TONH: Roslyn Country Club Negotiations and Public Hearings Continue

Residents will have to wait a bit longer for a final outcome on whether the will take over the Roslyn Country Club.

Public hearings and negotiations will continue on the fate of the 10-acre Roslyn property, which was debated Tuesday evening at the Town’s board packed meeting.

Many attended to see if North Hempstead will take over the site for a private entity and enhance the pool, tennis courts and catering facility on its grounds, possibly charging a yearly membership of $1,000-$2,000.

The board meeting was filled with residents who had mixed feelings about the back and forth rhetoric that has transpired since the beginning of May 2011. Most Roslyn Heights residents seem to support the beautification of the project and the Town takeover. Yet others – such as New Hyde Park and Williston Park residents – oppose it. They say taxes will most definitely increase, as will the project’s cost, parking issues and the high membership fee, which many might not be able to afford.

Supervisor Jon Kaiman said he does not have a definitive figure on the overall project costs because negotiations with the country club’s owner, while positive and progressing, are ongoing.

“The goal for the Town is to do something that is consistent with the larger community’s goals,” Kaiman said. “We want to maintain and preserve the 10-acres of recreation space that exists. In addition, we want to maintain that the school district does not lose tax revenue.”

Yet several New Hyde Park residents said they fear that this takeover would have a huge potential of raising taxes for all North Hempstead residents at a time when the economy is in an economic slump.

Lakeville Estates Civic Association President Marianna Wohlgemuth feels there are too many pools in North Hempstead and another one is not needed.

“Allow the people in the Roslyn community to pay their own tax for this country club, not myself or others that are not in the community,” said Wohlgemuth. “We pay our own taxes in New Hyde Park.”

In agreement, North Lakeville Civic Association President Marietta DiCamillo and New Hyde Park resident said they do not support this project.

“Taxes are hard to pay in this community and we do not need another tax and there are too many unknowns at this time with this property,” DiCamillo said.

Still, some Roslyn Heights residents feel the Town should take over the property, which during the last several years has been poorly run. These residents say that like communities such as Manorhaven, their area deserves its own pool.

“I have been a member of the Roslyn Country Club, but I stopped due to poor conditions,” said Todd Richman, a Roslyn Heights resident. “There are hundreds of people that would join if it was fixed up.”

Roslyn Heights resident Alan Shale said that he has been a member of the facility since 1976, and said it is not a country club, but rather a pool club with tennis courts.

“We need additional recreational facilities here where families go to and enjoy themselves,” Shale said.

Councilman Thomas Dwyer emphasized two main points about the Town's aspirations for the pool.

“This will be a regional park and a self-sufficient park – meaning it will pay for itself,” Dwyer said.

Kaiman wrapped up the discussion, saying, “Public hearings will continue along with the negotiation process with the property’s owner. We are going to try to come up with a budget and a proposal.”