SITE ANALYSIS SITE ANALYSIS FIGURE 2: SITE ELEMENTS

A site analysis of the two parcels was conducted to help understand site elements, infrastruc- TO GRAND TO NASSAU CENTRAL PKWY ture and access issues, regional influences, and the major opportunities and constraints that 11b are likely to shape development options.

10b

e SITE ELEMENTS u n 12 e v A

a Cross Island Parkway ic 14a 10c a m Ja Within and the surrounding area, there are a range of site elements that influ- 6b 11a 8c ence both Site A and Site B. Figure 2 locates the elements listed below: 7c

15 13b 7b

1. Racetrack TO JAMAICA 8d 1 14b 2. Grandstand ( +/- 120’ in height) 11c 4 3. Belmont Open Space/Park 2 13c 10a 6c 4. Training Area 9 SITE A 7a 5. Horse Stables and Racetrack Worker Housing 3

6a 6. Parking 5 Plainfield Avenue 14c 7. Vehicular Access Hempstead Turnpike 8b SITE B 8. Single Family Residential 13a

9. Cross Island Parkway d TO HEMPSTEAD 8a a o

R

10. Major Local Roads t n

o

m 11. LIRR Stations l E N 12. LIRR Train Tracks 0 800 1600 TO SOUTH STATE PKWY 13. Retail Corridors feet 14. Schools 15. Village Bus Depot

SITE ACCESS

Transit Pedestrian Both regionally and locally, Sites A and B are well served by mass transit. There are three In general, pedestrian access to the two sites is limited because Hempstead Turnpike is a (LIRR) stops within one mile of the two sites: Belmont Park, Queens car-dominated and pedestrian unfriendly roadway. However, walking distances to nearby Village, and Bellerose. However, the closest station, Belmont Park, is a spur of the Hemp- transit stations and retail centers are manageable and vary from a half mile to a mile. In addi- stead Branch of the LIRR, and provides only limited service during racing season. tion, Site A has easy access to the pedestrian bridge that connects the Belmont Station LIRR platform to the Racetrack. Both Nassau County and Queens County bus lines serve Site A and Site B, including the N1, N2, N3, N6, Q110 and Q2. These bus lines stop in close proximity to the sites.

Vehicular In addition to being near mass transit, the sites are also well served by major and minor vehicular roadways. The sites are bisected by Hempstead Turnpike, and are bordered to the west by the Cross Island Parkway. These major roads provide regional access to Hempstead, , JFK Airport, and the Throgs Neck Bridge.

14 BELMONT PARK REDEVELOPMENT STUDY FIGURE 3: REGIONAL UNDERSTANDING

REGIONAL INFLUENCES y Northeast To w New Hyde Park, k y P Mineola l w North To Northern a k tr P State Pkwy, LIE, n e Throgs Neck Bridge C d d n an a Beyond the transit stations and roadways that allow regional connections, there is a variety of r P.S. 33 l ke G s o Tp I h Jeric Floral ve s regional elements that influence development on Site A and Site B. These include numerous A s Park e o id r ls C il Floral Park neighborhood retail nodes as well as regional retail areas. Regional retail areas contain large- H Floral Park Hempstead Branch scale commercial uses such as big-box retail. The commercial core closest to Site A and Site Queens County Bellerose Nassau County B is located at the southwest corner of Hempstead Turnpike and Elmont Road, where there J.H.S. 109 Floral Park Bellerose le Elementary School are plans to develop the former Argo Theater site into a large food and grocery center. The i M Queens Village 1 nearest regional retail area occurs east of the sites along Hempstead Turnpike and contains South Floral Park a Home Depot, Marshall’s and an Office Max. Other regional shopping destinations within a Belmont Park Floral Park Belmont Park Memorial High School Racetrack five-to-six mile radius of the sites include Greenacres Mall and Roosevelt Field Mall. Q110 Hempstead Branch St. Joachim 4 & Anne / 1 St. Vincent Additional regional influences include corridor retail along major roads, numerous parks and P.S. 34 De Paul N Regional Elmont N 1 N Commercial Memorial Library P.S. 134 Q2 2 N Retail open spaces, institutions and schools. (See Figure 3) 3 6 Core Hempste ad Tpke Elmont Union F

r Free School a SITE INFRASTRUCTURE n c i Gotham Avenue Elmont s L School Elmont e w Cemetery i Clara H. Carlson s Water Service and Supply B School l v d The Water Authority of West Nassau County provides water service for Belmont Park. To P.S. 136 Law & Government

High School y w

North Valley Stream e k

E.S. 147 v P

ensure that an adequate supply will exist for new development, the developer of the sites will Elmont Memorial Beth David A

d d

Hig School m

n n

Cemetery a

a l

h

need to work with the Water Authority of West Nassau County and the Nassau County Depart- s

c I Broadway

a

s d N 0 1/4mi 1/2mie s Park R

M ment of Public Works. o t Cambria Heights r n C o miles lm E Electricity and Gas The Long Island Power Authority provides both electric and gas service for the sites, which if • Create mixed-use development development takes place will require upgraded and expanded service. -Hotel/convention center -Retail Sewage and Drainage -Recreation A sewer line currently exists underneath Site A. However, development on Sites A and B will • Redevelop parking area south of Hempstead Turnpike require upgrades to any existing sewer and drainage system, and will require working with • Create gateway to Elmont Nassau County Department of Public Works to provide an adequate drainage system. The • Improve streetscape along Hempstead Turnpike area surrounding Belmont Park has been prone to flooding in past storms. • Encourage Belmont-oriented businesses, activities and uses

RECENT PLANS FOR AREA: ELMONT COMMUNITY VISION PLAN (2008) ZONING

In June 2008, the Elmont Community Vision Plan was published, setting forth a series of goals Under existing zoning, Belmont Park is designated for residential use. The Elmont Com- and objectives for the community. During the Vision Plan’s conception, the total amount and munity Vision Plan proposes a new zoning district for the area, the “Belmont Special Use location of land available for development in Belmont Park was not known. Therefore though District”, that would allow Belmont Park to be rezoned and developed in a coordinated matter. the Vision Plan specifically addresses Belmont Park, it only looks at Site B. The objectives The proposed special use district would also allow a mix of uses beyond residential that could stated by the Vision Plan for this area included: lead to economic growth.

BELMONT PARK REDEVELOPMENT STUDY 15 FIGURE 5: SITE B OPPORTUNITIES & CONSTRAINTS Site B Opportunities and Constraints (See Figure 5) Hempstead Turnpike 1 Adjacent Single Family Residential Housing SITE A • Provides a street grid that allows for potential connections • Front-yard conditions on Huntley Road and rear-yard conditions on Wellington Street • Setback or landscaping may be required to appropriately buffer existing residential 9 neighborhoods from Site B 8a 6

2 Dense Tree Cover 800’ 5 • Creates a buffer from Cross Island Parkway and Hempstead Turnpike 7a 8c 3 New York State Empire Zone 3 • Allows for certain tax benefits subject to requirements • Potential to change borders of zone or move to Site A Empire Zone • Future status of Empire Zone program is under consideration 4 Site B Existing Circulation 1a SITE B 4 Vehicular access is maintained on the northern and western borders of Site B 28 ACRES 5 Tunnel allows for vehicular access between sites- must be maintained 7b 6 Tunnel allows for pedestrian access between sites- may be relocated 7 Various access points allow for efficient circulation 8 Various egress points allow for efficient circulation- must be maintained 1b 9 Access to Site B from Hempstead Turnpike is limited because of non-signalized 1c intersection 8b 2 Site B Land Use Restrictions 2300’

Site B has no land use restrictions. Parkway Island Cross

7c

8d

N 0 250 500

feet

BELMONT PARK REDEVELOPMENT STUDY 17 FIGURE 4: SITE A OPPORTUNITIES & CONSTRAINTS SITE A & B OPPORTUNITIES & CONSTRAINTS 14

Site A Opportunities and Constraints (See Figure 4) 1

1 Racetrack and Field 5 • Could serve as open space with a bucolic atmosphere when races are not taking place • Focus of activity during large racing events • Gated off from the surrounding community 4 • Largely underutilized: not being used for recreation purposes or for economic benefit for a large portion of the year

2 Grandstand (+/- 120 feet in height) 6 • Serves as an architectural icon for the community of Elmont and Belmont Park 2 • Grandstand height allows for views to and from Site A 8

3 Belmont Open Space/Park • Includes park and open space amenities such as active green space, picnic benches and SITE A gathering areas for Belmont Park uses 8 ACRES • Could provide pedestrian-friendly features and allows for pedestrian connections to Site A 11a

4 5 LIRR Belmont Station & Platform/Pedestrian Bridge 3 • Could provide an integral transit and pedestrian connection to the site 730’ • Allows for opportunity to create 365-day transit service as infrastructure is already in place (currently the Belmont spur is utilized only part-time) 13 350’ 6 Bus Staging Area • Allows for efficient bus transit to and from site GATEWAY7 3

Site A Existing Circulation 11b 13 7 12 10 9 “Gateway 3” exists as a main entry into Site A Hempstead Turnpike Vehicular access is maintained on the northern and eastern borders of Site A8 Tunnel allowing for vehicular access between sites- must be maintained9 Tunnel allowing for pedestrian access between sites- may be relocated10 11 Various access points allow for efficient circulation

Various egress points allow for efficient circulation12 Parkway Island Cross Access to Site A from Hempstead Turnpike is limited13 SITE B Site A Land Use Restrictions Site A may only be used for operation of Video Lottery Terminals (VLT), hotel, resort and spa facilities; or for any other use that is complementary to horse racing and pari- N mutuel wagering. 0 150 300

feet

16 BELMONT PARK REDEVELOPMENT STUDY 18 BELMONT PARK REDEVELOPMENT STUDY