A developer wants to add retail space and 12 apartments to 30 Stewart Ave. in Huntington village, which is at the corner or Gerard Street. A separate proposal nearby would add 20 apartments behind Albert's Mandarin Gourmet.

By Chris Mellides and Carl Corry

info@longislandergroup.com

The Huntington Zoning Board of Appeals will hear two proposals tonight that would add a total of 32 new apartments just north of Main Street in Huntington village.

In the larger proposal, property owner Hookshank LLC is looking to convert and expand an indoor sports complex behind Albert’s Mandarin Gourmet on New York Avenue into a mixed-use building that would include 20 apartments and retail. The plan, which would expand the retail area by 3670 square feet, seeks a special-use permit to park in a municipal lot and permission to convert the current Ultimate Sports Complex for retail use. It also needs a variance to park within 5 feet of a property line.

The apartments would be placed on the second and third floors, above the combined retail space, and would not go over the restaurant, said Bob Reikert, the town’s deputy director of planning.

A second proposal calls for a three-story building with 12 apartments at the northeast corner of Stewart Avenue and Gerard Street, a lot that is largely empty. The first floor would have retail and office space, while the second and third floors would consist of apartments with rooftop access.

Applicant Jeff and Stevens Holding Corp. is seeking a special-use permit to use a municipal parking lot.

Reikert said the site plan currently has 23 parking spaces, but the property owner is in talks to purchase land owned by the town that it currently uses that could be used for the required 40 parking spaces.

“The area between the ice house and Stewart is really going to be an improvement to the town,” Reikert said.

The Hookshank plan was met with some opposition at an earlier ZBA meeting on Sept. 24, when a ruling on the plan was tabled.

“My concern is parking,” said Paul Warburgh. “Are you taking into consideration where those people are going to park their cars when those apartments are constructed?”

John Breslin, owner of real-estate appraisal firm Breslin Appraisal, sees things differently.

“I think this is another continuation of the redevelopment process,” Breslin said. “By doing this in the business community, it’s certainly not having an adverse impact.”

The zoning board meeting is set for 6 p.m. at Town Hall, 100 Main St., Huntington.

--With Andrew Wroblewksi