The Garden City Board of Trustees granted final site plan approval to Yonkers-based developer Alfred Weissman Real Estate Inc., who last year purchased 1300 Franklin Avenue, the former site of the Saks Fifth Avenue department store.

Although future tenants have not been decided, the developer has said they plan to lease the lower level to a health club fitness center that specializes in rehabilitation. The main level will have retail space and a restaurant and the upper level will contain offices. The penthouse will serve as a storage area for mechanical equipment.

The developer hopes to have one tenant in the building by the end of this year. They estimate that the building renovation will take eight to twelve months to complete. Now that final site plan approval has been granted, the developer can begin drawing up construction plans.

The developer plans to make the entire building two stories. The existing faade will be removed and replaced with a reddish-brown brick and more windows. A ramp will be added, which, along with the staircase, will be covered by a canopy. The developer's architect said even though the building will change, they plan to keep it consistent with other buildings in the area.

The parking lot will be rehabilitated, including the portion that is for municipal use. The lot will provide 865 spaces, which the developer's traffic study says will be adequate for tenants and patrons since 616 spaces will be needed. Lighting will be consistent with Village fixtures.

Sidewalks will be replaced and shrubbery and trees will be added and/or replaced. Alfred Weissman, who recently became a member of the Garden City Chamber of Commerce, said that he hired an arborist to meet with the Village to assure the plantings will fit in with the surrounding area.

Trustee John Mauk abstained and the remaining trustees voted unanimously in favor of the final site plan approval.

In other Board of Trustees news, the Eastern Property Owners' Association asked the Board to look into changing the sidewalk repair policy which gives homeowners 30 days to pay for and repair their sidewalk, even if a Village tree has done the damage. Robert Stark, Jr., president of the EPOA, called it a "stealth tax" and hoped the Village will change the policy so homeowners will not have to pay for the repair if it is deemed by the Village's Public Works Department that a Village tree was responsible for the damage.

Director of Recreation Kevin Ocker said the playground and building at St. Paul's will be completed by the first week of June. It is possible that the playground may be opened earlier. The Village experienced several problems with the contractor, causing major delays.