At its most recent meeting, the Village of Roslyn Board of Trustees approved minor changes in the special permit granted to Forest City Daly's proposed senior housing facility for downtown Roslyn.

The BOT voted unanimously to allow a "development incentive bonus" for the housing facility to "reflect" a total floor area of 270,000 sq. ft., instead of the original 263,856 sq. ft. that was part of the special permit. The entire site plan for the facility will remain the same.

The special permit amended the original permit that the BOT and other village agencies, granted Forest City Daly. It was approved in December 2003. The original plan called for Forest City to construct one large building for senior residents, plus an office building and a third building that would contain 90 units for assisted senior living. In all, there were 250 units in the original plan.

The changes approved by the BOT will result in two separate buildings, one of them containing 160 units for independent senior living and 50 units for seniors 55 years or older. The revamped facility will have 210 units.

When Forest City first proposed the changes to the housing facility in 2003, trustees with both the Village of Roslyn and the Village of Roslyn Harbor expressed traffic concerns, especially congestion in downtown Roslyn. Michael Daly, president of Forest City, said that changes in the square footage would mean a lessening of traffic flow from the facility.

At the January meeting, Daly took the blame for any misunderstanding over the floor area size. He added that the floor plan would not result in any substantial changes to the housing facility. In the past, Daly has said that whenever construction work begins, the building of Roslyn's first waterfront access park will be the first order of business. Forest City personnel have estimated that it will take 24 months to complete the entire project, which in addition to the housing facilities, will include a four-acre park, natural springs, and three freshwater ponds.

The BOT also approved an application that will allow the village to maintain two parcels of land from the Gerry Charitable Trust. One parcel was described by Village Attorney John Spellman as vacant property located south of the Mobile station in downtown Roslyn.

The other is located next to the Van Nostrand Starkins house, one of the village's oldest and most historic structures. At the meeting, one Roslyn resident, Miriam Brandl said she was sure that the structure in the backyard of the property, a "little schoolhouse," is under a building covenant. Ms. Brandl could not recall exactly what the covenant stated, except that there could be no changes to the structure.

In addition, the BOT heard an application by a Roslyn homeowner to subdivide their property into three separate parcels. The application was necessary because the property, which is located at 110 Main Street, falls within the Hillside Protection Overlay ("HP-O") District. In recent months, the BOT has voted for a moratorium on the construction of new buildings and on alterations and additions to existing buildings within the HP-O district, which itself is located off Willis Avenue near The Pines section of Roslyn.

Ms. Brandl and other residents noted that the property, which was originally owned by Henry Onderdonck, a well-known Roslyn name, was most recently owned by Roger and Peggy Gerry. The Gerrys, they claimed, put up an easement to ensure the site would remain the same throughout the years. The current owners said any alterations would include a small house, but presumably nothing major.

In other news, the BOT approved its 2005 Firefighter Contract between the village and Rescue Hook & Ladder Company Number One and Roslyn Highlands Hook & Ladder, Engine and Hose Company, pending new paperwork by the fire companies.

The BOT has also approved Sunday, May 15 as the date for the annual Antiques Fair in downtown Roslyn, also pending appropriate paperwork, insurance, fees, and other items from the fair's main sponsors.

The next BOT meeting will be held Tuesday, Feb. 1 at 8 p.m. at Village Hall, 12 Old Northern Blvd.