NOTE: As with most Internet polls, this poll is not balanced against a weighted sample. There is no statistical accuracy relating to any specific demographic of poll takers. Anyone can take this poll and the Northender collects no data about the respondents.
As like many, I, too, am still very much annoyed with the recent sale to Avalon Bay by our "savior", Charles Wang. Now that he has sold us down the river, it gives Avalon Bay an "in your face' purchase attitude towards the residents of Oyster Bay and East Norwich. They obviously haven't given up. As for C. Wang, let's remind ourselves that just a few years back he claimed that there was no master plan for our hamlet and that his only interest was in improving our "deteriorating" image. It now seems that high-rise, multiple dwellings were in that "no master plan."
Mr. Wang has made a smart move (maybe) by selling to Avalon Bay. This `no-brainer' strategy now permits Avalon Bay spend their money to continue the fight leaving Mr. Wang out of it. "But wait!", as the commercial says, "there's more"! In a recent Long Island newspaper article, an East Meadow developer successfully sued the Town of Brookhaven to reverse their decision on a rezoning of his 25-acre parcel in Coram, where he plans to build 140 townhouses. Why did he win? The developer said that more than 700 other properties were rezoned under Brookhaven's previous administration. Now, what does this setup for C. Wang, the owner of many other properties in Oyster Bay? Here's the "no-brainer": Should Avalon Bay win their case for rezoning, this leaves the door wide open giving C. Wang the right to make his case for his other properties, and win! This whole scenario sounds like a disaster ready to happen for OB & EN.
In my opinion, many of us see the reason for C. Wang selling the parcel to Avalon Bay. My question is, what's wrong with the zoning the way it is? What- ever eventually is built on that property will provide more jobs. Mill Max is an excellent example of that, have a good looking building, and the property is always well maintained. There was no argument when the Town requested that they leave the little stone building up, cooperated, which they did, leaving a little charm and history in OB.
On another matter, I, too, attended the "victory" dinner at the Sagamore Yacht Club after Avalon Bay was denied the rezoning application. About 125 attended, and out of that group, there were only a handful of us who have openly made the fight. We've attended meetings, gathered petitions, our pictures in the newspapers and written letters to the Editors and/or Planning Board to deny Avalon Bay's permit to rezoning. I'm now requesting that other like-minded people write and be vocal yourselves. Don't depend upon just a few of us to do your fighting for you. You have to come "out of the closest" and get more openly involved. As Supervisor Venditto said, "Avalon Bay has a rough row to hoe." He's got to hear from more of you to make his case.
Mind you, Avalon Bay, to pacify us, is coming back with fewer apartments than originally requested. Even at half the amount, that would be too much, creating an open door for C. Wang and outside developers to come in and transfer us into another Glen Cove. Warning.. this next fight will be tougher than the last.
