C&D Project Runs into Opposition

A large debris-recycling corporation was set to go through with plans to build a large plant in Oceanside, N.Y., but at a Town of Hempstead Zoning Board of Appeals hearing last week, residents raised strong opposition.

Rieco Properties Inc., a recycler of construction and demolition debris based in Port Washington, N.Y., has applied for a variance with the zoning board, the central issue of which involves whether the materials to be recycled may be "noxious" and "offensive."

"The proposed use of the property, to recycle construction material, is an as-of-right use," said Lawrence Schillinger, environmental attorney for Rieco. "The sole and very limited determination to be made by the zoning board is whether that use could potentially have a noxious or offensive impact. And we will clearly and conclusively demonstrate that there will be no adverse impacts from our facility."

The residents in opposition oppose Rieco's plan to build the facility adjacent to Liotta & Sons, a recycler of similar materials. Already bothered by dust and a smell likened to rotten eggs that they claim are emitted by Liotta, the residents are concerned that these problems will be increased by Rieco.

"Rieco will have no odors and no dust," Schillinger said. "The majority of Rieco's operations are going to be indoors. The building itself keeps the dust in, being equipped with a dust suppression system. A very small percentage of material will be outdoors. The facility will be in an appropriately zoned area, a full quarter-mile away from the nearest residents. And the proposed hours for processing are between 7 a.m. and 8 p.m."

Another related concern of residents is the increase in trucks in an area already heavy with truck traffic. "The trucks are part of this issue because there would be more trucks coming down Daly Boulevard to get the materials to Rieco," said resident Mary Hirschel. "We already have a lot of traffic."

"No more trucks will use this facility than are currently allowed to be used," Schillinger said. "We will have no more trucks with our use than were used by the petroleum company that went out of business there. And that was a 24-7 operation. Ours isn't."

The property owned by Rieco was formerly owned by Olympia, a petroleum company that is no longer in business. Residents are further concerned that the property is potentially contaminated with oil. Schillinger said that if the site is contaminated, Rieco would be responsible for cleaning it up.

"It's more of what is already going on over there," said Nassau County Legislator Jeff Toback, who lives near Rieco's property. "I think that Oceanside has more than its share of these types of businesses, and that's why I'm opposed."

Toback said that after learning of Rieco's proposal, about 25 residents called him to assist them in their opposition. The legislator plans to meet with other interested residents to formulate a strategy to fight the proposal. "If they would like me to be the spokesperson, I certainly would do that," he said.

The next hearing is scheduled for Wednesday, April 9. Oceanside/Island Park Herald, NY