Hunting Hill at Woodbury, Inc., contract vendee and Woodbury Racquet Club, Inc., fee owner, submitted an application to the Town of Oyster Bay Board for a change of zone from a one-family residence to a one and two-family residence on the property currently occupied by Woodbury Racquet and Fitness Club, located on the south side of Jericho Turnpike, east of Juneau Boulevard, in Woodbury. The hearing was held on Tuesday, Nov. 19 at Town of Oyster Bay Hall.

The applicants are also seeking a Modification of Restrictive Covenants, which pertains to the existing tennis club, to demolish the tennis club and construct eight buildings to be used for 32 one-family town house/condominium type homes and construct an approximately 4,500 square foot recreational building on the premises.

Kevin O'Brien, the attorney representing Hunting Hill at Woodbury, Inc., began the presentation to the board by explaining that this application required 75 percent of abutting neighbors to approve the application. O'Brien received the required approvals and presented the information to the board.

O'Brien then explained that the requirements for a "one to two-family residence" known as RMF6, are five acres of land, and they have eight acres; attached units, and that is what the applicants are proposing; and they also meet the requirements for density per acre and the allotted space for the common area. "We meet all requirements and we are not seeking any variances," said O'Brien.

The applicants are seeking to tear down the existing sports facility on the property and erect attached single family dwellings. There will be a total of 32 units, which is scaled down from the original proposal of 44 units. "After meeting with the community, we realized that most people want to retain the residential look," said O'Brien. "We are achieving that while still sticking to the original concept of having high end, luxury townhouse-types of units."

Each unit will consist of between 2,400 to 2,500 square feet of living space, three bedrooms, 2.5 or 3.5 bathrooms and a 2-car, enclosed garage. There will also be a recreational facility consisting of approximately three levels totaling 4,500 square feet. Included in the facility will be exercise equipment, a card room, clubroom, maintenance rooms and offices.

Peter Brown, a traffic engineer, addressed the board regarding the traffic conditions at the site. After analyzing a traffic study that was conducted, Brown found that this project would reduce the trips in the area by two-thirds. There is not currently a traffic light at the intersection and New York State decided that traffic volumes are too low for a light and one does not have to be added.

Board members were troubled by this decision realizing the difficulty in making a left turn onto Jericho Turnpike and agreed to look further into the matter. Brown explained that a two-way turn lane will be added to Jericho Turnpike that people can turn into and use as a merge lane to merge onto Jericho Turnpike.

Dr. Jeffrey Willig, president of the Gates Ridge Civic Association, addressed the board after the completion of the presentation and explained that his civic association has been working in connection with O'Brien and his team and, after certain changes were made to the plans, they approve of the proposal. "This is something acceptable to the surrounding community," said Willig.

Scott Feike, whose property is closest to the site, addressed the board and said that he found out about this proposal on Nov. 15 and didn't have enough time to prepare a formal statement. He expressed his dismay in the process and said he, and some of his neighbors, were not in support of the application. He asked the board for a delay in the vote.

Supervisor Venditto suggested that Feike meet with Willig and O'Brien to learn more details. He also said that the record will be left open for 30 days, giving Feike and anyone else who wishes to comment on this application, the chance to do so. The decision of the board was reserved and the record will be left open for 30 days.

Town of Oyster Bay Supervisor John Venditto said that he was happy that the local residents and developer have been working together and this is an example of how a community can work with the developer and get optimal results.

Also at the town board meeting, Syosset businesspeople Tricia Shannon and Jim Tinnelly were recognized by the board for being named Small Business people of the year by Nassau Council of Chamber of Commerce. They each received a citation from the Town of Oyster Bay Board.