The Town of Oyster Bay Board voted earlier this month to approve the application submitted by The Industrial and Research Associates Co., fee owner and Equinox Woodbury Inc., tenant, for a special use permit to operate a health club on the property located at 7550 Jericho Turnpike in Woodbury.

The Town of Oyster Bay Environmental Quality Review Commission reviewed the information and submitted its report regarding the environmental impacts contemplated by this application. After its review, the Environmental Review Commission found that approving the application would cause no significant impact upon the environment, in accordance with the Environmental Conservation Law of the State of New York and its regulations.

The Environmental Review Commission found the following after an investigation. The land on the project is flat, fully developed and contains no unique land forms. There is presently a movie theater located on that property.

Regarding the air quality, which includes odors and noise, the project is not believed to entail the kind of activity that would routinely produce odors or generate noise exceeding the local ambient level. "The proposed project is not expected to result in a significant increase in the level of traffic generated pollutants," the report stated.

Based on the Institute of Transportation Engineers Trip Generation Manual, the proposed 23,100 square foot health club will generate approximately 86 vehicular trips between 5 and 7 p.m. weekdays, which are the afternoon and evening peak hours. This is a decrease of 464 trips from the former movie theater use.

The site plans include two means of ingress and egress onto Jericho Turnpike and one onto Crossways Park North. According to the report, "the proposed use, therefore, will have much less of an impact on the local roadway system than the former use."

Water quality was another topic addressed in the review. The board looked at the ground and surface water situation and found that there is no surface water on the project site. The site is connected to a municipal sewer system in accordance with Nassau County Department of Health specifications. The report stated, "the proposed project is not expected to have an adverse impact on groundwater." The site is not located over the Special Groundwater Protection Area or in any areas designated as Critical Environmental Areas so this was not a factor in the board's decision.

According to the Jericho Water District, total water consumption is expected to average 3,333 gallons per day, which is an increase of 633 gallons per day compared to the former use. According to the water district, this will not result in a burden on them.

Based on empirical data from a private company, the daily volume of solid waste is expected to average approximately 59 pounds, consisting of mainly paper, cardboard and food waste. In light of State requirements set forth in General Municipal Law, the Environmental Review Commission recommended that approval be conditioned upon requirement that the applicants separate their solid waste into recyclable and reusable.

The proposed project is located in a commercial area and is consistent with surrounding land use patterns. The project, according to the Environmental Review Commission, will not then have a negative impact on the area's aesthetic resources.

The Environmental Review Commission looked at this proposal and the factors affecting energy around the area. The commission stated that the site is connected to existing utilities and has sufficient capacity to allow for the slight increase in electric and gas use. The commission also found that the proposed project will not result in population growth, increases in municipal and/or community services or in changes in the density of land use. "Community growth and character will not be impacted," the board stated.

A public hearing was held on Nov. 26, 2002 at which parties had the opportunity to speak. After the Town of Oyster Bay reviewed the information presented at the public hearing and the review by the Environmental Review Commission, they found that the petition "will not have a significant effect on the environment, that the proposed action in said petition constitutes a Negative Declaration in accordance with the New York State Environmental Conservation Law and its applicable regulations."

With the Town Board's approval, the applicants are now waiting for building permits to be issued as the next step in the process.