As summer winds down we have again hit our slowest time of the year. Schools have yet to open, sport teams haven't yet formed and many families are enjoying their vacations.

And yet, in spite of the slowness of the season, there are still things going on that may have a huge impact on Garden City for decades to come.

As we have discussed in the past several issues, the Lighthouse project is still before the Town of Hempstead awaiting approval of its environmental impact statement. The town would also have to approve zoning changes on the parcel, and Islanders owner Charles Wang has threatened to take his team elsewhere if that approval isn't forthcoming by October.

Many of those in Garden City who oppose the Lighthouse fear that a light rail system will be built through the middle of Garden City to serve the new mega-development. While proponents of the Lighthouse point out that its plans don't include any mass transit, it is misleading to say light rail is currently off the table.

While the public's and media's attentions have been focused on the Town of Hempstead, the Nassau County Planning Commission held a conference for prospective bidders who are interested in building mass transit to serve the Hub area, which would include the Lighthouse. The conference, held on July 23, was attended by a couple of dozen representatives of engineering firms and developers, but no members of the media or officials from other municipalities. (The sign-in sheets from the meeting are available on the Planning Commission's web site.)

The bidders were asked to come up with proposals for transit systems, including a light rail system which would run along the unused right-of-way behind Arthur Street homes and the inactive railroad line between St. James Streets North and South. According to the Planning Commission web site, "The next phase of the Nassau Hub planning initiative will be the preparation of an Environmental Impact Statement and this is currently projected to begin in 2009."

So maybe things aren't so slow after all.

Meg Morgan Norris

Publisher