Mineola board OKs special-use permit for neurosurgery practice at 85 and 89 E. Jericho Turnpike

The Village of Mineola Board of Trustees voted unanimously to approve a special-use permit for a medical office at 85 and 89 East Jericho Turnpike, allowing Dr. Nkrumah’s neurosurgery and spine practice to relocate and expand into the former Police Benevolence Association buildings.

The board approved the permit after a presentation from architect Jing Xie and applicant/business manager Donna Wu, and a short period of board questions and public comment. Trustee Solowski moved the approval and Trustee Casado seconded; the clerk recorded unanimous aye votes from Trustee Clark, Deputy Mayor Sartorius, Trustee Casado, Trustee Salaski and Mayor Ferrer.

The practice will use the two connected buildings as one medical office. Architect Jing Xie told the board the larger single‑story building at 89 would house 8 to 10 exam rooms, a nurse station and patient circulation areas, while 85 would hold administrative and doctor office space and a small lecture/meeting area. Xie said the applicant is under contract to purchase the properties and has not finalized interior construction drawings, adding, “we are going to fit 8 to 10 exam rooms into the Number 89.”

Donna Wu, the practice manager, said operations will be by appointment only, with office hours “9 to 5, Monday to Friday.” She said the practice initially will have one doctor on site with a plan to expand to as many as three physicians and roughly nine total staff at full build‑out, though not all staff would be present at the same time. Wu told the board that typical patient visits would be 30 to 60 minutes and that most surgical work would remain at hospitals.

On parking and access, the applicants said they plan to reserve one on‑site space for an ADA‑accessible spot and one for a patient transport van; remaining on‑site spaces would be for patients while staff would use municipal lot parking behind the building. Xie said that on‑site parking plus metered spaces on Jericho Turnpike would be sufficient to meet anticipated patient volumes.

Trustees asked about trash handling and signage. Mayor Ferrer and other board members reminded the applicant that all exterior signs must be reviewed and approved by the building department, and they urged adherence to local garbage rules. The applicant said waste will be handled the same way as at their New Hyde Park location, via municipal pickup, and agreed to confine trash to containers and set out waste on designated collection days.

The board’s motion included a CEQA Type 2 determination as presented on the record. The approval was subject to standard building‑department reviews and required permits for interior fit‑out, plumbing and electrical work, and to follow any conditions the building inspector sets forth regarding signage and exterior changes.

The trustees congratulated the applicants and welcomed the practice to Mineola.