By Sophia Chang
The proposed home, for seven developmentally disabled adults under the auspices of the YAI/National Institute for People with Disabilities, would be located in an existing house at 41-76 Little Neck Parkway. YAI representatives said the home would be staffed 24 hours a day, with between two to four professionals on duty at all times. The residents, all adults in their early 30s, would always be chaperoned and during the day would be transported by van to workshop activities. In addition, the house's driveway can accommodate up to five cars, minimizing street parking problems.The neighborhoods represented by Community Board 11, stretching from Bayside and Auburndale to Little Neck and Douglaston, have a history of opposing group homes for fear of declining property values and traffic concerns. In 1975, the first group home for around eight mentally retarded individuals in the city was founded in Little Neck over enormous community opposition. The district now has almost 20 residential group homes, according to community leaders.At the board's group home meeting on Jan. 24, some of the five residents who attended raised the issue of property values yet again. But, according to board district manager Susan Seinfeld, “other committee members who live near similar homes confirmed there was no negative impact on neighborhood values in their neighborhoods,” she said. “Group homes are good neighbors, and YAI has a reputation for maintaining their property.”Under New York law written by state Sen. Frank Padavan (R-Bellerose), agencies are required to notify the community and hold public hearings previous to the establishment of a group home, and must give a community board the opportunity to recommend alternate sites for the homes within a 40-day time frame.Following Community Board 11's unique protocol on group homes, board committee members did not vote on the proposal after the public hearing, but offered no opposition either. The full board will hear the proposal at Community Board 11's Feb. 7 meeting.Reach reporter Sophia Chang by e-mail at news@timesledger.com, or by phone at 718-229-0300, Ext. 146.
