At the November 3rd Garden City Board of Trustees meeting, Board members listened to opinions from several residents on changing the zoning code to allow construction of an assisted living facility on property owned by the Cathedral of the Incarnation, as well as a presentation by Director of Recreation Kevin Ocker on the proposed renovation at Community Park.

Trustee Nicholas Episcopia is currently chairing a committee, comprised of Trustees John Watras and Donald Brudie, to hear from all parties involved, including residents and representatives from the Cathedral and Sunrise. Trustee Episcopia announced that they have asked Sunrise to provide a list of 10 comparable municipalities where their assisted living facilities are located so the committee can investigate the possible effect it may have on Garden City.

Gregory Burke, a resident of Garden City for 48 years, asked the Board to make a decision although they are legally under no obligation to act on Sunrise's petition. He said assisted living is needed in the Village and suggested it be placed on the eastern border by Roosevelt Field.

Mark Fitzpatrick, a 37-year resident of Garden City, is against assisted living at the Cathedral site because it would disrupt the "bucolic setting." He warned against changing the zoning code and said it will change the whole makeup of the village.

Resident John Donachie said that Sunrise has a reputation for flipping properties and accused the company of not looking at other possible sites including the Bookspan property and the land where the former Nassau County Dept. of Social Services building sits. At a Board of Trustees meeting in June, 2003, a Sunrise representative said they looked at those sites but found the Cathedral property more desirable.

Donachie reminded the Board and residents that the assisted living facility would be for the general public and not specifically for village residents. He also questioned the Cathedral's economic viability and said the Cathedral had purchased scaffolding but cannot afford the repairs. Donachie said he was concerned the land transaction could be viewed as a Cathedral "bailout."

In other news, Director of Recreation Kevin Ocker gave a presentation on the renovations proposed at Community Park. The supports on the four platform tennis courts have deteriorated considerably over the past 30 years. They will be refurbished, and the courts will receive new lighting and heating. The clubhouse, which is currently a mobile trailer, will be removed and a new building, complete with court-level deck and locker rooms, will be constructed. The miniature golf course will be upgraded with new landscaping and water features.

Donachie commented that the Board should consider whether the cost of upgrading the platform tennis courts is justified considering that only a small number of residents who actually use them will benefit. Mayor Gerard Lundquist responded that this is the first time the Board was seeing the proposal and will explore the issue further in the near future.