Massapequa Park Village recently held an informational hearing on the question of building a home on a piece of property that is land bound. The proposal had come before the Village Board several years ago and was denied, but was raised again by the property owners who believe they have a Constitutional right to the benefit of use of their land.

What this hearing accomplished was to define the position of the property owners, as well as those of the residents who were for and against the project. And, it did it in a timely manner, giving both sides the opportunity to consider alternatives and solutions before more time and money were invested into the plan.

This procedure has become a hallmark of the administration of Mayor James Altadonna. He’s conducted such meetings on many issues including a Village proposal two years ago to restore a local memorial site. In that instance, the Mayor and the Village Board truly believed that the plan was a good one, and would be welcomed by those living near the site.

In fact, it wasn’t, and what the residents told the Village at that informational hearing was that they wanted to see the plan scaled down, dramatically. The result was a change at that location that cost less and that sat well with the residents who look at it and pass it every day.

Certainly the Village Board has an obligation to make decisions based on what they believe will be in the best interests of the public at large. That is their sworn obligation, and at times they may even have to go against the wishes of residents, even large segments of the community, in order to fulfill those obligations. But the practice of holding informational meetings on proposals that will have an impact on growth and development and quality of life here in The Park before those proposals are formalized provides a rare opportunity to bring the sides together in an atmosphere conducive of compromise.

In the instance of the proposal by the owner of the land bound parcel, the meeting led to discussions about the possibility of having nearby residents or even the Village purchasing the land. That surely is one solution that is more palpable since the owner has not heavily invested in a formal proposal that would be harder for him to set aside.

Mayor Altadonna is to be credited for bringing that kind of practical approach to Massapequa Park Village.