.

Mr. Venditto based his decision on the town's zoning powers which he said are very broad and sweeping. He said, "It is among the most important powers of any legislative body. It has the power to impact on people's quality of life 24/7. When an application is made for a change of zone the board can opt not to hear it." He explained there are several reasons that the town has the power not to consider an application for a zoning change, including community response and that it can be detrimental to the town.

Mr. Venditto said when the application was made - by a creditable developer [AvalonBay Communities] with a team of representatives - he said to them, "We think you have a tough row to hoe." He added that since 1653 with the founding of the town, the public has had a large voice in what happens. He added, "It is patently obvious that the application developer had a hard row to hoe. I saw all the Stop Avalon signs on the road and all over." Residents put up Stop Avalon signs on their lawns in a show of community feeling.

The supervisor complimented the community on their resolve and then picked up on a challenge Mr. Brusca had thrown to board, "to stand up and to lead, and to do the right thing- not just for Oyster Bay-East Norwich, but for everyone- Town-wide- in rejecting the Avalon/Island Properties proposal in each and every respect."

Mr. Venditto said, "I was planning on this. As of tonight I will move it up on the agenda." He said in the next 30 days they will resolve the problem since the town does not have to hear a zoning application. The town attorneys will put a resolution on the town board hearing calendar stating that they will not hear the request. It is something the board has done before, said a town spokesperson.

The news was greeted by a standing ovation from the residents.

Supervisor Venditto credited the community for his actions and said, "At meeting after meeting with people I have told them about this great town. It is nights like this when you come out and voice your community concerns that makes this a great community."

Supervisor Venditto was responding to a speech made by Rob Brusca, one of the organizers of the Stop Avalon coalition. Mr. Brusca credited Jean Van Riper, a friend and long-time Oyster Bay resident, for comparing the Avalon/Island Properties application to the Bridge to Rye that was proposed here, when he was a boy. He said, "We see that as a very accurate comparison. Just as that bridge would have done, the Avalon/Island Properties [owner of the property] proposal establishes the groundwork from which the fabric of a community will never recover- be it here in Oyster Bay-East Norwich or anywhere else within the Town of Oyster Bay. As Jean expressed, such reckless proposals call for true leadership in defeating them."

He said that besides the threat it poses to "the valued Oyster Bay Harbor, we recognize and object to the incredible precedent it will set for the very same unsustainable development Town-wide, ultimately resulting in a cumulative burden to our and every community's local environment, infrastructure, and daily life that will be irreversible. In that way, this one application brings this Town and its leaders to a crossroads. Should it be approved, it will without question trigger the very same passion and energy from other groups battling the very same reasonable and reasoned concerns as this community does today - in Massapequa, Farmingdale, Syosset, Hicksville, Locust Valley, and in every other community within this Township."

That was when he challenged the board, "to stand up and to lead, and to do the right thing."

Activist Rosemarie Colvin said, "This was the ultimate. We could never have expected it. This was our dream, but we didn't think it would happen. It's nice but we're not going to stop."

Bill Burke said, "It's not over until Avalon walks away and we can't stop until then." People have seen the town take a stance only to have the courts reverse their decision.

George DiMartino said, "This isn't over - not until it's done." He added however that the stealing of the Stop Avalon signs from people's lawns had let up.

Marie Knight, Oyster Bay Civic Association president, who personally is in favor of AvalonBay Communities proposal saying, "It will bring back my village," added her comment - that it is still not over.

Matthew Whalen, AvalonBay Communities VP development director was unavailable for comment.

Matthew Meng, East Norwich Civic Association president, and one of the organizers of the Coalition to Stop AvalonBay said, "The contract between Island Properties and Avalon Bay ends on June 30. The town did exactly the right thing. They can say no - that it is out of character in Oyster Bay. Now we have to put the harbor on the National List of Historic Places so this never happens again."

Friends of the Bay Executive Director Kyle Rabin said, "We are encouraged by Town Supervisor Venditto's words at the June 27 Town Board meeting. We are counting on him and the Town Councilmembers to send AvalonBay packing. The Oyster Bay community and nearby villages have a great deal of pride in their local environment - and for good reason. The Oyster Bay/Cold Spring Harbor Estuary is seen as a vital ecological, economic, and recreational resource to Long Island. Not since the late 1980's - when developers targeted the western waterfront, just down the street from us - has a single development threatened the local environment to such a degree as that posed by Avalon's proposed complex. That's because this project, if approved by the Town of Oyster Bay, would set a precedent for other similar development. It would also trigger additional growth in the area. Such unsustainable growth would have an adverse cumulative impact on the local environment. The situation is already tenuous with the Oyster Bay National Wildlife Refuge being designated one of the 10 most threatened refuges in the nation. The fact is that Avalon's complex would be the tipping point for this community and the local environment."