Proposed apartments to take up empty storefront in Mineola, if approved - LI Press

Proposed apartments in Mineola would convert a previously vacant storefront if village trustees approve the plan later. The developer, represented by architect Carmine Goncalves, said each unit would be 900 square feet in total, configured as two-bedroom apartments. According to the submission, one unit would be 640 square feet and the other 621 square feet, with a common corridor between them cited as the reason for reduced size. Deputy Mayor Janine Sartori said 700-square-foot apartments should not have two bedrooms, arguing the 620-square-foot figure is about 70% of that benchmark. Trustees did not approve the plans at the hearing and will reconsider after definitive numbers are provided. Mayor Paul Pereira said the project would not raise zoning issues because Mineola uses an overlay on original commercial zoning to increase housing and integrate residences with commercial storefronts. Pereira linked the overlay to the decline of small “mom-and-pop” businesses competing online. The trustees also authorized a drone response vehicle purchase for the Volunteer Fire Department, with Nassau County set to provide a $25,000 grant.