Subdivision of ex-Vanderbilt Motor Parkway OKd

The Nassau County Planning Commission on Thursday approved a controversial subdivision of land that would allow four single-family homes on the site of the former Vanderbilt Motor Parkway in Levittown.

The commission voted 8-0 to approve Josato Inc.'s petition to subdivide the 2.5-acre parcel on Crocus Lane into four lots. The decision allows Josato, of North Bellmore, to obtain four separate property deeds that would also include a covenant with a restriction to limit further subdivision.

The Hempstead Town Board of Appeals unanimously approved the plan in April with conditions, despite arguments from some residents that approval could set a precedent for "spot" zoning.

"This is the same identical plan that was filed with the Hempstead Town Board of Appeals," Josato's attorney William Cohn said at the hearing.

Two representatives from the Levittown Property Owners Association and a local resident at the commission hearing requested no further subdivision of property to be included as part of the four individual deeds, to which the commission agreed.

"We wanted as a commission to make sure there is no further subdivision," commission chairman Jeffrey Greenfield said.

The town appeals board had granted the variance requests for Josato to build four homes on separate parcels that are 5 feet short of the 60-foot width required under special zoning meant to preserve the area's history of detached one-family homes.

The appeals board's decision allows Josato to subdivide the property into two 42,380-square-foot plots and two 13,200-square-foot plots.