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Controversy over GSH parking proposal surfaces Addressing concerns raised by the community about parking problems in the residential areas around Good Samaritan Hospital, and hoping to find ways to come into compliance with town parking codes, the health-care center's officials are reviewing a number of possible changes, one of which is to construct a twostory parking garage. No sooner had the hospital presented that idea, than some residents living near the hospital raise opposition to it. "This was one idea that we were looking at because of community parking concerns. We decided before even moving forward with it to bring it to the public for its comments and input," said Christine Hendriks, Vice President of Public and Externaål Affairs. "This was an initial proposal and is not something that we are ready to move forward with at this time." Some residents charge that the hospital is moving forward, however and is once again not taking the community into consideration. As word of the parking garage proposal spread, the Cedar Point Homeowner's Association called a public meeting to air the issue. "Good Samaritan may be a good hospital, but they aren't a good neighbor," said Eliot Bloom, a local attorney and president of the Association who, along with about 125 people, gathered at the West Islip Library for the meeting last month. Bloom has been an outspoken critic of the way in which the hospital has handled other major projects. "We make every effort to maintain the delicate balance of responding to the changing health-care needs of our communities, while attempting to offer as little disruption (during expansion) as possible to neighbors," said Hendriks. Civic leaders said the hospital planned to build a three-tier garage, 460 feet long and 50-feet high, capable of holding 900 cars. Hospital officials said the plan, in its infancy stages, does not call for a threestory building and that the association's facts are simply wrong. Instead, the informal plan, presented by the hospital to the West Beach Civic Association, showed the possibility of a two-story garage, smaller than the 460- feet rumored. The location of the proposed garage, on the south side of the hospital parking lot, also raised concern. "A worker won't want to park that far away and, as a patient, if I had an emergency, I would park right in front as well," said Bloom. The building, said residents, was shown to be about 20 feet from the bike path, which many children use to get to and from school. Neighbors said they feared that the proposed garage would block in the path, making it unsafe. "Parking facilities represent the third most frequent place that violent crimes occur," said resident Rick Heine. "They are dark and desolate, will attract nuts, and our kids play near there." The path is owned and maintained by the hospital as a result of an easement granted to it in the late 1970s. But the hospital's track record is "less than honest" with the community when it comes to expansions and renovations, said Bloom. In 2003, Bloom sued the hospital after it relocated its emergency room from Emergency Drive to Beach Drive. He maintained in court papers that the changes were made without public notice, proper permits, a full environmental review and exacerbated parking problems in the area. Bloom won that case in 2005, and the hospital was told it had to take action to address the issues raised. Bloom maintains the hospital has not done so. "Although the penalty for false documents is a Class D felony, nothing has been done," said Bloom, who called the situation illogical and unfair. "There was a level of SEQRA (State Environmental Quality Review Act) done, but the courts decided there needed to be more done," said Trisha Kaloski, a spokesman for the Town of Islip, which acted as the lead environmental agency for the relocation project for the emergency room. "Litigation has been dismissed by the New York State Supreme Court as a result of our compliance with all necessary review and permit applications," said a hospital official. "We are awaiting the permits and approvals from the Town of Islip to begin modifications." Bloom wants assurances, however, that the same thing does not happen again. He wants a c o m p l e t e SEQRA approval. The hospital maintains that the construction will not have an adverse impact on the environment. "You're supposed to be honest when you fill out an application, the Town can't go and check every application," said Bloom who added that perhaps the Town, which is again the lead agency charged with the environmental review, needs to change how it accepts plans. "Hopefully we'll be able to have a say on this parking garage, before this plan goes through," said Bloom. And they may.
Good Samaritan said it plans to continue to bring proposals to the community and to hold public meetings on the question of how to address the parking issues before they move forward with any formal plans for changes there. In the meantime, the hospital has developed additional parking south of Our Lady of Consolation Nursing Home. "The new parking area is an expansion of existing space that has been repaved," said Hendriks. "It will be available for local facilities on weekdays and as a community service Good Samaritan is making the lot available nights and weekends for people visiting the West Islip marina and those who use the ball fields.
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