Condos rejected in Glenwood Landing industrial area

The North Hempstead Town Board has denied a zone-change application to build an eight-unit condominium complex in an area of Glenwood Landing zoned for industrial use.

About 40 neighbors of the site objected to the plan.

Developers at Tuesday's town board meeting presented details of the project and an artist's rendering by the Anthony S. Diproperzio architectural firm of Mineola.

"It's a monstrosity," shouted one resident when a poster of the rendering of the proposed development at 1 West St., also known as Rams Hill Road, was displayed.

"This is an area of nice, modest homes," said another resident, Bill Cameron. "To put this in is not in character with the neighborhood -- that's the basis of my objections."

Cameron and others said the neighborhood is filled with two-floor, single-family 19th century homes and that the three-story masonry structure would not fit in. They also expressed concern about the property's location near what they described as a "dangerous curve" on Shore Road.

A vacant house and cottage are on the site, which property owner Vincent Cangialosi said in an interview are for his "personal use." He said he purchased the property four years ago and that neither structure had been occupied for the past five years. The plan called for demolishing the existing structures and building one-, two- and three-bedroom apartments and 18 parking spots.

The board unanimously defeated the plan in a 7-0 vote. Town Supervisor Judi Bosworth said she voted against it after hearing the concerns and noted she found one issue particularly troubling.

"What concerns me is the availability of water and the number of septic tanks that would have to be placed [to accommodate the development] so close to Hempstead Harbor," Bosworth said.

Cangialosi said after the rejection that his intention was to do something "good" for the neighborhood. He said he thought the proposal was much better than selling the property and having it developed for an industrial use under the current zoning.