Birches meeting at the Locust Valley Library
On Monday, August 13th, an informational meeting was held at the Locust Valley Library to discuss the proposed Birches sewer treatment plant project. In particular, the meeting was set up to address the concerns some of the residents of the area had regarding the impact of the project, both during the construction phase and long term and to discuss the feasibility of an alternate location for the plant itself.
It was immediately apparent that this issue is finally getting the attention that it deserves from our elected officials. Present were; County Executive Tom Souzzi, Town Supervisor John Venditto, State Assemblyman Chuck Levine, County Legislator Diane Yatauro, Town Councilwoman Elizabeth Faughnan, Mayor Siegel, Mayor Williams, Mayor Michaelis and a representative from State Senator Marcellino’s office (I apologize if I have left anyone out). Both the Town and County had a number of people involved with the project present to answer questions and address concerns. The meeting room was filled to standing room only.
Long term concerns were pretty obvious to anyone who puts themselves in the position of living in the near vicinity of the plant itself; aesthetics of the lot and building, noise, smell and the effect on property values. Alternate sites had been previously suggested by some of the residents to move the plant farther from the area homes. Unfortunately, of the alternate sites suggested, the most feasible, in terms of design and construction, was a property acquired by Nassau County as open space several years ago, that is north of the development. When this option was explored it was found that it would take a bill passing both the NYS Senate and Assembly two years in a row to modify the open space designation. This delay was unacceptable to most in the room including the residents who lived farther away from the plant site. The one disconcerting thing about this meeting was that there seemed to be some resentment towards the residents close to the plant for raising these concerns. The other residents seemed to feel that they were trying to stop or delay the project for a prolonged period of time. Nothing could be further from the truth. Kyle Rabin and I had personally met with some of the nearby property owners prior to the meeting and they simply felt that all options needed to be considered in order to be sure that this solution was the best possible solution for all involved. I agree.
The residents were assured that the county was more than willing to address the aesthetics and that the building could be designed to look like a small house and that the noise and smell were also being addressed in the design of the plant and building. They were encouraged to meet with the design team for a more detailed explanation of the design and to raise any other concerns with them. They were also invited to tour another existing plant to get a better idea of the characteristics of this type of plant.
The timeframe and logistics of the construction phase were also discussed. The work is scheduled to begin this coming spring and should be completed within 18 months. When the project is complete the roads, which are in atrocious condition right now, will be re-paved. As of yet the cost sharing agreement has not been signed for reasons that are unclear to me. It should not take this long to iron out a 50/50 agreement.
The only other issue that seemed to be a sticking point with some residents is connecting the individual houses to the sewage collection system. This expense is to be the responsibility of the property owners and is likely to be several thousand dollars for each house. The plan right now is to require each homeowner to connect within a certain time frame. Each homeowner would contract separately with a private contractor to complete the work. There are several problems with this. Each homeowner would have to come up with the cash in one lump sum, there will be a delay in many of the houses hooking up (still contributing pollution to the bay), and it destines the area to continue to be in a state of construction for that additional time period. A much better solution would be for the County and/or Town to negotiate a price per house with the contractor doing the mainline installation to connect all of the houses and then assess each property over a period of several years to recover the money laid out.
Considering what we are dealing with, the residents seem to be relieved that this problem will finally be addressed. No more cesspool problems, new roads, and the stigma that has been associated with this community finally gone. This can only lead to a better quality of life and increased property values.
Not to mention a cleaner bay.
Barry E. Lamb
Bayville Blog
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Sunday, July 06, 2008 2:57 PM
Bayville Blog NY- Serving Bayville, Mill Neck, Center Island and Locust Valley New York - Community wrote:
On Wednesday, June 25th, a meeting was held at Bailey Arboretum to update residents regarding changes to the plan for mitigating the raw sewage discharge from the Birches residential area, into Mill Neck Creek. Earlier this year, Nassau County took possession of the Glen Cove sewage treatment plant. This prompted them to look into the possibility of connecting the Birches area, via a pump station and forced main, to the Glen Cove plant instead of constructing a packet treatment plant in the Birches area. This, of course, delayed the start of construction, which was to have already begun ...
Thank you for the update.
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The Northender has an article regarding the Birches this week.
http://www.northender.com/feature_story_details.jsp?id=1161
Barry
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Apparently, plans for the package plant have been scrapped. The latest word is a pipe from Glen Cove Sewer plant will be constructed all the way up Bayville Ave to the Birches. How long will that take? How much will it cost? Still no answers from the politians. I am glad you list their names in your blog, none of them recall the proposal for the plant.
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Here's the update. Agreement between Nassau County and TOB still not signed for construction of package plant on Meleny Rd. TOB says they are waiting for report from Nassau County on feasabilty of connecting to Glen Cove Sewer. Nassau County says Dept of Public Works is completing the report. Dept of Public works knows nothing about the plant. Tax assessment says all the water problems are solved pay up. The children of The Birches and Mill Neck Creek continue to play in waste water. THE POLLUTION CONTINUES!!
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Feb. 25, 2008
170 good seeds-Results may vary
Please give your good and kind consideration on these170 issues and items and the100 billion dollars a year savings for a more frugal kingdom were righteous is at home.
1. Rework review compliance and safety on product approval in the critical path manufacturing for better health and safety with OSHA.
2. FEC and SEC as well as USDA on review and standards complied with and as set forth in all advertising in federal and state telecommunications and airways. Adjust the penalty rates for noncompliance and enforce of said by-laws and covenants.
3. Grassroots tax incentives for roadway and sidewalk improvements landscaping, lighting and sidewalks with the existing Federal programs in place to offset costs.
4. NASA program brought to the primary and elementary education and school children years at no cost for the young.
5. International celestial lunar star gazing program with Internet and audio viewing with the most proper oversight and given demographics by state and federal government on existing lands and building for the public.
6. Great tax incentives for school uniforms and outfits for the primary and elementary education and school year with good tax relief incentives.
7. Mandatory monthly accurate and confirmed state and federal water testing programs for the drinking and ground water as well as the rivers streams and oceans published and displayed for safety and compliance as well as bio-terrism prevention and protection.
8. Government beings and bodies for approval of safety and compliance inspection and sign off on ground fertilizer and pesticides manufacturing and product packaging and said storage as well as placement that are sold in each state.
9. Clean up programs for the Internet with a compensation package to find and return information similar to the 5 cent nickel return for the return of soda pop bottles.
10. Revise the forms for government in federal and state with attention given to divorce family issues with relief on terms of the automatic cause and effect dates for cost savings for all involved.
11. Revise definitions for child care and alimony settlements as well as primary residence definitions and simplify.
12. Revise and clean up the Federal and state regulatory requirements on living wills and the primary residence issues as well as the attorney of power for accurate central census demographic information.
13. Reduce costs and blend all of the social security departments and the offices of welfare as set forth by the original cost effective design.
14. Federal and state and local bread and soup programs with food coupon and gift certificates for good and kind consideration.
15. Cable-TV-Radio switching and transfer stations for strict compliance with independent grounding with depth and bonding as well as the ground electrical force and power load management issues associated as well as proper 1000' minimum clearance i
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Here's the update. Agreement between Nassau County and TOB still not signed for construction of package plant on Meleny Rd. TOB says they are waiting for report from Nassau County on feasabilty of connecting to Glen Cove Sewer. Nassau County says Dept of Public Works is completing the report. Dept of Public works knows nothing about the plant. Nassau County Tax Assessment says all the water problems are solved, so pay up. The children of The Birches and around Mill Neck Creek continue to play in waste water. Thirty years and still THE POLLUTION CONTINUES!!
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Why do we allow this to continue. Shut down the existing chlorination chamber. It is polluting our waters. SHUT IT DOWN! SHUT IT DOWN!!
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At a Town of Oyster Bay board meeting 3/25/08 the next step in the delay process has been proposed. A conection to the Glen Cove Sewer Dist is now the project on the drawing board. The families opposed to the package plant have done exactly what was expected and have caused another delay in the clean up of Mill Neck Creek. Councilwoman Elizabeth Fauhnan seems to be the board member most in favor of the delay, which is strange since she also sits on the board of Friends of the Bay. FOB were very anxious for a resolution, now seem to have turned silent. "Friends of the Bay"? With friends like that, who needs enemies?
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Please don't let your kids swim when the tide is outgoing in Mill Neck Bay. Overflow from the Birches has raised bacteria levels to unsafe levels for clamming, but no one seems concerned about what they are swimming in. I have seen the toilet paper swimming by.
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