By Stephanie Petrellese

Last week's editorial in The Garden City News has raised the ire of Village officials as it was the first time they heard that the Nassau County Planning Commission held a bidders' conference on the Nassau Hub study for those interesting in constructing a mass transit system. A Power Point presentation shown at the conference revealed the possibility of a light rail transit system running through the Village, along the unused right-of-way behind Arthur Street homes and the inactive railroad line between St. James Streets North and South.

Garden City Mayor Robert Rothschild said he was not that upset upon hearing the news. "It would have been nice to have been notified," he admitted. "But there was nothing for us there."

The July 23rd conference was attended by engineering firms and developers. The Mayor said the county is continuing a long-range process, and he does not believe it was necessary to include the Village in this particular step. Mayor Rothschild emphasized that he has made it known that the Village will adamantly oppose any light rail transit system within its borders.

Mayor Rothschild said the light rail would hurt County Executive Thomas Suozzi's "Cool Downtown" initiative. The county executive gave Garden City this designation, along with Great Neck Plaza, Long Beach and Rockville Centre, since they are located near a train station and other public transportation and feature multi-storied buildings with many people working in restaurants and shops and living in rental apartments.

"The light rail isn't going to help Garden City continue to be a cool downtown," Mayor Rothschild said. The Mayor said a light rail system would diminish the small-Village ambiance that the county executive, as well as Village officials, are seeking to sustain.

The Mayor added that County Executive Suozzi has given the Village a strong indication that he understands the cost and impact a light rail system would have on the Village, and said the Village would be made aware of project developments. The county began studying new transportation options since June, 2003. The Hub plan calls for a transportation link in the center of Nassau County connecting Long Island Rail Road train stations with activity centers, including the proposed Lighthouse development.

The Hub includes the Citibank Plaza, Nassau Coliseum and Eisenhower Park on the southeast side, and the Source Mall to the north. It encompasses Nassau Community College, Hofstra University and Roosevelt Field, and extends west to the Nassau County Government offices in Mineola.

The Trustees from the Eastern section of the Village were more angered by the news. Trustee Dennis Donnelly said he understands the Village was not the intended audience for the conference, but believes it is "underhanded" and a "slight to the Village" that officials were not notified since the proposed rail link runs through the incorporated Village.

"The County Executive has said Garden City will be kept in the loop, but then his Planning Commission holds a hearing," Donnelly said. "It is disingenuous at best."

He added that it makes him wonder why the Village was not at least sent a notification that the conference was being held. "What did they have to hide?" Donnelly asked.

Trustee Nicholas Episcopia said he is concerned because the conference shows that the county is not eliminating the possibility of a light rail system. "We are very disappointed that the Village was not notified of the July 23rd county Planning Commission meeting with 'proposed bidders,'" he said.

Bob Brickman, the county's deputy commissioner of transportation planning, did not return a call for comment as of press time.

Mayor Rothschild said the trustees from the Eastern section, as well as the Eastern Property Owners' Association and the Village's Environmental Advisory Board will more closely monitor the county's actions in regard to this project. They will also continue to follow Lighthouse project developments.

The Town of Hempstead has scheduled a zoning hearing on the proposed Lighthouse project for September 22. If the date is approved by the town board at its next meeting on Sept. 8th, the hearing will be held at the John Cranford Adams Playhouse at Hofstra University from 9:30 a.m. to 1 p.m., 2 to 5 p.m. and 6 to 9 p.m.