Lawrence village discusses vehicle idling ordinance, hiring sewage treatment plant site consultants

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In a tidy 40-minute meeting on July 25, the Village of Lawrence trustees took care of several items ranging from planning to hold a public hearing to the retention of two different consultants for two separate but related actions associated with the vacant land at the former site of the village’s sewage treatment plant by Rock Hall Road.

Trustee Daniel Goldstein introduced the idea of an ordinance to prohibit the idling of vehicles after more than 10 minutes, similar to one that was enacted by the Village of Patchogue, he said.

After a few minutes of debate and Village Attorney Peter Bee explained that a local law would create more enforcement power compared to a resolution. It was agreed that a public hearing will held at the next village meeting to discuss establishing a local law that vehicles within Lawrence cannot idle for more than 10 minutes.

The nearly 4 acres of vacant land the village owns where the sewage treatment once was continues to be a topic of contention between the trustees. In February, the board approving the spending at least $25,000 in February on a study to be conducted by Chicago-based Market & Feasibility Advisors, to determine the viability and economics of a multipurpose community center on the land.

At the Thursday meeting, the trustees authorized the retaining of a consultant — Bladykas & Panetta Engineers and Land Surveyors of Oyster Bay — for a proposed site subdivision plan at the cost of $10,700. In addition, Partner Engineering & Science Inc. was retained as a consultant for what is called the Phase One /Phase Two environmental site assessment at the plant property. Phase One will cost $2,200. Trustee Uri Kaufman recused himself for voting on the Partner’s resolution as he said that his business had used Partner in the past.

Village officials noted their opposition to the development of the Woodmere Club as articulated by Village Administrator Ron Goldman at the Nassau County Planning Commission hearing on June 26.

Lawrence is planning to host a family movie might on Aug. 28 at the Lawrence Yacht & Country Club at 7:30 p.m. The rain date is Aug. 29.

National Car Free Day is Friday, Sept. 20, The trustees approved having the village mark it on Saturday, Sept. 21, because of the amount of shopping done before Shabbos.

Reminder: Village Hall at 196 Central Ave. in Lawrence is one of the Nassau County sites for early voting, Oct. 26 to Nov. 3.