D’Amato pulls plan to build condos in Atlantic Beach
July 30, 2008
Former Sen. Alfonse D’Amato, faced with community opposition and the probability of having to drastically alter development plans, has withdrawn his application to build 100 luxury condos on the site of the Sands at Atlantic Beach, a spokesman said yesterday.
Residents of Atlantic Beach, a tiny oceanfront community, have opposed the project from the start, saying it would bring more people and traffic to an already congested area.
On Friday, Newsday reported that the property fell within the federal government’s newly mapped flood zones, which means any buildings on the site would have to be elevated by about 7 feet. The development team would have had to submit new plans taking into account the stricter guidelines.
D’Amato’s spokesman, Gary Lewi, said yesterday the condo proposal “has always been about complementing the neighboring beachfront community.”
“There are some who have endorsed the plan, recognizing how a tired and obsolete property could be reinvigorated,” he said, “and there are others who are firmly opposed to change. Without consensus, however, there could be no progress on this proposal.”
The Sands, a summer getaway for generations of local families for more than 50 years, will remain a beach club and catering facility, according to owner Stuart Yachnowitz.
Yachnowitz, 58, said he’s spoken with other prospective buyers but said none are interested in the same type of development. He said he had hoped to sell and retire from the business his family has run for decades.
He said club members had asked him not to sell. “I had no idea it meant so much” to them, he said.
As of today, Yachnowitz said, the Sands is again taking new bookings for parties.
Town officials said yesterday they haven’t been notified of the withdrawal.
A company formed by D’Amato, his brother Armand and son Christopher applied in May to rezone the property to multifamily residential. The area is part of a three-mile stretch that is classified as marine recreation, a change made in 1987 to guard against overdevelopment.
The D’Amatos had proposed 20 buildings, each having five luxury units with a garage.
Nearby residents lauded the announcement.
“The Lawrence Beach Club … [next door] is extremely pleased that the Marine Recreation District zoning and the character of the neighborhood will be preserved,” said an attorney for the club, Fred Eisenbud.
Resident Raina Russo, a member of the Sands, said, “The nature of the land, the safety of our residents and the lifestyle of our beachfront community has been saved.”
Lewi characterized the property as “an aging complex, designed in another era, offering little economic return to the community.”
“But it will need to be someone else’s vision that will determine what happens next.”
What’s going on
FLOOD ZONE
If you live in Nassau, you can find out if your house is now in a flood zone. Go to: NassauNYfloodmap.com
D’AMATO’S BEACHFRONT PLAN
May 2007. Deb Steve Development applies to rezone The Sands property and build condos.
June 2007. Alfonse D’Amato discloses that he has a 60 percent interest in the company and Christopher and Armand each has 20 percent. Atlantic Beach residents voice opposition.
Hempstead Town Councilman James Darcy asks Nassau County to buy the Sands and preserve it as open space. The county executive declines.
August 2007. A sliver of town-owned land, at the entrance to the Sands, forces the D’Amatos to revise their plans.
The adjacent Lawrence Beach Club files a protest with the town, citing state law that would require six of seven town board members to approve the plan.
December 2007. The D’Amatos file revised plans that take into account the town-owned parcel.
July 2008. New FEMA maps extend flood zones to include The Sands. Anything built in the zone must be elevated by about 7 feet.
Source: Newsday
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