Serving Manhasset, Munsey Park, North Hills, Plandome Heights, Plandome Manor, Plandome and Flower Hill
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Friday, October 27, 2023
Vol. 11, No. 43
LIVING 50 PLUS
COUNCIL DEMS CHALLENGE KAIMAN, De DeSENA TRADE BLOWS AT DEBATE DeSENA’S BUDGET PLAN
PAGES 25-28
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SHELT ER RO C K S EED L I NG S
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Neighbors split on N. Hills church expansion One resident supports plan after former opposition BY C A M E RY N O A K ES A proposal of additions and renovations to the Greater New York Conference of Seventh-Day Adventists in North Hills has split neighbors concerned about the impact of the project, when one expressed support for the amended plans at a hearing Wednesday night after opposing it for months. The church, located at 7 Shelter Rock Road, is proposing a series of changes to the building and site, including expanding the parking lot, the building’s setback, a new recording studio and other building expansions. The proposal is re-
questing variances for the building’s height, distance to the property line, building and structure coverage, floor area ratio and required parking spaces. No decision was made during the public hearing at the North Hills Board of Trustees meeting Wednesday as the trustees opted to reserve their decision on the matters. Kathleen Deegan Dickson, an attorney representing the church, said the project plans had changed to address neighbor requests to mitigate impacts on their properties. This included widening the access easement to 20 feet, moving the upper parking lot further from the property
line, adjusting the rear landscaping and painting the building a neutral color. “We thought, just to be a good neighbor, we would accommodate,” Deegan Dickson said. Deegan Dickson said the church had received a letter from the village’s consulting engineering firm that their comments on the development had been addressed, with some conditions, and they felt comfortable with the board making a decision. “It’s been an iterative process,” Deegan Dickson said. “I think it’s been very fruitful for all involved.” Bruce Migatz, who jokingly said Continued on Page 43
Port police say migrant drop-off claims bogus Chief says no evidence to support claims in paper BY C A M E RY N O A K ES
PHOTO COURTESY OF MANHASSET PUBLIC SCHOOLS
Shelter Rock Elementary School students planted vegetables in the school’s garden on Thursday, Oct. 19.
A recent news report claimed that more than 15 migrants were dropped off at various local Long Island Rail Road stations in late September, but the Port Washington Police Department say they have received no report that supports this claim. The North Shore Leader published a story this week claiming that a charter bus transported migrants from New York City and dropped them off at the Port Washington, Roslyn and Manhasset stations early in the morning on Sept.
27.
The publication cited information for its story was provided by witnesses and residents. Port Washington Police Chief Robert Del Muro released a statement on Tuesday saying that they had not garnered any complaints or official record from either citizens or police officers that support this incident, what they referred to as a “rumor,” occurred. Del Muro said the department also does not have any evidence to support these claims. He said they have also not noted any increase in the homeless population, which he
said they are “generally aware of.” The story from the North Shore Leader questioned whether this supposed incident was a part of Gov. Kathy Hochul’s plan to relocate migrants for job opportunities. The governor announced on Oct. 2 that the Department of Labor had reached an agreement to secure 18,000 jobs provided by more than 400 employers to asylum seekers and migrants who could legally work in the United States. Of the 18,000 jobs available, nearly 1,300 are available in Long Island. Continued on Page 42