IS BJS COMING TO RVC

I watched the December 9th zoning change hearing on the Hess station. Mr. Jeffery Greenfield of the Nassau County Planning Commission (NCPC) spoke. I am always fascinated to hear him explain Mayor Murray’s position on Zoning. Mr. Greenfield was on the RVC planning commission at the time Hess came to RVC. He said he has been off the RVC Planning commission for 12 years and before that he was on the planning board for 16 years. I guess he vote yes on the Planning board when Hess came to our village. Maybe, he could have required the Hess Corporation to place the new tanks he thinks they installed closer to Sunrise Highway and more than ten feet away from the neighbors to the south. According to EPA UST regulations and ECL NYSDEC, recognize UST’s definition or not subsurface waste storage or holding structures, (e.g., underground storage tanks, gas holders, etc.).

Mr. Greenfield espoused about the correctness of how he has recuse himself from any RVC cases brought before NCPC during the last ten years. He did the right thing. The thing he fails to say is he has spoken out about several changes on village zoning, like Avalon Bays approval as a private “citizen and taxpayer”.  I believe this is his right. At the December 9th 2013 zoning meeting he spoke out about the proposed changes to the Hess zoning. The same Hess station he voted on as a member of the RVC Planning Commission. It’s a long time. I think he should speak even if he voted to approve HESS in 1985.

Like Mr. Greenfield, Ms. Kearns now a private citizen and resident of the village voice concern over the possibility of overdevelopment as is her right. I should add that Hess never came before her board when she was a member of the RVC Planning Board.  I believe Mayor Murray’s Board has voted in favor of shrinking Residential zoning on several occasions by using spot zoning. Spot zoning which is not in agreement with the established master zoning plans of the village.  In my opinion, they vote to change the Hess zoning.  My fear is by employing spot zoning again in the future they will change all the property around the Hess station to accommodate a full blown BJS Super Store.

Mr. Greenfield reads the Wall Street Journal every day. Then he knew in March of 2013 that Hess was divesting their gasoline stations, in July 2013 Hess hired Goldman Sachs to find a buyer and in December 2013 BJS entered a bid to buy these gasoline stations. I knew this, did the mayor know this?

The September 9th hearing was very cordial between the Hess Corporation and the Village Board. In most of the discussions both sides in my opinion spoke like buddies. The reasons for change were simple: move the UST Tanks; possibly build a new convenience store and minor issues like using the tool of spot zoning in favor of the Hess station for an innocent rezoning decision leaving the property unencumbered for future sale. I want to say neither the Mayor nor the lawyer for Hess ever mentioned the upcoming sale of the gas station. This is not liable, slanderous or outrageous. They either didn’t know like others or they just forgot about it, no crime.

Well thanks to Ms. Kearns and Mr. Greenfield. Now the whole village now knows why Hess wants to rezone their property. Now the Village board knows why Hess wants to rezone their property. Now who is going to tell the people of North Oceanside Road and the surrounding area that a SUPER BIG BOX BJS STORE is going to improve the quality of their lives? Gas stations are necessary, yes  regulated gas station that respect their neighbors, follow existing village code on noxious fumes, hours of delivery and disturbing the peace between 1 and 6 in the morning. Maybe a little police presence would be a good thing